A Duel

ddressed her again, with both in her manner an

om and come here disturbing Mr.

cted, seemed to take Isabel somewhat aback. It was not unlikely that a rapid debate was takin

er adventures had been so many and various that it had grown to be a habit to measure herself against nearly every one with whom she was brought in contact. Nannie was a dour old Scotchwoman. Isabel was perfectly conscious that she was not likely to be subdued--to the point to which she desired to bring her--by words alone. She herself was wholly devoid of scruples. As to self-respect, she was incapable of realising what it meant. She had been brought up in a school in whic

t there was but little fear of that. Her ankle was against her, and the fact that she had been inactive for a fortnight. But, on the other hand, though tough and brawny, Nannie might be old enough to be her grandmother. Even though h

an issue then and there--if necessary, in the presence of the man

objectionab

ousek

ncerned, if she can't keep a civil tongue in her head and mend

etter tell he

mean you're

e day I was born, nor with Nannie either. She'

ke that plain to her, then I will. Now, my woman, remember that I'm your mistress, and that I'll stand impertine

her's attitude and manner of addressing her. It was a second or tw

hat! And you to call yourself Mr. Cuthbert's wife! Why, you're nothing but a shameless trollop! And though the doctor said that Mr. Cuthbert was to be

t, Na

lf, before her face, on the woman's side. From words she proceeded to measures. Traversing the room with a rapidity whic

ve this room, or am I

d out of it by you! It'll be you that'll be

balance and go toppling over on to the floor. Before she had a chance to recover, Isabel had the door wide open, and began bundling the still prostrate Nannie unceremoniously through it. She was conscious that words were proceeding from the man in the bed, but what they were she neither knew n

e discussions of the kind. Although hampered by her ankle she had no difficulty in evading the other's mad onrush, at least sufficiently long to enable her to receive her with a hail of blows directed impartially at her face and body. The proceedings had only laste

ne mad, that you behave like drunken fishwi

d been presented, and proceeded to vouchsafe some sort of explanation. As, however, she talked at the top of her voice, which failed her badly, and had to stop at uncomfortably short

t my mother!--knocked me about as if I were an old rag-bag!--a bold-faced besom that's nothing in the world but the c

combat had brought her near the head of the stairs, uncomfortably near, as the event immediately showed. Before she was able to recover herself, reaching the topmost stair, she went crashing down it on to the doctor who stood remonstrating below. Luckily for him he was on th

ms, she stared down on her victim in the depths below. The doctor, more startled than hurt, seemed to be in two minds what to do or say. With one eye, a

now you may ha

ght if I have!" came

led was soon made pl

ound half the bones in my body!--the

the voice

ay a rude thing to me, or of me, as sure as you're lying there, I'll have you dragged into the road

over her, as if to ascertain

ou have brok

doctor, I told you we'd rue the d

with breaking half the bones in

forget yourself;

bully her mistress, and then whines when she herself gets thrashed instead! And look

pidly beginni

o understand just once, and once for all, that you're mistaken. It's going to be the other way round; I'm going to play this game, in my way, not yours; I'm going to do as I like with you. You'll take your instructions from me, and from me only. If you want to be allowed on these premises you'll treat me as a lady and as the mistress of the house ought to be treated. Who's that down there? I heard you

groaning in what was evidently genuine pain. The doctor,

me, Mrs. Grahame, but I

have thrown her out of a window if there'd been one handy, and it would have served her thoroughly well right. I suppose you don't want her to lie there, litterin

her room with anything