perfectly unreasonable. She justifies her brother in everything, and
is actually working on that poor girl's scruples of conscience to
send her out by this ship.'

'Nay,' said Louis, 'after hearing her father's letter, I do not see
that it is possible for her to do otherwise.'

Lord Ormersfield hastily turned to look at his son's countenance,--it
was flushed and melancholy, but fully in earnest; nevertheless the
Earl would not believe his ears, and made a sound as if he had missed
the words.

'I am grieved enough to say so,' repeated Louis; 'but, as he puts it,
I do not see how Mary can refuse to obey him.'

'I declare, Fitzjocelyn,' exclaimed his father, with some anger, 'any
one who takes the trouble, may talk you into anything imaginable!'

'Not into believing her wrong.'

'I did not think you so weak!' continued his father. 'It is the very
case where a woman's exaggerated notions of right may be wrought on
to do her infinite harm! They become quite ridiculous without some
one to show that such things may be carried too far! I must say, I
did expect strength of mind and common sense for your own interest.
I esteem it a mere matter of duty to put an end to such nonsense.'

'My dear father,' said Louis, 'it was Mary and her mother who first
taught me my own obligations. I should never dare to interfere with
any one's filial duty--above all, where my own happiness is so deeply