Madame Gobelli boiled over with rage.
“Engagement! What do you mean by making an engagement without asking my leave first? You can’t keep it! I want you to ’elp me in something and you’ll ’ave to come!”
“You must forgive me,” repeated Miss Wynward, firmly, “but I cannot do as you wish!”
Harriet opened her eyes in amazement. Miss Wynward refusing a request from Madame Gobelli. What would happen next?
The Baroness grew scarlet in the face. She positively trembled with rage.
“’Old your tongue!” she screamed. “You’ll do as I say, or you leave my ’ouse.”
“Then I will leave your house!” replied Miss Wynward.
Madame Gobelli was thunderstruck! Where was this insolent menial, who had actually dared to defy her, going? What friends had she? What home to go to? She had received no salary from her for years past, but had accepted board and lodging and cast-off clothes in return for her services. How could she face the world without money?
“You go at your peril,” she exclaimed, hoarse with rage, “you know what will ’appen to you if you try to resist me! I ’ave those that will ’elp me to be revenged on my enemies! You know that those I ’ate, die! And when I ’ave my knife in a body, I turn it! You ’ad better be careful, and think twice about what you’re going to do.”
“Your ladyship cannot frighten me any longer,” replied Miss Wynward, calmly, “I thank God and my friends that I have got over that! Nor do I believe any more in your boasted powers of revenge! If they are really yours, you should be ashamed to use them.”