The New Magdalen

Grace looked at Lady Janet with an evil smile.

"I begin to understand your ladyship," she said. "You are ashamed

to acknowledge that you have been grossly imposed upon. Your only

alternative, of course, is to ignore everything that has happened. Pray

count on _my_ forbearance. I am not at all offended--I am merely amused.

It is not every day that a lady of high rank exhibits herself in such a

position as yours to an obscure woman like me. Your humane consideration

for me dates, I presume, from the time when your adopted daughter set

you the example, by ordering the police officer out of the room?"

Lady Janet's composure was proof even against this assault on it. She

gravely accepted Grace's inquiry as a question addressed to her in

perfect good faith.

"I am not at all surprised," she replied, "to find that my adopted

daughter's interference has exposed her to misrepresentation. She ought

to have remonstrated with me privately before she interfered. But she

has one fault--she is too impulsive. I have never, in all my experience,

met with such a warm-hearted person as she is. Always too considerate

of others; always too forgetful of herself! The mere appearance of the

police officer placed you in a situation to appeal to her compassion,

and her impulses carried her away as usual. My fault! All my fault!"

Grace changed her tone once more. She was quick enough to discern that

Lady Janet was a match for her with her own weapons.

"We have had enough of this," she said. "It is time to be serious. Your

adopted daughter (as you call her) is Mercy Merrick, and you know it."

Lady Janet returned to her papers.

"I am Grace Roseberry, whose name she has stolen, and you know _that_."

Lady Janet went on with her papers.

Grace got up from her chair.

"I accept your silence, Lady Janet," she said, "as an acknowledgment

of your deliberate resolution to suppress the truth. You are evidently

determined to receive the adventuress as the true woman; and you don't

scruple to face the consequences of that proceeding, by pretending to my

face to believe that I am mad. I will not allow myself to be impudently

cheated out of my rights in this way. You will hear from me again madam,

when the Canadian mail arrives in England."

She walked toward the door. This time Lady Janet answered, as readily

and as explicitly as it was possible to desire.

"I shall refuse to receive your letters," she said.

Grace returned a few steps, threateningly.

"My letters shall be followed by my witnesses," she proceeded.

"I shall refuse to receive your witnesses."

"Refuse at your peril. I will appeal to the law."

Lady Janet smiled.