Mrs. Bertram sank down into the chair which at first she had obstinately refused.
"Josephine," she said, "I am no longer a young woman; I have not got the strength of youth. I cannot bear up as the young can bear up. Why have you come here? What object have you in torturing me with your presence here?"
"I won't torture you; I shall live quietly."
"But why have you come? You had no right to come."
"I had perfect right to live where I pleased. I had all the world to choose from, and I selected to live at your gates."
"You did very wrong. Wrong! It is unpardonable."
"Why so? What injury am I doing you? I have promised to be silent; I will be silent for a little. I won't injure you or yours by word or deed."
"You have a story in your head, a false story; you will spread it abroad."
"I have a story, but it is not false."
"False or true, you will spread it abroad."