"Why?" queried her companion, outwardly calm, but with a dangerous gleam in her eye.
"Because if you were not leaving the house at once, I should feel it my duty to take Lady Isabelle away—with young girls one must be careful."
"Explain yourself, Lady Port Arthur."
"I do not think it necessary, really; do you? Of course I can quite understand that it's most advisable, perhaps necessary, for you to marry; but common decency would prevent you from thrusting your attentions on a man who——"
"If you're alluding to Mr. Stanley, your Ladyship, I don't mind telling you, if it'll make you feel easier, that I've about decided to refuse him."
"What!"
"He proposed to me some days ago, but, as you say, one has to be careful."
"Impossible!"
"As for marrying," continued her adversary, relentlessly, determined, since Lady Isabelle's marriage must be known, to have the satisfaction of imparting the news herself—"as for marrying—you're hardly qualified to speak on that subject, if you will pardon my saying so, as you don't even know the name of your daughter's husband."
The Dowager gasped. She had no words to express her feelings.