Her reply was not wanting.

"Any one who has been a friend to my husband has, naturally, claims upon me." Lady Haldwell, in spite of herself, chafed.

There was a subtlety in the woman before her not to be reckoned with lightly.
"And if an enemy ?" she said, smiling.
A strange smile also flickered across Mrs.Armour's face as she said: "If an enemy of my husband called, and was penitent, I should--offer her tea, no doubt." "That is, in this country; but in your own country, which, I believe, is different, what would you do ?" Mrs.Armour looked steadily and coldly into her visitor's eyes.
"In my country enemies do not compel us to be polite." "By calling on you ?" Lady Haldwell was growing a little reckless.
"But then, that is a savage country.

We are different here.

I suppose, however, your husband told you of these things, so that you were not surprised.