am afraid it's all thrown away on poor me."

(The law kept its wonderful temper! The law met the most exasperating of
living women with a counter-power of defensive aggravation all its own!)

"I take that as confirming me, Lady Lundie. Thank you. Now, as to the
method of carrying out our friend's advice. The method seems plain. All
we can do to divert Blanche's mind is to turn Blanche's attention to
some other subject of reflection less painful than the subject which
occupies her now. Do you agree, so far?"

"Why place the whole responsibility on my shoulders?" inquired Lady
Lundie.

"Out of profound deference for your opinion," answered Sir Patrick.
"Strictly speaking, no doubt, any serious responsibility rests with me.
I am Blanche's guardian--"

"Thank God!" cried Lady Lundie, with a perfect explosion of pious
fervor.

"I hear an outburst of devout thankfulness," remarked Sir Patrick. "Am
I to take it as expressing--let me say--some little doubt, on your
part, as to the prospect of managing Blanche successfully, under present
circumstances?"

Lady Lundie's temper began to give way again--exactly as her
brother-in-law had anticipated.

"You are to take it," she said, "as expressing my conviction that I
saddled myself with the charge of an incorrigibly heartless, obstinate
and perverse girl, when I undertook the care of Blanche."

"Did you say 'incorrigibly?'"

"I said 'incorrigibly.'"

"If the case is as hopeless as that, my dear Madam--as Blanche's
guardian, I ought to find means to relieve you of the charge of
Blanche."

"Nobody shall relieve _me_ of a duty that I have once undertaken!"
retorted Lady Lundie. "Not if I die at my post!"

"Suppose it was consistent with your duty," pleaded Sir Patrick, "to
be relieved at your post? Suppose it was in harmony with that
'self-sacrifice' which is 'the motto of women?'"

"I don't understand you, Sir Patrick. Be so good as to explain
yourself."

Sir Patrick assumed a new character--the character of a hesitating man.
He cast a look of respectful inquiry at his sister-in-law, sighed, and
shook his head.

"No!" he said. "It would be asking too much. Even with your high
standard of duty, it would be asking too much."

"Nothing which you can ask me in the name of duty is too much."

"No! no! Let me remind you. Human nature has its limits."

"A Christian gentlewoman's sense of duty knows no limits."

"Oh, surely yes!"

"Sir Patrick! after what I have j