'My dear, what is the matter? You look as though you'd been caught committing an indecent act. Has Theo . . . was he . . . ? Oh, my, this is so hard a thing to ask about my own son! Was he gentle with you? Did he force you in any way?'
'What? No!' Pamela blurted as Mrs. Dewhurst's meaning became clear to her. 'He hasn't touched me.'
Mrs. Dewhurst frowned. 'You did sleep together, did you not?'
'We did, but we didn't do anything,' Pamela said, defensively.
Mrs. Dewhurst gave Pamela what she thought at first was a sceptical look, until the woman said, 'Pamela Dee! Between the two of you . . . ' She shook her head in disbelief. 'I'm sure I don't know what to think! Considering how Theo used to be, he's become a veritable . . . vestal virgin.' Taking Pamela by the arm and leading her towards the kitchen, she said in a confiding whisper, 'He's changed so much since he stopped going around with that little tramp- Tracy or whatever her name was.' She shuddered. 'That girl was a mother's worst nightmare! At least this time I can look forward to having the sort of daughter-in-law I can feel good about. I always wanted a little girl, you know,' she said, giving Pamela a little squeeze, making the girl smile with embarrassed affection, 'to offset the very naughty little boy Theo's father and I brought into the world.' As she filled the kettle and placed it on the stove, Pamela ventured a question.
'What sort of little boy was Theo. I mean . . . I saw all his stuff out in the garage earlier this morning.'
'Yes, I noticed he took you for a little spin in the MG. I don't mind telling you, I was fully expecting to hear the squeal of tyres the moment I heard its engine start up. I used to get calls all the time about his driving, usually in the wee hours when my husband and I were trying to sleep-' Looking genuinely worried, she queried, 'I do hope he didn't drive like that with you in the car. If he did, just tell me and I'll have a word with him.'
For the first time, Pamela detected a chink in Theo's relationship with his mother. Mrs. Dewhurst's reference to his driving, especially where Pamela was concerned, carried an unspoken but implicit threat. But Pamela replied, 'He was perfect. I mean, he did exactly the speed-limit whenever it was posted. He didn't even get angry when we got cut off a couple of times when we were in Bradford.'