“I will. I shall continue to consider it the worst insult you could have offered my father, your late husband. Thank God, he was my mother's husband first!”
“What am I to understand by that?”
“Whatever your ladyship chooses, except that I will not hold any farther communication with you on the matter.”
“Then you mean to dispute the title?”
“I decline to say what I mean or do not mean to do.”
Lady Ann rose to ring the bell.
Miss Malliver met Richard in the doorway. He turned.
“I am going to bid Theodora good-bye,” he said.
“You shall do no such thing!” cried her ladyship.
Richard flew up the stair, and, believing Miss Malliver had not gone to his sister, went straight to her room.