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e behavior. "
Maud wanted to strangle her. "You seem to misunderstand your role," she said. "It is not for you to refuse payment on suspicion. "
Mrs. Hargreaves looked a little less sure of herself.
Ethel put in: "I suppose Mr. Hargreaves is safe at home, is it?"
"No, he's not," the woman replied quickly. "He's with the army in Egypt. "
"Oh!" said Ethel. "So you receive a separation allowance too. "
"That's neither here nor there. "
"Does someone come to your house, Mrs. Hargreaves, to check on your conduct? Do they look at the level of the sherry in the decanter on your sideboard? Are you questioned about your friendship with your grocer's deliveryman?"
"How dare you!"
Maud said: "Your indignation is understandable-but perhaps now you will appreciate why Mrs. McCulley reacted as she did to your questioning. "
Mrs. Hargreaves raised her voice. "That's ridiculous-there's no comparison!"
"No comparison?" Maud said angrily. "Her husband, like yours, is risking his life for his country. Both you and she claim the separation allowance. But you have the right to judge her behavior and refuse her the money-while no one judges you. Why not? Officers' wives sometimes drink too much. "
Ethel said: "They commit adultery, too. "
"That's it!" shouted Mrs. Hargreaves. "I refuse to be insulted. "
"So does Jayne McCulley," said Ethel.
Maud said: "The man you saw with Mrs. McCulley was her brother. He was home on leave from France. He had only two days, and she wanted him to enjoy himself before going back to the trenches. That was why she took him to the pub and the music hall. "
Mrs. Hargreaves looked abashed, but she put on a defiant air. "She should have explained that when I questioned her. And now I must ask you please to leave the premises. "
"Now that you know the truth, I trust you will approve Mrs. McCulley's application. "
"We'll see. "
"I insist that you do it here and now. "
"Impossible. "
"We're not leaving until you do. "
"Then I shall call the police. "
"Very well. "
Mrs. Hargreaves retreated.
Ethel turned to the admiring reporter. "Where is your photographer?"
"Waiting outside. "
A few minutes later, a burly middle-aged police constable came in. "Now, now, ladies," he said. "No trouble, please. Just leave quietly. "
Maud stepped forward. "I am refusing to leave," she said. "Never mind about the others. "
"And who would you be, madam?"
