He had not
seated himself, and, with a smile that was actually satirical, he bowed,
uttered a few words of greeting, and went out of the room.
"'How dared you?' I then cried, for astonishment had given place to
rage, 'how dared you deceive me--deceive us all--so? how dared you palm
yourself off as white and respectable, and thus be admitted to Mr.
Hale's school and to the society and companionship of his pupils?' I
could scarcely control myself when I thought of how shamefully we had
all been cozened.
"'Pardon me, madam,' she answered with effrontery,--effrontery under the
circumstances,--'you forget yourself, and what is due from one lady to
another.' (Did you ever hear of such presumption!) 'I practised no
deceit upon Professor Hale. He knew papa well,--was his intimate friend
at college, in England,--and was perfectly aware who was Mr.
Ercildoune's daughter when she was admitted to his school. For myself, I
had no confessions to make, and made none. I was your daughter's friend;
as such, went to her house, and invited her here. I trust you have seen
in me nothing unbecoming a gentlewoman, as, _up to this time_, I have
beheld in you naught save the attributes of a lady. If we are to have
any farther conversation, it must be conducted on the old plan, and not
the extraordinary one you have just adopted; else I shall be compelled,
in self-respect, to leave you alone in my own parlor.
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