professional opinion is opposed
to it. The opinion of another Scottish lawyer (in Glasgow) is, to my
certain knowledge, opposed to it. If the young lady had not acted with
a wisdom and courage which do her honor, she might have lived to see
the day when her reputation would have been destroyed, and her children
declared illegitimate. Who is to say that circumstances may not happen
in the future which may force Mr. Brinkworth or Miss Silvester--one or
the other--to assert the very marriage which they repudiate now? Who is
to say that interested relatives (property being concerned here) may not
in the lapse of years, discover motives of their own for questioning
the asserted marriage in Kent? I acknowledge that I envy the immense
self-confidence which emboldens Sir Patrick to venture, what he is
willing to venture upon his own individual opinion on an undecided point
of law."

He sat down amidst a murmur of approval, and cast a slyly-expectant look
at his defeated adversary. "If _that_ doesn't irritate him into showing
his hand," thought Mr. Moy, "nothing will!"

Sir Patrick slowly raised his head. There was no irritation--there was
only distress in his face--when he spoke next.

"I don't propose, Mr. Moy, to argue the point with you," he said,
gently. "I can understand that my conduct must necessarily appear
strange and even blameworthy, not in your eyes only, but in the eyes of
others. My young friend here will tell you" (he looked toward Arnold)
"that the view which you express as to the future peril involved in this
case was once the view in my mind too, and that in what I have done thus
far I have acted in direct contradiction to advice which I myself gave
at no very distant period. Excuse me, if you please, from entering (for
the present at least) into the motive which has influenced me from
the time when I entered this room. My position is one of unexampled
responsibility and of indescribable distress. May I appeal to that
statement to stand as my excuse, if I plead for a last extension of
indulgence toward the last irregularity of which I shall be guilty, in
connection with these proceedings?"

Lady Lundie alone resisted the unaffected and touching dignity with
which those words were spoken.

"We have had enough of irregularity," she said sternly. "I, for one,
object to more."

Sir Patrick waited patiently for Mr. Moy's reply. The Scotch lawyer and
the English lawyer looked at each other--and understood ea