She would make a last attempt to wring from her the name of that lover of the shadows.
Should it be Richard--and she was sure of it--that aspiring journalist must never again cross the Harley threshold.
Mrs.Hanway-Harley, who had the merit of expedition, repaired at once to Dorothy's room.

That obdurate beauty was half undressed, and her maid had just finished arranging her hair in two raven braids--thick as a ship's cable, they were.

As Mrs.Hanway-Harley entered, Dorothy glanced up with half-wistful eye.

Poor child! she was hoping her mother might have softened from that granite attitude of the morning! But no, there was nothing tender in the selfish, austere gaze; at that, the spirit of the old astronomical ancestor who, with his water-pans and gate-posts, knew the earth was flat, began to chafe within Dorothy's girlish bosom.
Mrs.Hanway-Harley came to a dignified halt in the middle of the room.
"Cora, you may go," said Mrs.Hanway-Harley.
The black maid gave a parting touch to the braids, in which she contrived to mingle sympathy and affection, for with the wisdom of her caste she knew of Dorothy's love and gave it her approval.
"Dorothy," said Mrs.Hanway-Harley, when they were alone, and speaking in a high, superior vein, "I have come for the name of that man." "Mr.Storms," returned Dorothy, in tones which for steadiness matched Mrs.Hanway-Harley's.
It was not the name so much as the relentless frankness that furnished it, which overcame Mrs.Hanway-Harley.

She sat down with an emphasis so sudden that it was as though her knees were glass and the blow had broken them.