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THE DARK HOUSE
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door who wanted something and I had to see her about it. She and Mr. Levigne were at opposite sides of the table, with a lot of papers between them, and she looked as black as thunder and he looked vexed. She packed me out, pretty sharp, and I took good care not to go near them again, but I could hear them at it, hammer and tongs, all the afternoon—she was shouting at him sometimes."

"You never heard anything she said?" asked Wedgwood.

"Only once—when I was passing the door. I heard her say 'It's all in her interest—all in her interest'—just like that. Of course, I didn't know what she meant."

"Did you hear Mr. Levigne make any reply?" asked Wedgwood.

"I heard him speak, but I couldn't distinguish anything. It wasn't Mr. Levigne who seemed to be quarrelling so much as Aunt Janet. He spoke as if he was trying to smooth her down, softly, like. It was she who did the loud talking—she seemed to be furious with him about something."

"And you say it went on all the afternoon?" enquired Wedgwood.

"Till past four o'clock, anyway," replied Mattie. "We had tea, then—I had to get it ready. Aunt Janet was sulkier than ever at