"_You_ won't confess," she went on. "You have had a week to
confess in, and you have not done it yet. No, no! you are of the
sort that cheat and lie to the last. I am glad of it; I shall
have the joy of exposing you myself before the whole house. I
shall be the blessed means of casting you back on the streets.
Oh! it will be almost worth all I have gone through to see you
with a policeman's hand on your arm, and the mob pointing at you
and mocking you on your way to jail!"
This time the sting struck deep; the outrage was beyond
endurance. Mercy gave the woman who had again and again
deliberately insulted her a first warning.
"Miss Roseberry," she said, "I have borne without a murmur the
bitterest words you could say to me. Spare me any more insults.
Indeed, indeed, I am eager to restore you to your just rights.
With my whole heart I say it to you--I am resolved to confess
everything!"
She spoke with trembling earnestness of tone. Grace listened with
a hard smile of incredulity and a hard look of contempt.
"You are not far from the bell," she said; "ring it."
Mercy looked at her in speechless surprise.
"You are a perfect picture of repentance--you are dying to own
the truth," pursued the other, satirically.
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