Margaret stood with her back to the door. "It's very kind of you to come up, Hannah, but I'm going to stay here," she answered.
"You'll do nothing of the sort."
The determination in Hannah's voice put the bit between Margaret's teeth. "I am going to stay here," she repeated.
"Either you come home this minute," replied Hannah, who had made up her mind that a firm policy was the right one to use with Margaret, "or you don't come at all."
"Then I don't come at all—till my father returns."
"And that won't be for another year, if then. There was a letter this morning which showed it plain enough."
"Then I'll come back when you are married, to take care of our mother."
Hannah turned pale with rage. "Now look here, Margaret," she said, "and understand that I don't want any taunts from you. You've taken good care to put an end to all that forever. It's my belief that you think Mr. Garratt is going to follow you up to London." At which Margaret raised her head quickly, but she only half convinced Hannah.
"I don't want Mr. Garratt," she said, "and I won't let him know where I am, I promise you that, and if he finds out he shall not enter the house. He lost his temper yesterday, but he didn't mean any of the things he said, and now that I'm away he'll come back to you."
"I'll take good care he never enters the place," said Hannah. "Perhaps you don't know that he's written you a letter? I could tell his handwriting on the envelope, though he has tried to alter it."