and say such things to me. It's my house."

"I shall say just what I please."

"Miss Macnulty, come in." And Lizzie threw open the door, hardly knowing
how the very weak ally whom she now invoked could help her, but driven by
the stress of the combat to seek assistance somewhere. Miss Macnulty, who
was seated near the door, and who had necessarily heard every word of the
conversation, had no alternative but to appear. Of all human beings Lady
Linlithgow was to her the most terrible, and yet, after a fashion, she
loved the old woman. Miss Macnulty was humble, cowardly, and subservient;
but she was not a fool, and she understood the difference between truth
and falsehood.

She had endured fearful things from Lady Linlithgow; but she knew that
there might be more of sound protection in Lady Linlithgow's real wrath
than in Lizzie's pretended affection,

"So you are there, are you?" said the countess.

"Yes, I am here, Lady Linlithgow."

"Listening, I suppose. Well, so much the better. You know well enough, and
you can tell her. You ain't a fool, though I suppose you'll be afraid to
open your mouth."

"Julia," said Lady Eustace, "will you have the kindness to see that my
aunt is shown to her carriage? I cannot stand her violence, and I will go
up-stairs." So saying she made her way very gracefully into the back
drawing-room, whence she could escape to her bedroom.