There she stopped abruptly--not for want of words, but for want of a
listener.
Lady Janet was not even pretending to attend to her. Lady Janet, with a
deliberate rudeness entirely foreign to her usual habits, was composedly
busying herself in arranging the various papers scattered about the
table. Some she tied together with little morsels of string; some
she placed under paper-weights; some she deposited in the fantastic
pigeon-holes of a little Japanese cabinet--working with a placid
enjoyment of her own orderly occupation, and perfectly unaware, to all
outward appearance, that any second person was in the room. She looked
up, with her papers in both hands, when Grace stopped, and said,
quietly, "Have you done?"
"Is your ladyship's purpose in sending for me to treat me with studied
rudeness?" Grace retorted, angrily.
"My purpose in sending for you is to say something as soon as you will
allow me the opportunity."
The impenetrable composure of that reply took Grace completely by
surprise. She had no retort ready. In sheer astonishment she waited
silently with her eyes riveted on the mistress of the house.
Lady Janet put down her papers, and settled herself comfortably in the
easy-chair, preparatory to opening the interview on her side.
"The little that I have to say to you," she began, "may be said in a
question. Am I right in supposing that you have no present employment,
and that a little advance in money (delicately offered) would be very
acceptable to you?"
"Do you mean to insult me, Lady Janet?"
"Certainly not. I mean to ask you a question."
"Your question is an insult."
"My question is a kindness, if you will only understand it as it is
intended. I don't complain of your not understanding it. I don't even
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?"