She shook her fist at the house of Sir Frank, said something about him
that was not exactly a blessing, then returned home with her mind made
up. She wished to leave Colester, which was now too hot for her. As
Sybil would look after Pearl, there would be no difficulty in that
quarter. She had saved money, and with what she had got from pawning the
cup she was fairly well off for her station in life. But Mrs Jeal was
greedy and wanted more. Mrs Gabriel was to be the milch cow this time.
Thus it came about that Mrs Gabriel was informed that evening that Mrs
Jeal wished to see her at once on important business.
The underlying insolence of the message annoyed Mrs Gabriel, who always
prided herself on keeping the lower orders in what she called their
proper place, which was under her heel. And Mrs Gabriel was in no mood
to be merciful to insolence. Some kind friend had informed her of the
discovery of Leo's true position. She was savagely angry. On account of
Pratt she had hated the young man, and later on, when he came to defy
her, she had disliked him on his own account. That he should have a
title, and that he should marry Sybil Tempest! These things were all
gall and bitterness to the haughty woman. She wanted Leo to be her
slave, to punish him for Pratt's misdemeanours. But her slave had
escaped, and she could do nothing save sit in the empty room, eating out
her heart in the bitterness of impotent anger. She could do nothing. Leo
was gone; Pratt was gone, and she was left a lonely woman. She had not
even the comfort of feeling that she could revenge herself.
Feeling in this mood, she was not unwilling to see Mrs Jeal. Here, at
least, was someone on whom she could vent her rage. With an imperious
gesture she ordered the woman to be admitted, and received her with a
stormy brow. Mrs Jeal smiled. She knew that she had the upper hand, and
was not to be intimidated by stormy looks. Waiting till the servant had
departed and the door was closed, she introduced herself.
"I have to speak to you on important business, my lady," she said, with
assumed meekness, and addressing Mrs Gabriel by a title to which she
laid no claim. This was done to accentuate the later part of the
interview. Mrs Jeal was quite as well prepared as was Mrs Gabriel to
make herself disagreeable. She also was out of tune.
"What business can a woman like you have with me?" demanded Mrs Gabriel,
with scorn, and put up a _lorgnette_ to freeze Mrs Jeal with a look.
But Mrs Jeal had borne the looks of even greater ladies than Mrs
Gabriel. "It is strange, is it not, my lady?" she sniggered; "but I have
something to talk about which will interest your ladyship very much."
"Indeed!" Mrs Gabriel looked more scornful than ever. "And I believe you
have to do with this precious discovery?"
"I have, my lady. Mr Haverleigh is now Lord Morven. I proved his right
to the title. You see, my lady, I was a nurse at Kilspindie Castle, and
I stole his lordship when a child."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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