She had come to reproach herself bitterly for having weakly connived at the desperate act of Charlie Mershone, and her good sense assured her the result would be disastrous to all concerned in it.

Contempt for herself and contempt for her cousin mingled with well-defined fears for her cherished reputation, and so it was that Miss Von Taer had almost decided to telephone Madame Cerise and order her to escort Louise Merrick to her own home when Beth's card came up with a curt demand for a personal interview.
The natures of these two girls had never harmonized in the slightest degree.

Beth's presence nerved Diana to a spirit of antagonism that quickly destroyed her repentant mood.

As she confronted her visitor her demeanor was cold and suspicious.

There was a challenge and an accusation in Beth's eyes that conveyed a distinct warning, which Miss Von Taer quickly noted and angrily resented--perhaps because she knew it was deserved.
It would have been easy to tell Beth De Graf where her cousin Louise was, and at the same time to assure her that Diana was blameless in the affair; but she could not endure to give her antagonist this satisfaction.
Beth began the interview by saying: "What have you done with Louise Merrick ?" That was, of course, equal to a declaration of war.
Diana was sneering and scornful.