There was a dreadful pause. Miss Diana, the first to recover herself, stepped back to the door and held it open.
"You must excuse dear mamma," she said coolly. "She has overtired herself."
But Lady Caroline continued to point a finger trembling with passion.
"Her price!" she shrilled. "Ask her that. It is all these creatures ever understand!"
Miss Diana slipped an arm beneath her elbow and firmly conducted her forth. Ruth, hearing the door shut, supposed that both women had withdrawn. She sank into a chair, and was stretching out her arms over the table to bury her face in them and sob, when the voice of the younger said quietly behind her shoulder,—
"It is always hard, after mamma's tantrums, to bring the talk back to a decent level. Nevertheless, shall we try?"
Ruth had drawn herself up again, rallying the spirit in her. It was weary, bruised; but its hour of default was not yet. Her voice dragged, but just perceptibly, as she answered Miss Vyell, who nodded, noting her courage and wondering a little,—
"I am sorry."
"Sorry?"
"Yes; it was partly my fault—very largely my fault. But your mother angered me from the first by assuming—what she had no right to assume. It was horrible."