"Alligator eyes!" Terry said to herself, as she had said before of the same eyes. It was many years since she had seen the man, but she knew him at once, for he had changed little. He was one of those persons whom it is impossible to imagine as ever having been much younger, or as ever growing much older. It was Major Smedley, the man at whom Terry had cried out as "the worst old gossip and tabby-cat that ever lived," when Maud had mentioned his name, just before news of the murder came to White Fields.

The armour of strength which she had girded on seemed to loosen at the joints.

She was afraid of Major Smedley.