I hope you will not oblige me to say any harder words than these--I hope you will understand that I wish you to withdraw." The order of dismissal could hardly have been issued with more humane consideration for the supposed mental infirmity of the person to whom it was addressed.

Grace instantly resisted it in the plainest possible terms.
"In justice to my father's memory and in justice to myself," she answered, "I insist on a hearing.

I refuse to withdraw." She deliberately took a chair and seated herself in the presence of the mistress of the house.
Lady Janet waited a moment--steadily controlling her temper.

In the interval of silence 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.