Susan knew that they were in the realm of pure fiction now, but she could only listen.  She glanced at Emily, but Emily only looked impressed and edified.

“So—­” Ella, unchallenged, went on.  “So when I see anyone inclined to be rude to Mamma, Sue—–­”

“As you certainly were—–­” Emily began.

“Keep out of this, Baby,” Ella said.  Susan asked in astonishment;

“But, good gracious, Ella!  When was I ever rude to your mother?”

“Just—­one—­moment, Sue,” Ella said, politely declining to be hurried.  “Well!  So when I realize that you deceived Mamma, Sue, it—­ I’ve always liked you, and I’ve always said that there was a great deal of allowance to be made for you,” Ella interrupted herself to say kindly, “but, you know, that is the one thing I can’t forgive!—­ In just a moment—–­” she added, as Susan was about to speak again.  “Well, about a week ago, as you know, Ken’s doctor said that he must positively travel.  Mamma isn’t well enough to go, the kid can’t go, and I can’t get away just now, even,” Ella was deriving some enjoyment from her new role of protectress, “even if I would leave Mamma.  What Ken suggested, you know, seemed a suitable enough arrangement at the time, although I think, and I know Mamma thinks, that it was just one of the poor boy’s ideas which might have worked very well, and might not!  One never can tell about such things.  Be that as it may, however—–­”

“Oh, Ella, what on earth are you getting at!” asked Susan, in sudden impatience.

“Really, Sue!” Emily said, shocked at this irreverence, but Ella, flushing a little, proceeded with a little more directness.

“I’m getting at this—­please shut up, Baby!  You gave Mamma to understand that it was all right between you and Ken, and Mamma told me so before I went to the Grahams’ dinner, and I gave Eva Graham a pretty strong hint!  Now Ken tells Mamma that that isn’t so at all,—­ I must say Ken, for a sick boy, acted very well!  And really, Sue, to have you willing to add anything to Mamma’s natural distress and worry now it,—­well, I don’t like it, and I say so frankly!”

Susan, angered past the power of reasonable speech, remained silent for half-a-minute, holding the back of a chair with both hands, and looking gravely into Ella’s face.

“Is that all?” she asked mildly.

“Except that I’m surprised at you,” Ella said a little nettled.

“I’m not going to answer you,” Susan said, “because you know very well that I have always loved your Mother, and that I deceived nobody!  And you can’t make me think she has anything to do with this!  It isn’t my fault that I don’t want to marry your brother, and Emily knows how utterly unfair this is!”

“Really, I don’t know anything about it!” Emily said airily.

“Oh, very well,” Susan said, at white heat.  She turned and went quietly from the room.

She went upstairs, and sat down crosswise on a small chair, and stared gloomily out of the window.  She hated this house, she said to herself, and everyone in it!  A maid, sympathetically fluttering about, asked Miss Brown if she would like her breakfast brought up.