What is there wonderful, what
is there unaccountable, in her fainting under such circumstances
as these?"
The question was plainly put. Where was the answer to it?
There was no answer to it. Mercy's wisely candid statement of the
manner in which she had first met with Grace, and of the accident
which had followed had served Mercy's purpose but too well. It
was simply impossible for persons acquainted with that statement
to attach a guilty meaning to the swoon. The false Grace
Roseberry was still as far beyond the reach of suspicion as ever,
and the true Grace was quick enough to see it. She sank into the
chair from which she had risen; her hands fell in hopeless
despair on her lap.
"Everything is against me," she said. "The truth itself turns
liar, and takes _her_ side." She paused, and rallied her sinking
courage. "No!" she cried, resolutely, "I won't submit to have my
name and my place taken from me by a vile adventuress! Say what
you like, I insist on exposing her; I won't leave the house!"
The servant entered the room, and announced that the cab was at
the door.
Grace turned to Julian with a defiant wave of her hand.
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