Molly rose at this point and laid her hand on her cousin's shoulder.
"Keep quiet, dear—keep quiet! Let us leave this house." She turned to Lady Woodroffe. "It is a house of lies."
Lady Woodroffe looked at her as if she were not present, and had not spoken.
"The delusion is stronger than I thought," she said, affecting surprise and wonder.
Alice recovered and stood up, still holding the things to her heart.
"Oh," she cried, panting and gasping, "you are a bad woman! a false woman!"
"For Heaven's sake," said Molly, "keep quiet! You have said enough. Think of yourself."
"I had better ring the bell, I think." Lady Woodroffe laid her finger on the knob, but refrained to press it.
"Oh! What can I say?"
"Say nothing, dear," said Molly.