d 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:

"You must admit that among the military staff of Sir Howard Douglas
there are many