n the great and
momentous exception which she did not want to specify.

"I think," Lady Randolph went on, "that to obey means rather--keep in
harmony with your husband, pay attention to his opinions, don't take up
an opposite course, or thwart him, be united--instead of the obedience
of a servant, you know: still less of a slave."

She was a great deal cleverer than Lucy, who was not thinking of the
general question at all. And this answer did the perplexed mind little
good. Lucy followed every word with curious attention, but at the end
slowly shook her head.

"It is not that. Lady Randolph, if there was something that was your
duty before you were married, and that is still and always your duty, a
sacred promise you had made; and your husband said no, you must not do
it--tell me what you would have done? The rest is all so easy," cried
Lucy, "one likes what he likes, one prefers to please him. But this is
difficult. What would you have done?"

Here Lady Randolph all at once, after giving forth the philosophical
view which was so much above her companion, found herself beyond her
depth altogether, and incapable of the fathom of that simple soul.

"I don't understand you, Lucy. Lucy, for heaven's sake, take care what
you are doing! If it is anything about Jock, I implore of you give way
to your husband. You may be sure in dealing with a boy that he knows
best."

Lucy sighed. "It is nothing about Jock," she said; but she did not
repeat her demand. Lady Randolph gave her a lecture upon the subject of
relations which was very wide of the question; and, with a sigh, owning
to herself that there was no light to be got from this, Lucy listened
very patiently to the irrelevant discourse. The clever dowager cut it
short when it was but half over, perceiving the same, and asked herself
not without excitement what it was possible Lucy's difficulty could be?
If it was not Jock (and a young brother hanging on to her, with no home
but hers, an inquisitive young intelligence, always in the way, was a
difficulty which anybody could perceive at a glance) what was it? But
Lucy baffled altogether this much experienced woman of the world.

And Jock watched all the day for an opportunity to get possession of
her, and assail her on the other side of the question. She avoided him
as persistently as he sought her, and with a panic which was very
different from her usual happy confidence in him. But the moment came
when she could elude