The continued presence of that wretch under your roof is, you will permit me to remark, not only a monument of your own weakness, but a perfectly insufferable insult to Me." 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.