Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/171

 had a chance of meeting charges so recklessly, and as it seemed, malevolently brought against her.

"From the way in which you speak of her," said the incensed Charlotte, "you appear to regard her as a person of importance."

"Charlotte, I regard her as thoroughly honest, trustworthy, competent—in fact a good woman in every way."

"You willfully blind yourself, Johnnie. This creature has thrown dust in your eyes. But it will be no more than you deserve if one day her niece is installed as mistress here. You will not live to see it, yet it would be no more than bare justice if you did."

"Pernicious nonsense," rejoined his Grace. "Perhaps in the circumstances it would be well to hear what Mrs. Sanderson has to say for herself."

"She is bound to lie."

Somehow the precision of the language stung his Grace.

"You are not entitled to say that," he flashed.

"It is the common sense of the situation and one has a perfect right to express it."

"Not here, Charlotte—not in this room before me. If I trust people implicitly—there are not many that I do—I trust them implicitly, and I can't allow even privileged people to speak of them in that way—at any rate, in my presence."

This explosion was so unlooked for that it took the ladies aback. In all the years they had fought him they had never seen him moved so deeply. A new Albert John had suddenly emerged. Never before had the head of the house allowed these enemies to catch a glimpse of such quixotic, such fantastic chivalry. Char