"I would have gone to you of my own accord if I had known that you were here.

It is my heartfelt wish to own that I have sinned against you, and to make all the atonement that I can.

I am too anxious to deserve your forgiveness to have any fear of seeing you." Conciliatory as the reply was, it was spoken with a simple and modest dignity of manner which roused Grace Roseberry to fury.
"How dare you speak to me as if you were any equal ?" she burst out.

"You stand there and answer me as if you had your right and your place in this house.

You audacious woman! _I_ have my right and my place here--and what am I obliged to do?
I am obliged to hang about in the grounds, and fly from the sight of the servants, and hide like a thief, and wait like a beggar, and all for what?
For the chance of having a word with _you_.