In the frenzy of her indignation she never hesitated—she took it.
"Who are you?" she asked for the second time.
Grace roused herself and attempted to speak.
Mercy stopped her with a scornful gesture of her hand.
"I remember!" she went on, with the same fiercely suppressed rage.
"You are the madwoman from the German hospital who came here a week ago.
I am not afraid of you this time.
Sit down and rest yourself, Mercy Merrick."
Deliberately giving her that name to her face, Mercy turned from her and took the chair which Grace had forbidden her to occupy when the interview began.
Grace started to her feet.
"What does this mean?" she asked.
"It means," answered Mercy, contemptuously, "that I recall every word I said to you just now.
It means that I am resolved to keep my place in this house."
"Are you out of your senses?"
"You are not far from the bell.
Ring it.
Do what you asked me to do.
Call in the whole household, and ask them which of us is mad—you or I."
"Mercy Merrick! you shall repent this to the last hour of your life!"
Mercy rose again, and fixed her flashing eyes on the woman who still defied her.
"I have had enough of you!" she said.
"Leave the house while you can leave it.
Stay here, and I will send for Lady Janet Roy."
"You can't send for her!
You daren't send for her!"
"I can and I dare.
You have not a shadow of a proof against me.
I have got the papers; I am in possession of the place; I have established myself in Lady Janet's confidence.
I mean to deserve your opinion of me—I will keep my dresses and my jewels and my position in the house.
I deny that I have done wrong.
Society has used me cruelly; I owe nothing to Society.
I have a right to take any advantage of it if I can.
I deny that I have injured you.
How was I to know that you would come to life again?
Have I degraded your name and your character?
I have done honor to both.
I have won everybody's liking and everybody's respect.
Do you think Lady Janet would have loved you as she loves me?
Not she!
I tell you to your face I have filled the false position more creditably than you could have filled the true one, and I mean to keep it.
I won't give up your name; I won't restore your character!
Do your worst; I defy you!"
She poured out those reckless words in one headlong flow which defied interruption.
There was no answering her until she was too breathless to say more.
Grace seized her opportunity the moment it was within her reach.
"You defy me?" she returned, resolutely.
"You won't defy me long.
I have written to Canada.
My friends will speak for me."
"What of it, if they do?