seberry? That dress is mine. Take
off your bracelets and your brooch. They were meant for me."

"You may soon have them, Miss Roseberry. They will not be in my
possession many hours longer."

"What do you mean?"

"However badly you may use me, it is my duty to undo the harm that I
have done. I am bound to do you justice--I am determined to confess the
truth."

Grace smiled scornfully.

"You confess!" she said. "Do you think I am fool enough to believe that?
You are one shameful brazen lie from head to foot! Are _you_ the woman
to give up your silks and your jewels, and your position in this house,
and to go back to the Refuge of your own accord? Not you--not you!"

A first faint flush of color showed itself, stealing slowly over Mercy's
face; but she still held resolutely by the good influence which Julian
had left behind him. She could still say to herself, "Anything rather
than disappoint Julian Gray." Sustained by the courage which _he_ had
called to life in her, she submitted to her martyrdom as bravely as
ever. But there was an ominous change in her now: she could only submit
in silence; she could no longer trust herself to answer.

The mute endurance in her face additionally exasperated Grace Roseberry.

"_You_ won't confess," she went on. "You have had a week to confess in,
and you have not done it yet. No, no! you are of the sort that cheat and
lie to the last. I am glad of it; I shall have the joy of exposing you
myself before the whole house. I shall be the blessed means of casting
you back on the streets. Oh! it will be almost worth all I have gone
through to see you with a policeman's hand on your arm, and the mob
pointing at you and mocking you on your way to jail!"

This time the sting struck deep; the outrage was beyond endurance. Mercy
gave the woman who had again and again deliberately insulted her a first
warning.

"Miss Roseberry," she said, "I have borne without a murmur the bitterest
words you could say to me. Spare me any more insults. Indeed, indeed, I
am eager to restore you to your just rights. With my whole heart I say
it to you--I am resolved to confess everything!"

She spoke with trembling earnestness of tone. Grace listened with a hard
smile of incredulity and a hard look of contempt.

"You are not far from the bell," she said; "ring it."

Mercy looked at her in speechless surprise.

"You are a perfect picture of repentance--you are dying to own the
truth," pursued the othe