Ida was too amazed for a moment to realise the full significance of the
spiteful speech; and then, as it gradually dawned upon her, the blood
rose to her face and an indignant protest rose to her lips; but she
checked it, and merely repeated the objectionable phrase.
"Yes, disgraceful," said Mrs. Heron. "I am sorry to be compelled to use
such a word to a young girl and to one in your position; and I do not
think you make matters better by pretending not to know what I mean."
"It is no pretence, Mrs. Heron," said Ida, quite calmly. "I do not in
the least know what you mean."
"Then I'll tell you," retorted Mrs. Heron, with suppressed fury. "You
are one of the most shameless flirts I ever knew."
Ida fell an almost irresistible desire to laugh; she had been tired
when she came in, Mr. George Powler's attentions had made her still
more weary, and the sight of the two women seated bolt upright and
evidently boiling over with anger, was full of a grotesque humour which
affected her hysterically. She managed to stifle the laugh, and looked
at them patiently and calmly as she stood by the mantel-piece with one
arm resting on the shelf. The unconscious ease and grace of her
attitude increased Mrs. Heron's irritation; her thin lips trembled and
her eyes grew red.
"Oh, I am not blind," she said. "I've been quite aware of your conduct
for some time past; but I have refrained from speaking to you because,
as I say, you are under my roof and I did not wish to hurt your
feelings--though I am sure you have had very little regard for ours. I
have been greatly deceived in you, Ida. I thought when you came that
you were a quiet, well-conducted young woman, and I could scarcely
believe my eyes when I first saw that I was mistaken, and that your
quietness was only slyness. I suppose you didn't think I saw that you
were trying to entrap my poor boy; but a mother's eyes are sharp, and a
mother will protect her own at any cost. Oh, you needn't try to stare
me out of countenance, or to put on that surprised and innocent look.
You may have been able to deceive me once, but you can't now. I've been
watching you, and I've seen with my own eyes your carryings on."
"Mrs. Heron--" began Ida, very quietly; but Mrs. Heron tore on with
breathless vehemence.