"It is dreadful to think that any one would take the trouble to do such a thing for the sake of going to the Dudgeons," she said. "Are you sure you are not mistaken?" "Oh, Miss Meredith is happy for a week if she can squeeze in an excuse for going to the Dudgeons," replied Elma. "The Dudgeons are such ’high steppers,’ you know." "I don’t like it," said Mrs. Leighton, "I really don’t. None of you were brought up to go your own way like that, and I don’t admire it in other people." "Isobel believes in grabbing for everything one wants with both hands. She doesn’t mean to do anything wicked. She simply means to be on the spot," said Elma. "But what about loyalty, and friendship, and--and honour?" said poor Mrs. Leighton. "Oh, when you are grabbing with both hands for other things you haven’t time for these." "My precious child! What in the wide world are you saying!" Mrs. Leighton was quite horrified. "Nothing that I mean, or believe in, mummy. Only what Isobel believes in. She thinks we are fools to bother about loyalty and that kind of thing. She hasn’t had any one, I think, who cared whether she was honourable or not. And it must be distracting to know that all the time she can be perfectly beautiful. It must make you think that everything ought to come to you, no matter how." Elma was really scourging herself now for that iniquity of "the bounder." "Why didn’t you tell me before?" said Mrs. Leighton. "Oh, mummy, I’m almost sorry I told you now. Except that it lifts the most awful weight from my mind. I’ve been so afraid that while Isobel went on being so sweet and graceful that we should all get bad-tempered if you believed in her very much. She countermands my orders to the servants often and often, and they never think of disobeying her. That’s one thing I want to ask you about. If I insist on their obeying me, will you back me up? I simply crinkle before Isobel, I hate so to appear to be against her in any way. But Mabel told me I’m to play up as head of the house, and I’m not doing it while Isobel upsets any order of mine with a turn of her little finger. It’s awfully weak of me, but I’ve always said I was made to be bullied, I do so hate having rows with people." The murder was out then. Mabel had been gone four weeks, and the housekeeping which had gradually drifted into her hands was now of course in the command of Elma, or ought to be. Mrs. Leighton saw at last where Isobel had been getting hold of the reins of government. "You must not be jealous of Isobel’s attractions," she said. "And you know, Elma, any little squabble with your cousin would be a rather dreadful thing." "Awful," said Elma. "Your father would never forgive us." "He would understand, though," said Elma. There was always such a magnificence of justice about her father. "He is feeling being without the girls so much," said Mrs. Leighton.