CHAPTER VIII.
JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.
"In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.
Dayson disappeared, nodding.
She resented his referring to Mr.Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

Even in the smallest task she could not economize herself; she had to give all or nothing.

When she came to the figures--4000--she intensified her ardour, lavishing enormous unnecessary force: it was like a steamhammer cracking a nut.

Her conscience had instantly and finally decided against her.