"No, I don't, but _you_ do. It's perfectly disgusting and intolerable," cried Lady Jane, with a stamp. "One moment, if you please--you can afford to listen for one moment, I suppose," said the old lady, in a very low, dry tone, laying two of her lean fingers upon the snowy arm of the beautiful young lady, who, with a haughty contraction and an uplifted head, withdrew it fiercely from her touch. "You forget your maid, I think. You had better tell her to withdraw, hadn't you?" "I don't care; why should I?" said Lady Jane, in a high key. "Beatrix, dear, run into my bed-room for a moment," said "Granny" to that distressed and perplexed young lady, who, accustomed to obey, instantly withdrew. CHAPTER XXI. Lady Alice in Bed. "We may be alone together, if _you_ choose it; if not, _I_ can't help it," said Lady Alice, in a very low and impressive key. "Well, it's nothing to me," said Lady Jane, more calmly and sullenly--"nothing at all--but as you insist--Cecile, you may go for a few minutes." This permission was communicated sulkily, in French. "Now, Jane, you shall hear me," said the old lady, so soon as the maid had disappeared and the doors were shut; "you must hear me with patience, if not with respect--_that_ I don't expect--but remember you have no mother, and I am an old woman and your kinswoman, and it is my duty to speak--" "I'm rather tired standing," interrupted Lady Jane, in a suppressed passion. "Besides, you say you don't want to be overheard, and you can't know who may be on the _lobby there_," and she pointed with her jewelled fingers at the door. "I'll go into my bed-room, if you please; and I have not the slightest objection to hear everything you can possibly say. Don't fancy I'm the least afraid of you." Saying which Lady Jane, taking up her bed-room candle, rustled out of the room, without so much as looking over her shoulder to see whether the prophetess was following. She did follow, and I dare say her lecture was not mitigated by Lady Jane's rudeness. That young lady was lighting her candles on her dressing-table when her kinswoman entered and shut the door, without an invitation. She then seated herself serenely, and cleared her voice. "I live very much out of the world--in fact, quite to myself; but I learn occasionally what my relations are doing; and I was grieved, Jane, to hear a great deal that was very unpleasant, to say the least, about you." Something between a smile and a laugh was her only answer. "Yes, extremely foolish. I don't, of course, say there was anything wicked, but very foolish and reckless. I know perfectly how you were talked of; and I know also why you married that excellent but old man, General Lennox." "I don't think anyone talked about me. Everybody is talked about. There has been enough of this rubbish. I burnt your odious letter," broke in Lady Jane, incoherently. "And would, no doubt, burn the writer, if you could." As there was no disclaimer, Lady Alice resumed.