Salome felt as if she must shriek as she listened to this inhuman, insulting speech. It was horrible to be made to feel that she was occupying such a questionable position in the home of Dr. Winthrop; while the proposition to leave it and accompany Madame Winthrop to her home, there to hide herself—thus virtually acknowledging that she believed herself to be no wife—was not to be thought of for a single instant. She bent her head in thought for several moments, trying to decide what she should do; then she turned with an air of resolution to her companion. “Mrs. Winthrop,” she said gravely, “Dr. Winthrop brought me here as his wife—he installed me here as the mistress of his home and treated me in every respect as one upon whom he had bestowed such an honor. As his wife and the mistress of his home, I shall remain here until his return; unless I receive a message directly from him telling me to change my residence. I feel compelled to say,” Salome went on, with increasing firmness, “that I consider that you have acted unkindly and officiously, both toward me and—my husband, in the course you have pursued since Dr. Winthrop went abroad, and although he wished you to remain here as my guests until his return, yet, if we cannot live more harmoniously than we have hitherto lived, I think it would be for our mutual comfort if you and Evelyn would return to your own home.” Madame Winthrop arose in high dudgeon at this plain speaking, her face almost purple from wrath. “Am I to understand that you turn me, Dr. Winthrop’s own mother, out of my son’s house?” she demanded, in tones that shook with passion. “No, madam,” Salome quietly and politely responded, “I have no desire to do anything so rude as that; but I cannot continue to live as we have been living—my strength will not admit of it. If I have to endure excitement like that of the past twenty-four hours, I know it will not be long before I shall be in as critical a state as when I left Boston. I shall be only too happy to have you and your daughter remain where you are if you will desist from this persecution; otherwise, as I have no other home, I shall be forced to ask you to return to Thirty-fourth Street.” Madam stood in speechless astonishment for a moment, for she had never dreamed of any such termination to an interview which she had intended to make so humiliating. Then, it not being exactly clear to her how to meet this very resolute spirit exhibited by her son’s wife, she stalked silently and majestically from the room, and Salome, left to herself, burst into a passion of bitter tears. She was very unhappy, for that day had brought no letter as she had expected, although Evelyn received one from her brother Norman. He stated that his father still remained in a very critical condition, and Dr. Winthrop would probably be detained longer than he had at first expected.