"I don't see why we should praise the bad dead," snapped Mrs.
Mallow. "I never liked either Isabella nor Selina. They were
both horrid girls and constantly quarrelling. They hardly
ever spoke to one another, and how you can contemplate
marrying the daughter of Isabella, I really don't know. Such
a slight to me. But there, I've said all I had to say on the
subject."

To do her justice, Mrs. Mallow certainly had, and never ceased
nagging at Cuthbert to break the engagement. Had she known
that Mrs. Octagon had forbidden the marriage she would have
rejoiced, but to save making awkward explanations to a woman
who would not hold her tongue, Cuthbert said nothing about the
breach.

"Did you like Miss Saul, mother?" he asked.

"I only saw her on the concert platform," said Mrs. Mallow,
opening her eyes, "gracious, Cuthbert, I never associated
myself with those sort of people. Caranby was infatuated with
her. To be sure, he got engaged to spite Selina, and she
really did treat him badly, but I believe Miss Saul--such a
horrid Hebrew name, isn't it--hypnotized him. He forgot her
almost as soon as she died, in spite of his ridiculous idea of
shutting up that house. And such valuable land as there is at
Rexton too. Well, I hope this violent death of Selina will be
a warning to Caranby. Not that I wish him any harm, in spite
of your being next heir to the title, and we do need money."

While Mrs. Mallow rambled on in this diffusive manner,