Thence, and thence only, sprang the impulse which set her talking, with an uneasy affectation of frivolity, of any topic within the range of conversation, so long as it related to the future, and completely ignored the present and the past.
"The winter here is unendurable," Lady Janet began.

"I have been thinking, Grace, about what we had better do next." Mercy started.

Lady Janet had called her "Grace." Lady Janet was still deliberately assuming to be innocent of the faintest suspicion of the truth.
"No," resumed her ladyship, affecting to misunderstand Mercy's movement, "you are not to go up now and dress.

There is no time, and I am quite ready to excuse you.

You are a foil to me, my dear.