hem, and led them out at once upon the open
moor.

"We are in for a night of it," said Mr. Bert, and his son did not
contradict him.

"The dog goes first, then I, then you," he said to his father, with his
deep slow tone. And the elderly man, whose chief puzzle in life--since
he had given up the problem of the world--was the nature of his only
son, now wondered again, as he seldom ceased from wondering, whether
this boy despised or loved him. The young fellow always took the very
greatest care of his father, as if he were a child to be protected, and
he never showed the smallest sign of disrespect. Yet Maunder was not the
true son of his father, but of some ancestor, whose pride sprang out
of dust at the outrageous idea of a kettle-mending Bert, and embodied
itself in this Maunder.

The large-minded father never dreamed of such a trifle, but felt in such
weather, with the snow above his leggings, that sometimes it is good to
have a large-bodied son.

CHAPTER XLII

A CLEW OF BUTTONS

When Jack o' the Smithies met his old commander, as related by himself,
at the house of Mr. Mordacks, everything seemed to be going on well for
Sir Duncan, and badly for his sisters. The general factor, as he hinted
long ago, possessed certain knowledge which the Middleton lawyer fondly
supposed to be confined to himself and his fair clients. Sir Duncan
refused to believe that the ladies could ever have heard of such a
document as that which, if valid, would simply expel them; for, said he,
"If they know of it, they are nothing less than thieves to conceal it
and continue in possession. Of a lawyer I could fancy it, but never of a
lady."

"My good sir," answered the sarcastic Mordacks, "a lady's conscience is
not the same as a gentleman's, but bears more resemblance to a lawyer's.
A lady's honor is of the very highest standard; but the standard depends
upon her state of mind; and that, again, depends upon the condition of
her feelings. You must not suppose me to admit the faintest shadow of
disrespect toward your good sisters; but ladies are ladies, and facts
are facts; and the former can always surmount the latter; while a man is
comparatively helpless. I know that Mr. Jellicorse, their man of law, is
thoroughly acquainted with this interesting deed; his first duty was to
apprise them of it; and that, you may be quite sure, he has done."

"I hope not. I am sure not. A lawyer does not always employ hot haste in
an unwelcome