"I don't care whether they are milliner's manners or theatrical, Mrs. Lupex, as long as they're not downright bad manners--as yours are, Mrs. Lupex. And now you've got it. What are you going on for in this way with that young man, till you'll drive your husband into a madhouse with drink and jealousy?" "Miss Roper! Miss Roper!" said Cradell; "now really--" "Don't mind her, Mr. Cradell," said Mrs. Lupex; "she's not worthy for you to speak to. And as to that poor fellow Eames, if you've any friendship for him, you'll let him know what she is. My dear, how's Mr. Juniper, of Grogram's house, at Salford? I know all about you, and so shall John Eames, too--poor unfortunate fool of a fellow! Telling me of drink and jealousy, indeed!" "Yes, telling you! And now you've, mentioned Mr. Juniper's name, Mr. Eames, and Mr. Cradell too, may know the whole of it. There's been nothing about Mr. Juniper that I'm ashamed of." "It would be difficult to make you ashamed of anything, I believe." "But let me tell you this, Mrs. Lupex, you're not going to destroy the respectability of this house by your goings on." "It was a bad day for me when I let Lupex bring me into it." "Then pay your bill, and walk out of it," said Amelia, waving her hand towards the door. "I'll undertake to say there shan't be any notice required. Only you pay mother what you owe, and you're free to go at once." "I shall go just when I please, and not one hour before. Who are you, you gipsy, to speak to me in this way?" "And as for going, go you shall, if we have to call in the police to make you." Amelia, as at this period of the fight she stood fronting her foe with her arms akimbo, certainly seemed to have the best of the battle. But the bitterness of Mrs. Lupex's tongue had hardly yet produced its greatest results. I am inclined to think that the married lady would have silenced her who was single, had the fight been allowed to rage,--always presuming that no resort to grappling-irons took place. But at this moment Mrs. Roper entered the room, accompanied by her son, and both the combatants for a moment retreated. "Amelia, what's all this?" said Mrs. Roper, trying to assume a look of agonized amazement. "Ask Mrs. Lupex," said Amelia. "And Mrs. Lupex will answer," said that lady. "Your daughter has come in here, and attacked me--in such language--before Mr. Cradell, too--" "Why doesn't she pay what she owes, and leave the house?" said Amelia. "Hold your tongue," said her brother. "What she owes is no affair of yours." "But it's an affair of mine, when I'm insulted by such a creature as that."