Rose stood before her, proudly now, her back turned upon Electra, as if she repudiated one source of justice and appealed to another court.
"You called me Miss MacLeod," she said, in her full-throated voice. "I was your grandson's wife."
"Tom's wife!" cried the old lady, in a sharp staccato. "Tom's wife! For heaven's sake!"
Rose turned from her to Stark with an eloquent insistence. Electra, outside the circle of the drama, stood ignored. But Madam Fulton called to her,—
"Electra, do you hear?"
"I have heard it," answered Electra, with composure.
"You have heard it? Why didn't you tell me?"
But Electra made no reply. Madam Fulton gave way to her excitement. It seemed to put new blood into her veins.
"Sit down here," she said imperiously, pushing forward a chair. Rose sank upon it in a dignified obedience. "Now tell me,—how long were you married?"
"Two years."