The New Magdalen

Horace's jealousy saw something suspiciously suggestive of a private

understanding in Julian's earnest attention and in Mercy's downcast

face. Having no excuse for open interference, he made an effort to part

them.

"You spoke just now," he said to Julian, "of wishing to say a word in

private to that person." (He pointed to Grace.) "Shall we retire, or

will you take her into the library?"

"I refuse to have anything to say to him," Grace burst out, before

Julian could answer. "I happen to know that he is the last person to do

me justice. He has been effectually hoodwinked. If I speak to anybody

privately, it ought to be to you. You have the greatest interest of any

of them in finding out the truth."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you want to marry an outcast from the streets?"

Horace took one step forward toward her. There was a look in his face

which plainly betrayed that he was capable of turning her out of the

house with his own hands. Lady Janet stopped him.

"You were right in suggesting just now that Grace had better leave the

room," she said. "Let us all three go. Julian will remain here and give

the man his directions when he arrives. Come."

No. By a strange contradiction it was Horace himself who now interfered

to prevent Mercy from leaving the room. In the heat of his indignation

he lost all sense of his own dignity; he descended to the level of a

woman whose intellect he believed to be deranged. To the surprise of

every one present, he stepped back and took from the table a jewel-case

which he had placed there when he came into the room. It was the wedding

present from his mother which he had brought to his betrothed wife. His

outraged self-esteem seized the opportunity of vindicating Mercy by a

public bestowal of the gift.

"Wait!" he called out, sternly. "That wretch shall have her answer. She

has sense enough to see and sense enough to hear. Let her see and hear!"

He opened the jewel-case, and took from it a magnificent pearl necklace

in an antique setting.

"Grace," he said, with his highest distinction of manner, "my mother

sends you her love and her congratulations on our approaching marriage.

She begs you to accept, as part of your bridal dress, these pearls. She

was married in them herself. They have been in our family for centuries.

As one of the family, honored and beloved, my mother offers them to my

wife."

He lifted the necklace to clasp it round Mercy's neck.

Julian watched her in breathless suspense. Would she sustain the ordeal

through which Horace had innocently condemned her to pass?

Yes! In the insolent presence of Grace Roseberry, what was there now

that she could _not_ sustain? Her pride was in arms. Her lovely eyes

lighted up as only a woman's eyes _can_ light up when they see jewelry.

Her grand head bent gracefully to receive the necklace. Her face w

armed into color; her beauty rallied its charms. Her triumph over

Grace Roseberry was complete! Julian's head sank. For one sad moment he

secretly asked himself the question: "Have I been mistaken in her?"