The New Magdalen

Reiterating her one triumphant assertion, she fixed her eyes on Julian

with a look which said plainly: Answer that if you can. In mercy to her,

Julian answered it on the spot.

"As far as I understand," he said, "you appear to take it for granted

that no innocent woman would have fainted on first seeing you. I have

something to tell you which will alter your opinion. On her arrival

in England this lady informed my aunt that she had met with you

accidentally on the French frontier, and that she had seen you (so far

as she knew) struck dead at her side by a shell. Remember that, and

recall what happened just now. Without a word to warn her of your

restoration to life, she finds herself suddenly face to face with you,

a living woman--and this at a time when it is easy for any one who looks

at her to see that she is in delicate health. What is there wonderful,

what is there unaccountable, in her fainting under such circumstances as

these?"

The question was plainly put. Where was the answer to it?

There was no answer to it. Mercy's wisely candid statement of the manner

in which she had first met with Grace, and of the accident which

had followed had served Mercy's purpose but too well. It was simply

impossible for persons acquainted with that statement to attach a guilty

meaning to the swoon. The false Grace Roseberry was still as far beyond

the reach of suspicion as ever, and the true Grace was quick enough to

see it. She sank into the chair from which she had risen; her hands fell

in hopeless despair on her lap.

"Everything is against me," she said. "The truth itself turns liar, and

takes _her_ side." She paused, and rallied her sinking courage. "No!"

she cried, resolutely, "I won't submit to have my name and my place

taken from me by a vile adventuress! Say what you like, I insist on

exposing her; I won't leave the house!"

The servant entered the room, and announced that the cab was at the

door.

Grace turned to Julian with a defiant wave of her hand. "Don't let me

detain you," she said. "I see I have neither advice nor help to expect

from Mr. Julian Gray."

Julian beckoned to the servant to follow him into a corner of the room.

"Do you know if the doctor has been sent for?" he asked.

"I believe not, sir. It is said in the servants' hall that the doctor is

not wanted."

Julian was too anxious to be satisfied with a report from the servants'

hall. He hastily wrote on a slip of paper: "Has she recovered?" and gave

the note to the man, with directions to take it to Lady Janet.