"I shall call you what I please, you dirty upstart, to put yourself
on a level with ladies like us! We always said you was common."

"What--what's it you dared me to say?" asked Miss Impett
breathlessly, as her face went livid.

"Don't--don't say it," pleaded Miss Allen; but her interference was
ineffectual.

"That I picked up gentlemen in evening dress," bawled Miss Potter.
"Say it: say it: say it! I dare you!"

"I do say it. I'll tell everyone. I've watched you pick up gentlemen
in--"

She got no further. Miss Potter struck her in the mouth.

"You beast!" cried Miss Impett.

Miss Potter struck her again.

"You beast: you coward!" yelled Miss Impett.

"It's you who's the coward, 'cause you don't hit me. Take that and
that," screamed Miss Potter, as she hit the other again and again.
"And if you say any more, I'll pull your hair out."

"I'm not a coward; I'm not a coward!" wept Miss Impett. "And you
know it."