Julian seized the opportunity of remonstrating with
Grace.

"Is this what you promised me?" he asked, gently. "You gave me your word
that you would not return to Mablethorpe House."

Before he could say more Lady Janet had got her temper under command.
She began her answer to Grace by pointing with a peremptory forefinger
to the library door.

"If you have not made up your mind to take my advice by the time I have
walked back to that door," she said, "I will put it out of your power
to set me at defiance. I am used to be obeyed, and I will be obeyed. You
force me to use hard words. I warn you before it is too late. Go!"

She returned slowly toward the library. Julian attempted to interfere
with another word of remonstrance. His aunt stopped him by a gesture
which said, plainly, "I insist on acting for myself." He looked next
at Mercy. Would she remain passive? Yes. She never lifted her head;
she never moved from the place in which she was standing apart from the
rest. Horace himself tried to attract her attention, and tried in vain.

Arrived at the library door, Lady Janet looked over her shoulder at the
little immovable black figure in the chair.

"Will you go?" she asked, for the last time.

Grace started up angrily from her seat, and fixed her viperish eyes on
Mercy.

"I won't be turned out of your ladyship's house in the presence of that
impostor," she said. "I may yield to force, but I will yield to nothing
else. I insist on my right to the place that she has stolen from me.
It's no use scolding me," she added, turning doggedly to Julian. "As
long as that woman is here under my name I can't and won't keep away
from the house. I warn her, in your presence, that I have written to
my friends in Canada! I dare her before you all to deny that she is the
outcast and adventuress, Mercy Merrick!"

The challenge forced Mercy to take part in the proceedings in her own
defense. She had pledged herself to meet and defy Grace Roseberry on her
own ground. She attempted to speak--Horace stopped her.

"You degrade yourself if you answer her," he said. "Take my arm, and let
us leave the room."

"Yes! Take her out!" cried Grace. "She may well be ashamed to face an
honest woman. It's her place to leave the room--not mine!"

Mercy drew her hand out of Horace's arm. "I decline to leave the room,"
she said, quietly.

Horace still tried to persuade her to withdraw. "I can't bear to hear
you insulted," he rejoined. "The wo