Patty stepped bravely in front of her.
"Have you no breeding?" the storm in Mrs. Franklyn-Haldene's voice gathering.
"Who told you that my brother's wife was formerly—"
"Stand aside!"
"I shall not leave this house or your presence till you have answered," replied the little paladin. "You wrote this letter to me, trusting it would make me miserable. It has. But I have not done what you expected,—shown it. Who told you this base lie?"
"I refuse to answer your impudent questions. Will you stand aside?"
"There is a way to force you. I will know, Mrs. Haldene, I will know. If you refuse, I shall turn these two sheets over to my brother's lawyers."
"A lawyer?" with an hysterical laugh. "You would scarcely take a thing like that to a lawyer, of all persons."
"I declare to you that that is exactly what I shall do. You wrote this letter; I can prove that you wrote it. Afraid of publicity? You do not know me. What I demand to know is, who gave you this information? That I will know."
Mrs. Franklyn-Haldene saw that Patty would do what she promised; so she took her stand boldly.