She was breathing very quickly.

"You wish to force me to marry that horrible Preston man ?" she said.
"By no means, my dear," smiled Mrs.Ingleton.

"But you might do a good deal worse.

I tell you frankly, you will be very much underdog as long as you elect to remain in this establishment.

Oh yes!" She suddenly rose to her full majestic height, dwarfing the girl before her with conscious triumph.