The New Magdalen

"I have not avoided you," she said. "I would have gone to you of my own

accord if I had known that you were here. It is my heartfelt wish to

own that I have sinned against you, and to make all the atonement that

I can. I am too anxious to deserve your forgiveness to have any fear of

seeing you."

Conciliatory as the reply was, it was spoken with a simple and modest

dignity of manner which roused Grace Roseberry to fury.

"How dare you speak to me as if you were any equal?" she burst out. "You

stand there and answer me as if you had your right and your place

in this house. You audacious woman! _I_ have my right and my place

here--and what am I obliged to do? I am obliged to hang about in the

grounds, and fly from the sight of the servants, and hide like a thief,

and wait like a beggar, and all for what? For the chance of having a

word with _you_. Yes! you, madam! with the air of the Refuge and the

dirt of the streets on you!"

Mercy's head sank lower; her hand trembled as it held by the back of the

chair.

It was hard to bear the reiterated insults heaped on her, but Julian's

influence still made itself felt. She answered as patiently as ever.

"If it is your pleasure to use hard words to me," she said, "I have no

right to resent them."

"You have no right to anything!" Grace retorted. "You have no right

to the gown on your back. Look at yourself, and look at Me!" Her eyes

traveled with a tigerish stare over Mercy's costly silk dress. "Who gave

you that dress? who gave you those jewels? I know! Lady Janet gave them

to Grace Roseberry. Are _you_ Grace Roseberry? That dress is mine. Take

off your bracelets and your brooch. They were meant for me."

"You may soon have them, Miss Roseberry. They will not be in my

possession many hours longer."

"What do you mean?"

"However badly you may use me, it is my duty to undo the harm that I

have done. I am bound to do you justice--I am determined to confess the

truth."

Grace smiled scornfully.

"You confess!" she said. "Do you think I am fool enough to believe that?

You are one shameful brazen lie from head to foot! Are _you_ the woman

to give up your silks and your jewels, and your position in this house,

and to go back to the Refuge of your own accord? Not you--not you!"

A first faint flush of color showed itself, stealing slowly over Mercy's

face; but she still held resolutely by the good influence which Julian

had left behind him. She could still say to herself, "Anything rather

than disappoint Julian Gray." Sustained by the courage which _he_ had

called to life in her, she submitted to her martyrdom as bravely as

ever. But there was an ominous change in her now: she could only submit

in silence; she could no longer trust herself to answer.