n
hold you responsible for any one of the many breaches of good manners
which you have committed since you have been in this room. I was
honestly anxious to be of some service to you, and you have repelled my
advances. I am sorry. Let us drop the subject."

Expressing herself in the most perfect temper in those terms, Lady Janet
resumed the arrangement of her papers, and became unconscious once more
of the presence of any second person in the room.

Grace opened her lips to reply with the utmost intemperance of an angry
woman, and thinking better of it, controlled herself. It was plainly
useless to take the violent way with Lady Janet Roy. Her age and her
social position were enough of themselves to repel any violence. She
evidently knew that, and trusted to it. Grace resolved to meet the enemy
on the neutral ground of politeness, as the most promising ground that
she could occupy under present circumstances.

"If I have said anything hasty, I beg to apologize to your ladyship,"
she began. "May I ask if your only object in sending for me was to
inquire into my pecuniary affairs, with a view to assisting me?"

"That," said Lady Janet, "was my only object."

"You had nothing to say to me on the subject of Mercy Merrick?"

"Nothing whatever. I am weary of hearing of Mercy Merrick. Have you any
more questions to ask me?"

"I have one more."

"Yes?"

"I wish to ask your ladyship whether you propose to recognize me in the
presence of your household as the late Colonel Roseberry's daughter?"

"I have already recognized you as a lady in embarrassed circumstances,
who has peculiar claims on my consideration and forbearance. If you wish
me to repeat those words in the presence of the servants (absurd as it
is), I am ready to comply with your request."

Grace's temper began to get the better of her prudent resolutions.

"Lady Janet!" she said; "this won't do. I must request you to express
yourself plainly. You talk of my peculiar claims on your forbearance.
What claims do you mean?"

"It will be painful to both of us if we enter into details," replied
Lady Janet. "Pray don't let us enter into details."

"I insist on it, madam."

"Pray don't insist on it."

Grace was deaf to remonstrance.

"I ask you in plain words," she went on, "do you acknowledge that you
have been deceived by an adventuress who has personated me? Do you mean
to restore me to my proper place in this house?"

Lady Janet returned to the arra