"There was no need to with me," said Elspeth coldly, but a spot of vivid red burned on each cheek. "I know Angus well."
"But not so well as I do," cried Miss Tedder, anxious to break down her companion's composure. "Angus made me love him, and then left me all alone. He broke my heart," this with a truly effective sob.
"Rubbish," said Elspeth, rising quickly. "Say that to a man and not to another woman. Angus had a passing fancy for you, and you threw him over at the bidding of your father."
"He had more than a fancy. He adored me."
"Papa would not let me marry him; but if Angus had remained true to me, I should have remained true to him."
"Instead of taking up with Captain Bruce Kyles, I suppose," sneered Elspeth, resolved to sting in her turn.
"How dare you talk to me like this? You who are no better than a servant, and who will soon be a murderer's widow."
"No," cried Mrs. Herries imperatively, and facing the other girl boldly, "I intend to save my husband's life."
"You," Elspeth turned like a tigress on her visitor, "what do you know about it?"
Maud felt rather afraid when this fragile girl flashed out in this way.
"I know that Angus is guilty," she said obstinately.
"I can get some one to give evidence that he is innocent."
"My father," explained Maud calmly, "left all his money, save a miserable thousand a year, to Angus. That is not fair."
"I can offer no opinion on that point," rejoined Elspeth, in an equally cool manner. "The will was none of my making. But if you wanted to inherit the money, you should have given up this Captain Kyles, as your father wished."
"I won't and I didn't. I would rather lose every penny than give up Bruce."
"It seems to me that you _have_ lost every penny," said Mrs. Herries rather cruelly, "but you have got your lover."
"No, I haven't," cried Maud, her eyes very bright and her cheeks very red; then suddenly broke down, "Oh, Elspeth, do help me, or I'll lose him altogether. He won't marry me unless I have the money, and I haven't got it."
But Elspeth was not going to yield to a few crocodile tears.
"You can get the money when Angus is hanged," she retorted.
"Very well," she cried, with a stamp, "you're a hard-hearted girl and a beast. I hate and detest you. I came here to save your husband, but now he can hang."