That was enough for Mrs. Rodney; she would hold in no longer. Mrs.
Odell-Carney must be told; she, at least, must have the chance to escape
before the storm of scandal broke to muddy her immaculate skirts.
Forthwith the considerate hostess appeared before her guest with a
headful of disclosures. She had decided in advance that it would not do
to beat about the bush, so to speak; she would come directly to the
obnoxious point.
They were in Mrs. Odell-Carney's sitting-room. Mr. Odell-Carney was
smoking a cigaret on the balcony, just outside the window. Mrs. Rodney
did not know that he was there. It is only natural that he held himself
inhospitably aloof: Mrs. Rodney bored him to death. He did not hear all
that was poured out between them, but he heard quite enough to cause him
something of a pang. He distinctly heard his wife say things to Mrs.
Rodney that she had solemnly avowed she would not say,--things about the
Medcroft baby.
It goes without saying that Mrs. Odell-Carney refused to be surprised by
the disclosures. She calmly admitted that she had suspected Medcroft of
being too fond of his sister-in-law, but, she went on cheerfully, why
not? His wife didn't care a rap for him--she _said_ rap and nothing
else; Mrs. Medcroft had an affair of her own, dear child; she was not so
slow as Mrs. Rodney thought, oh, no. Mrs. Odell-Carney warmed up
considerably in defending the not-to-be-pitied Edith.
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