“You are possibly not aware of the position in which her ladyship is being placed by this temporary separation from her family?” ventured Lady Bereford, with full interrogative force that at length afforded an opportunity to Sir Thomas.

“The matter,” returned he, “has never given me any serious apprehensions, and, pardon me, I must confess to your ladyship that there seem no apparent grounds for any.  Lady Rosamond has been made acquainted with our views regarding Gerald, and knowing this, I have too much confidence in her nature to harbor a thought that she will either, in word or action, entertain a wish in opposition to that of a fond and solicitous parent.”

“I admit that Lady Rosamond is indeed a worthy and dutiful daughter; yet, pardon me, there are many little undesirable and inconsistent fancies which, in the waywardness of youth, are ready to take form in the tender and susceptible nature of a young girl, and which, if not constantly watched, assume a degree of strength almost uncontrollable.  Allow me to state the case,” continued her ladyship, “when, perhaps, you may see the matter in a clearer light.”

At mention of the word case Sir Thomas dreaded another succession of legal points, but demurely listened to the following version: 

“You have unwittingly placed your child in a very dangerous position.  To none would I so readily give the protection of my daughter as Lady Douglas, who is, in every sense, a true mother and a dignified woman; yet there are moments when Lady Rosamond can assert her right to control her own impulses and feelings.  As a guest she has an entire right, while it would otherwise be a stretch of prerogative on the part of the guardian.”

“You cannot but admit,” said her ladyship, still bent on influencing her attentive listener, “that Lady Rosamond is indeed very beautiful, which alone has sufficient reason to sustain my argument.  Beauty, through countless ages, has been the source of much misery.  Through Helen was lost a Troy; Cleopatra, Roman glory.”

Her ladyship was going to cite further examples when interrupted by Sir Thomas exclaiming: 

“Your ladyship will pardon me, but it would certainly be deep injustice at present to raise an objection on this point; it surely did not bring misery in its train to Lord Bereford.”

At this compliment to her beauty and vanity, a rare smile lit the face of Lady Bereford, while she gaily added: 

“Sir Thomas, you still cling to your former gallantry with the pertinacity of an ill-favored suitor.”

Seeing that the last evidence was ill-grounded, her ladyship, having reconsidered the situation, again resumed: