"And then she is such a ferocious old termagant--such an old vulturess.
Now isn't she a ferocious old termagant?" Lizzie paused for an answer,
desirous that her companion should join her in her enmity against her
aunt; but Miss Macnulty was unwilling to say anything against one who had
been her protectress, and might, perhaps, be her protectress again. "You
don't mean to say you don't hate her?" said Lizzie. "If you didn't hate
her after all she has done to you, I should despise you. Don't you hate
her?"

"I think she's a very upsetting old woman," said Miss Macnulty.

"Oh, you poor creature! Is that all you dare say about her?"

"I'm obliged to be a poor creature," said Miss Macnulty, with a red spot
on each of her cheeks.

Lady Eustace understood this, and relented. "But you needn't be afraid,"
she said, "to tell me what you think."

"About the diamonds, you mean."

"Yes, about the diamonds."

"You have enough without them. I'd give 'em up for peace and quiet." That
was Miss Macnulty's advice.

"No, I haven't enough, or nearly enough. I've had to buy ever so many
things since my husband died. They've done all they could to be hard to
me. They made me pay for the very furniture at Portray." This wasn't true;
but it was true that Lizzie had endeavoured to palm off on the Eustace