as a father might. In this instance Wiggins may be standing on his
rights, and the knowledge of this may be the reason why he defied you so
insolently."

Sir Lionel looked annoyed, and was silent for a few moments.

"I don't believe it," said he; "I don't believe any thing of the kind. I
don't believe any law will allow a man to exercise such control over
another just because he or she is a minor. Besides, even if it were so,
Edith is of age, and this restraint can not be kept up. What good would
it do, then, for him to imprison her for three or four months? At the
end of that time she must escape from his control. Besides, even on the
ground that he is _in loco parentis_, you must remember that there
are limits even to a father's authority. I doubt whether even a father
would be allowed to imprison, a daughter without cause."

"But this imprisonment may only be a restriction within the grounds. The
law can not prevent that. Oh, the fact is, this guardianship law is a
very queer thing, and we shall find that Wiggins has as much right over
her as if he were her father. So we must go to work carefully; and my
idea is that it would be best to see him first of all, before we do any
thing, so as to see how it is."

"At any rate," said Sir Lionel, "we can force him to show by what right
he controls her liberty. The law of guardianship can not override the
_habeas corpus_ act, and the liberty of the subject is provided
for, after all. If we once get Edith out of his control, it will be
difficult for him to get her back again, even if the law did decide in
his favor. Still I think there is a good deal in what you say, and it
certainly is best not to be too hasty about it. An interview with him,