The New Magdalen

Grace's blood was up. Stung by Julian's reproof, she turned on him a

look which was almost a look of fury.

"Are you a clergyman? Are you an educated man?" she asked. "Have you

never read of cases of false personation, in newspapers and books? I

blindly confided in Mercy Merrick before I found out what her character

really was. She left the cottage--I know it, from the surgeon who

brought me to life again--firmly persuaded that the shell had killed me.

My papers and my clothes disappeared at the same time. Is there nothing

suspicious in these circumstances? There were people at the Hospital who

thought them highly suspicious--people who warned me that I might find

an impostor in my place." She suddenly paused. The rustling sound of

a silk dress had caught her ear. Lady Janet was leaving the room, with

Horace, by way of the conservatory. With a last desperate effort of

resolution, Grace sprung forward and placed herself in front of them.

"One word, Lady Janet, before you turn your back on me," she said,

firmly. "One word, and I will be content. Has Colonel Roseberry's letter

found its way to this house or not? If it has, did a woman bring it to

you?"

Lady Janet looked--as only a great lady can look, when a person of

inferior rank has presumed to fail in respect toward her.

"You are surely not aware," she said, with icy composure, "that these

questions are an insult to Me?"

"And worse than an insult," Horace added, warmly, "to Grace!"

The little resolute black figure (still barring the way to the

conservatory) was suddenly shaken from head to foot. The woman's eyes

traveled backward and forward between Lady Janet and Horace with the

light of a new suspicion in them.

"Grace!" she exclaimed. "What Grace? That's my name. Lady Janet, you

_have_ got the letter! The woman is here!"

Lady Janet dropped Horace's arm, and retraced her steps to the place at

which her nephew was standing.

"Julian," she said. "You force me, for the first time in my life, to

remind you of the respect that is due to me in my own house. Send that

woman away."

Without waiting to be answered, she turned back again, and once more

took Horace's arm.

"Stand back, if you please," she said, quietly, to Grace.

Grace held her ground.

"The woman is here!" she repeated. "Confront me with her--and then send

me away, if you like."

Julian advanced, and firmly took her by the arm. "You forget what is due

to Lady Janet," he said, drawing her aside. "You forget what is due to

yourself."

With a desperate effort, Grace broke away from him, and stopped Lady

Janet on the threshold of the conservatory door.

"Justice!" she cried, shaking her clinched hand with hysterical frenzy

in the air. "I claim my right to meet that woman face to face! Where is

she? Confront me with her! Confront me with her!"