She seemed to be speaking to herself rather than to me; and it's not for me to pretend that I know what she meant. The only thing I know is that what I said was clear enough. She went back to the table and began looking through James's photographs again, examining them that closely you'd have thought they were puzzles. 'It's impossible that there can be any mistake; impossible. And yet, how can he have gone out in perfect health upon the Sunday, and--It's beyond my comprehension. There's a knot somewhere which wants unpicking. Do you know I'm inclined to think that you know even less about your husband than you suppose.' 'I know all I want to know.' 'I mean with reference to his health. I fancy that he had not such good health as you seem to imagine.' 'You must excuse me saying, miss, that I can't help what you fancy. May I ask what you know about my husband?' 'I?' 'Yes, miss--you!' She looked at me as if my question had startled her. Then she laughed; it seemed to me not quite a natural laugh; as if she wanted to appear at her ease when she wasn't. 'Mary, I'll be frank with you. I came this morning because I wanted to find out how much I really do know about him.' 'I don't understand.' 'If I knew him----' 'If? You said just now you did.' 'The only thing which makes me doubt is what you say about his health. The person I knew was an invalid; so great an invalid that his life was despaired of.' 'That's not my James. How long ago is it since you knew him?' 'How long? Oh'--she was tapping the table again with the corner of one of his photographs--'fifteen years.' 'Fifteen years? Why, that's before I knew him--I was only in short frocks. I've come into his life since that. He may have been ill then, and all you say. If he was, then marrying me has done him good. You'd never have thought it if you'd known him as I have these six years. Do those children look as though they had a sick father? No!--they're like him--strong as strong. I tell you, my James is as sound and healthy a man as there is in England; and if you ever see him you won't need for him to tell you so himself to know it.' She looked at me, I couldn't help thinking, a little queerly, half laughing, half solemn. 'Mary, any one would think I'd been traducing your husband's character in suggesting that he might be an invalid.' 'Well, I don't like to hear any one keep saying he's weak when I know he's not.' 'Then he's not. He's as strong as a cart-horse--or two, if you prefer it--and always shall be; and there's an end.' She changed her tone all of a sudden and became quite brisk. 'My dear child, I'm afraid that by this unconsciously long visit of mine I'm hindering you in your household duties. Is there anything that you might be wanting to do?' 'Well, I did want to put the rice in soak; I'm going to make a pudding.'