Grace
Roseberry would be formally acknowledged--and there it would end.
Was there hope in this new view?
Yes! There was the false hope of making the inevitable atonement
by some other means than by the confession of the fraud.
What had Grace Roseberry actually lost by the wrong done to her?
She had lost the salary of Lady Janet's "companion and reader."
Say that she wanted money, Mercy had her savings from the
generous allowance made to her by Lady Janet; Mercy could offer
money. Or say that she wanted employment, Mercy's interest with
Lady Janet could offer employment, could offer anything Grace
might ask for, if she would only come to terms.
Invigorated by the new hope, Mercy rose excitedly, weary of
inaction in the empty room. She, who but a few minutes since had
shuddered at the thought of their meeting again, was now eager to
devise a means of finding her way privately to an interview with
Grace. It should be done without loss of time--on that very day,
if possible; by the next day at latest. She looked round her
mechanically, pondering how to reach the end in view. Her eyes
rested by chance on the door of the billiard-room.
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