Aunt Mary's face became magenta colour.
"To Lord Lossiemouth! Why should you think I was writing to him?"
"Well, I could not help knowing—don't you remember how you discussed the subject with me and dear Magdalen some weeks ago?—that the subject of a judicious and dignified letter was in your mind."
"I was careful not to mention the subject to Magdalen in your presence. I see now that you must have listened outside the door."
Aunt Aggie experienced a second shock. How did Mary always spy out these things?
"I can't think," continued Lady Blore, "how you can lower yourself to eavesdrop in the way you do; and if you must do these underhand actions, why you don't conceal them better. When you read a private letter of mine the other day, because I inadvertently left it for a moment on my writing-table——"
"You always say you lock up your private letters, you do, indeed, Mary. Be fair. I could not tell it was private."
"You would have been wiser not to have alluded next day to its contents. If you had not done so I might not have known you had read it."
Aunt Aggie burst into tears.
"The truth is I am not secretive like you, Mary," she said between her sobs. "It is as natural to me to be open and trustful with those I love as it is for you to be the reverse. Whatever I do you think wrong. But perhaps some day—and that before long—you will be forced to admit——"