"How dare you say that?" demanded Eva angrily.
"Because I'm accustomed to speak my mind," snapped Lady Ipsen, glaring; "it is not a chit like you will make me hold my peace. Mrs. Hill was in our family as a governess before your father married my daughter Jane."
"What of that?"
"Simply this: a valuable diamond necklace was lost--an heirloom. I believe Mrs. Hill stole it."
Eva laughed. "I don't believe that for one moment," she said scornfully. "Mrs. Hill is a good, kind, sweet lady."
"Lady she is, as she comes of good stock. Sweet I never thought her, and kind she may be to you, seeing she is trying to trap you into marrying her miserable son----"
"Don't you call Allen miserable," said Eva, annoyed; "he is the best man in the world, and worth a dozen of Lord Saltars."
"That would not be difficult," said Lady Ipsen, sneering; "Saltars is a fool and a profligate."
"And you expect me to marry him?"
"To save him from disgracing the family."