The one hand which she could use glittered with diamonds, as she waved it with a little imperious gesture towards the chair on which she desired Lady Mary to seat herself; and Mary sat down meekly, knowing that this chair represented the felon's dock.
'Mary,' began her grandmother, with freezing gravity, 'I have been surprised and shocked by your conduct to-day.

Yes, surprised at such conduct even in you.' 'I do not think I have done anything very wrong, grandmother.' 'Not wrong! You have done nothing wrong?
You have done something absolutely outrageous.

You, my granddaughter, well born, well bred, reared under my roof, to go up Helvellyn and lose yourself in a fog alone with a young man.

You could hardly have done worse if you were a Cockney tourist,' concluded her ladyship, with ineffable disgust.
'I could not help the fog,' said Mary, quietly.

The battle had to be fought, and she was not going to flinch.