"Other young men have shady affairs, too, Mr. Temple," said Mrs. Temple, with a toss of her handsome head, and John's face turned a dusky red as she spoke. "We can't all pose as perfection, you know, my nephew John," continued Mrs. Temple. "For my part I do not intend to give up young Henderson--he is too good-looking." "Unless they hang him," said John. "Hang him! Impossible." "Not at all impossible, I assure you. He will have to prove he was not near the place, or he will run a pretty good chance of it. I did not like the groom's face; it was shifty, and he gave me the idea he was not speaking the truth." "And your own evidence, Mr. Temple?" said Mrs. Layton. "How did you account for your chance meeting with Margaret Churchill at such an early hour?" "By my love for the morning air, Mrs. Layton," answered John, smiling. "Margaret Churchill, in my opinion, is a most designing young person," continued Mrs. Layton. "Rachel, my love, may I trouble you for a little more of that delicious curry. Yes, a most designing young person. I am told that she did everything to attract young Henderson, and that her father also tried to entangle him, and then when she had led the poor young man on to a certain point, she turned round." "I do not believe he ever proposed for her," said Mrs. Temple. "I suppose you think her handsome?" she added, looking at John. "I think she has a beautiful face," answered John, decidedly. "Beautiful! That's a strong term," remarked Mrs. Temple, scornfully. "Yet it is one I should apply to her." "It may account, then, for your early walk, Mr. Temple," said Mrs. Layton, with a little sneering laugh. "My meeting with Miss Churchill was simply accidental, Mrs. Layton," said John, coolly. "Naturally the poor girl, after such a dreadful discovery, stopped the first person she met to tell him of it." "But you knew her before?" asked Mrs. Layton. "I had spoken to her before; I have bought a horse of her father, and I saw her then." "A very convenient transaction for the Churchills," said Mrs. Layton, with a sneer. "She is a person with no idea of her own position in life, I consider. Would you believe it, I went the other day to the farm for the purpose of buying some eggs, and when I asked Margaret Churchill the price, she looked quite offended, and said she did not sell eggs! Fancy a farmer's daughter not selling eggs! However, she presented me with a few, and I took them." "A very convenient transaction for you, Mrs. Layton," scoffed John, who was getting out of temper, and an angry gleam shot into Mrs. Layton's light eyes as he spoke. "I always do what I consider my duty, Mr. Temple," she said, drawing up her spare little form. "My husband is fond of fresh-laid eggs, and as this misguided young person would not sell them, I had to consider him." John made a sarcastic little bow. "Wifely duty!" he said; and Mrs. Layton always spoke of him after this passage of arms with great bitterness.