Anne went forward and drew her own two out of the fray.
"Pray send those two screamers to the nursery, Lady Hartledon," cried the
dowager.
"I cannot think why they are allowed in the drawing-room at all," said
Lady Margaret, addressing no one in particular, unless it was the
ceiling. "Edward and Maude would be quiet enough without them."
Anne did not retort: she only glanced at her husband, silent reproach on
her pale face, and took up Anne in her arms to carry her from the room.
But Lady Laura, impulsive and warm, came forward and stopped the exit.
"Lady Kirton, I am ashamed of you! Margaret, I am ashamed of you! I am
ashamed of you all. You are doing the children a lasting injury, and you
are guilty of cruel insult to Lady Hartledon. This is the second scene I
have been a witness to, when the elder children were encouraged to behave
badly to the younger; the first was in the nursery this morning; and I
have been here only a few hours. And you, Lord Hartledon, their head and
father, responsible for your children's welfare, can tamely sit by, and
suffer it, and see your wife insulted! Is this what you married Anne
Ashton for?"
Lord Hartledon rose: a strange look of pain on his features. "You are
mistaken, Laura. I wish every respect to be shown to my wife; respect
from all. Anne knows it."
"Respect!" scornfully retorted Lady Laura. "When you do not give her
so much as a voice in her own house; when you allow her children to be
trampled on, and beaten--_beaten_, sir--and she dare not interfere!
I blush for you, and could never have believed you would so behave to
your wife.
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