“Then I will hold the scheme in abeyance, until I ask Uncle Mitchell’s advice.  I shall call at his office, and request him to go with me.”

“Don’t you know that the Grand Jury brought in a true bill against that young woman?  She is indicted for murder, robbery and the destruction of her grandfather’s will.  Mitchell tells me the evidence is overwhelming against her, and you know he was disposed to defend her at first.”

“Yes, Aunty.  I am aware that everything looks black for the unfortunate girl; but I learn she is very ill, and as it cannot possibly injure me to endeavor to contribute to her physical comfort.  I shall go and sec her, unless Uncle Mitchell refuses his consent to my visit to the prison.”

“But, Leo. what do you suppose Mr. Dunbar will think and say, when he hears of this extraordinary procedure?”

“Mr. Dunbar is neither the custodian of my conscience, nor the guardian and dictator of my actions.  Good-bye, Aunty dear.  Justine, show Mrs. Graham in.”  “Mr. Dunbar will never forgive such a step; because, like all other men, no matter how much license he allows himself, he is very exacting and fastidious about the demeanor of his lady-love.”

“I shall not ask absolution of Mr. Dunbar, and I hope my womanly intuitions are a safer and more refined guide, than any man’s fastidiousness.  Remember, Aunt Patty, religion’s holiest work consists in ministering to souls steeped in sin.  Are we too pure to follow where Christ led the way?”

CHAPTER XI.

“Madam, I ordered the prisoner’s head shaved.  Did you understand my instructions?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Why were my orders not obeyed?”

“Because I don’t intend you shall make a convict of her, before she has been tried and sentenced.  She has the most glorious suit of hair I ever looked at, and I shall save it till the last moment.  Doctor Moffat, you need not swear and fume, for I don’t allow even my husband to talk ugly to me.  You directed a blister put on the back of the neck, as close as possible to the skull; it is there, and it is drawing fast enough to satisfy any reasonable person.  I divided the hair into four braids and plaited them, and you can see I have hung up the ends here just loose enough to save any pulling, and yet the hair is out of the way, so that I keep her head cool with this India-rubber ice-bag.  I will be responsible for the blister.”

Mrs. Singleton spread her arms over the sick girl, as a hen shelters her brood from a swooping hawk.

“But, Susie, the Doctor knows better what is—­”

“Hush, Ned.  Perhaps he does; but I ‘detailed’ myself to nurse this case; and I don’t propose to surrender all my common sense, and all my womanly judgment, and maternal experience, in order to keep the Doctor in a good humor.  I will have my own head shaved before hers shall be touched.”