'Then why does she not consult some discreet and learned person, her
spiritual director? Remorse (entirely due, no doubt, to a conscience too
delicately sensitive) is not in our line of affairs. We only advise in
cases of undesirable matrimonial engagements.'

'So we are aware,' said Miss Crofton. 'Dear Julia _is_ engaged, or
rather entangled, in--how many cases, dear?'

Julia shook her head and sobbed behind her veil.

'Is it one, Julia--nod when I come to the exact number--two? three?
four?'

At the word 'four' Julia nodded assent.

Merton very much wished that Julia would raise her veil. Her figure was
excellent, and with so many sins of this kind on her remorseful head, her
face, Merton thought, must be worth seeing. The case was new. As a
rule, clients wanted to disentangle their friends and relations. _This_
client wanted to disentangle herself.

'This case,' said Merton, 'will be difficult to conduct, and the expenses
would be considerable. I can hardly advise you to incur them. Our
ordinary method is to throw in the way of one or other of the engaged, or
entangled persons, some one who is likely to distract their affections;
of course,' he added, 'to a more eligible object. How can I hope to find
an object more eligible, Miss Crofton, than I must conceive your
interesting friend to be?'

Miss Crofton caressingly raised Julia's veil. Before the victim of