The New Magdalen

There she stopped abruptly--not for want of words, but for want of a

listener.

Lady Janet was not even pretending to attend to her. Lady Janet, with a

deliberate rudeness entirely foreign to her usual habits, was composedly

busying herself in arranging the various papers scattered about the

table. Some she tied together with little morsels of string; some

she placed under paper-weights; some she deposited in the fantastic

pigeon-holes of a little Japanese cabinet--working with a placid

enjoyment of her own orderly occupation, and perfectly unaware, to all

outward appearance, that any second person was in the room. She looked

up, with her papers in both hands, when Grace stopped, and said,

quietly, "Have you done?"

"Is your ladyship's purpose in sending for me to treat me with studied

rudeness?" Grace retorted, angrily.

"My purpose in sending for you is to say something as soon as you will

allow me the opportunity."

The impenetrable composure of that reply took Grace completely by

surprise. She had no retort ready. In sheer astonishment she waited

silently with her eyes riveted on the mistress of the house.

Lady Janet put down her papers, and settled herself comfortably in the

easy-chair, preparatory to opening the interview on her side.

"The little that I have to say to you," she began, "may be said in a

question. Am I right in supposing that you have no present employment,

and that a little advance in money (delicately offered) would be very

acceptable to you?"

"Do you mean to insult me, Lady Janet?"

"Certainly not. I mean to ask you a question."

"Your question is an insult."

"My question is a kindness, if you will only understand it as it is

intended. I don't complain of your not understanding it. I don't even

hold you responsible for any one of the many breaches of good manners

which you have committed since you have been in this room. I was

honestly anxious to be of some service to you, and you have repelled my

advances. I am sorry. Let us drop the subject."

Expressing herself in the most perfect temper in those terms, Lady Janet

resumed the arrangement of her papers, and became unconscious once more

of the presence of any second person in the room.

Grace opened her lips to reply with the utmost intemperance of an angry

woman, and thinking better of it, controlled herself. It was plainly

useless to take the violent way with Lady Janet Roy. Her age and her

social position were enough of themselves to repel any violence. She

evidently knew that, and trusted to it. Grace resolved to meet the enemy

on the neutral ground of politeness, as the most promising ground that

she could occupy under present circumstances.

"If I have said anything hasty, I beg to apologize to your ladyship,"

she began. "May I ask if your only object in sending for me was to

inquire into my pecuniary affairs, with a view to assisting me?"