"You would dare!" The frightened tire-woman tried to excuse herself.

"But my fair lady," she stammered, "what have I done?
I have said no more than I heard." "You would dare!" repeated the lady in a choking voice.

"You, a graceless baggage, a foolish lack-brain, with no thought above the hemming of shifts.

And he so kindly and hendy and long-suffering! You would--ha, you may well flee the room!" She had spoken with a rising voice, and a clasping and opening of her long white fingers, so that it was no marvel that ere the speech was over the skirts of Agatha were whisking round the door and the click of her sobs to be heard dying swiftly away down the corridor.
Alleyne stared open-eyed at this tigress who had sprung so suddenly to his rescue.

"There is no need for such anger," he said mildly.