Mercy still waited to be spoken to; pale and quiet, silent and
submissive. Lady Janet--in a highly uncertain state of temper--was
obliged to begin.
"My dear!" she called out, sharply.
"Yes, Lady Janet."
"How much longer are you going to sit there with your mouth shut up and
your eyes on the carpet? Have you no opinion to offer on this alarming
state of things? You heard what the man said to Julian--I saw you
listening. Are you horribly frightened?"
"No, Lady Janet."
"Not even nervous?"
"No, Lady Janet."
"Ha! I should hardly have given you credit for so much courage after my
experience of you a week ago. I congratulate you on your recovery."
"Thank you, Lady Janet."
"I am not so composed as you are. We were an excitable set in _my_
youth--and I haven't got the better of it yet. I feel nervous. Do you
hear? I feel nervous."
"I am sorry, Lady Janet."
"You are very good. Do you know what I am going to do?"
"No, Lady Janet."
"I am going to summon the household. When I say the household, I mean
the men; the women are no use. I am afraid I fail to attract your
attention?"
"You have my best attention, Lady Janet."
"You are very good again. I said the women were of no use."
"Yes, Lady Janet."
"I mean to place a man-servant on guard at every entrance to the house.
I am going to do it at once. Will you come with me?"
"Can I be of any use if I go with your ladyship?"
"You can't be of the slightest use. I give the orders in this house--not
you. I had quite another motive in asking you to come with me. I am more
considerate of you than you seem to think--I don't like leaving you here
by yourself. Do you understand?
"I am much obliged to your ladyship. I don't mind being left here by
myself."
"You don't mind? I never heard of such heroism in my life--out of a
novel! Suppose that crazy wretch should find her way in here?"
"She would not frighten me this time as she frightened me before."
"Not too fast, my young lady! Suppose--Good heavens! now I think of it,
there is the conservatory. Suppose she should be hidden in there? Julian
is searching the grounds. Who is to search the conservatory?"
"With your ladyship's permission, _I_ will search the conservatory."
"You!!!"
"With your ladyship's permission."
"I can hardly believe my own ears! Well, 'Live and learn' is an old
proverb. I thought I knew your character. This _is_ a change!"
"You forget, Lady Janet (if I may venture to say so), that the
circumstances are changed. She took me by surprise on the last occasion;
I am prepared for her now."