"Not at all," said Lady Ushant in perfect innocence. "I have nothing to bind me anywhere."
"I shall think it my duty to remain here now,—till the end."
"I suppose so. He has always been almost the same to you as your own."
"Quite so; quite the same. He is my own." And yet,—thought Lady Ushant,—she left him in his illness! She, too, had heard something from Mrs. Hopkins of the temper in which Mrs. Morton had last left Bragton. "But you are not bound to him in that way."
"Not in that way certainly."
"In no way, I may say. It was very kind of you to come when business made it imperative on me to go to town, but I do not think we can call upon you for further sacrifice."
"It is no sacrifice, Mrs. Morton." Lady Ushant was as meek as a worm, but a worm will turn. And, though innocent, she was quick enough to perceive that at this, their first meeting, the other old woman was endeavouring to turn her out of the house.
"I mean that it can hardly be necessary to call upon you to give up your time."
"What has an old woman to do with her time, Mrs. Morton?"
Hitherto Mrs. Morton had smiled. The smile indeed had been grim, but it had been intended to betoken outward civility. Now there came a frown upon her brow which was more grim and by no means civil. "The truth is that at such a time one who is almost a stranger—"