Adeline made no reply: she felt convinced that all remonstrance would be useless.
She accordingly addressed herself to the toilet, Lydia assisting her in that ceremony for the first time.
"I have chosen the attire that best becomes you—and I have arranged your hair in the most attractive manner," said Lydia; "for I should be vexed were you not to appear to advantage in the presence of him who made you his mistress during pleasure."
"Wretch!" cried Adeline, turning sharply round upon Lydia, whose bitter taunt touched the most sensitive fibre of her heart.
"If I be a wretch, it is you who made me so," said Lydia, with imperturbable coolness.
Adeline bit her lips almost till the blood came, to suppress the rage that rose as it were into her throat.
She then hastily left the boudoir, followed at a short distance by Lydia Hutchinson.
Lady Ravensworth knew that her torturess was behind her,—knew also that it was vain to reason with her in respect to any particular line of conduct that she might choose to adopt.
As the unhappy lady proceeded towards the drawing-room, she endeavoured to compose both her countenance and her mind as much as possible: but she felt herself blushing at one moment and turning pale the next,—now with a face that seemed to be on fire—then with an icy coldness at the heart.