Nora did not seem to hear her; she had relapsed into her stony,
trance-like stupor.
"And now, sir, since you took the liberty of bringing her in, put her
out--out of the room, and out of the house!" said Mis. Brudenell.
"Mamma! what! at midnight! in the snow-storm?" exclaimed Lady
Hurstmonceux, in horror.
"Yes! she shall not desecrate the bleakest garret, or the lowest cellar,
or barest barn on the premises!"
"Mamma! It would be murder! She would perish!" pleaded the young lady.
"Not she! Such animals are used to exposure! And if she and all like her
were to 'perish,' as you call it, the world would be so much the better
for it! They are the pests of society!"
"Mamma, in pity, look at her! consider her situation! She would surely
die! and not alone, mamma! think of that!" pleaded Berenice.
"Jovial! am I to be obeyed or not?" sternly demanded the elder lady.
"Come, Miss Nora; come, my poor, poor child," said Jovial, in a low
tone, taking the arm of the miserable girl, who turned, mechanically, to
be led away.
"Jovial, stop a moment! Mrs. Brudenell, I have surely some little
authority in my husband's house; authority that I should be ashamed to
claim in the presence of his mother, were it not to be exercised in the
cause of humanity. This girl must not leave the house to-night," said
Berenice respectfully, but firmly.
"Lady Hurstmonceux, if you did but know what excellent cause you have to
loathe that creature, you would not oppose my orders respecting her; if
you keep her under your roof this night you degrade yourself; and,
finally, if she does not leave the house at once I and my daughters
must--midnight and snow-storm, notwithstanding. We are not accustomed to
domicile with such wretches," said the old lady grimly.
Berenice was not prepared for this extreme issue; Mrs. Brudenell's
threat of departing with her daughters at midnight, and in the storm,
shocked and alarmed her; and the other words reawakened her jealous
misgivings. Dropping the hand that she had laid protectingly upon Nora's
shoulder, she said: "It shall be as you please, madam. I shall not interfere again."
This altercation had now aroused poor Nora to the consciousness that she
herself was a cause of dispute between the two ladies; so putting her
hand to her forehead and looking around in a bewildered way, she said: "No; it is true; I have no right to stop here now; I will go!"