This year there is a great falling-off." "It has been a wet summer," said Lady Anne.
"Ah! and who is this young lady ?" Lady Drummond's voice told that she had no need to ask the question.

She had heard of Anne Hamilton's extraordinary freak and had suggested that for the protection of the interests of Anne's relatives she had better be put under proper restraint.

Still, she asked the question.

One would have said from the deadly monotony of Lady Drummond's voice that she could not get any expression into it.

Yet she could on occasion; and the chilling disapproval in it now made Mary look up in a frightened surprise.
"This young lady, Miss Gray, is my companion," Lady Anne said, with a stiffening of herself for battle and a light in her eye which showed that she had not mistaken Lady Drummond's challenge, and had no objection to take it up.
"Ah!" Lady Drummond again lifted the lorgnette that hung at her belt and stared at Mary through it.