against him are expressly barred by a provision
in the last statute. Let us see."

He took down the statutes of the realm, and
showed Alfred the clause, which raises the
proprietor of a madhouse above the civic level of a
Prince Royal. "Curse the law," said Alfred
bitterly.

"No, don't curse the Law. Curse the Act if
you like; but we can't get on without the Law,
neither of us. Try again."

"The certifying doctor, sir?"

"Humph!" said Mr. Compton, knitting his
brows: "a jury might give you a verdict. But
it would probably be set aside by the full court,
or else by a court of error. For, unless you
could prove informality, barefaced negligence, or
mala fides, what does it come to? A professional
man, bound to give medical opinions to all
comers, is consulted about you, and says he
thinks you are insane; you turn out sane. Well,
then he was mistaken: but not more than he
is in most of his professional opinions. We
lawyers know what guesswork Medicine is, we
see it in the witness-box. I hate suing opinions:
it is like firing bullets at snipes in a wind. Try
again."

Alfred groaned. "Why there is nobody left
but the rogue who signed the order."

"And if you were a lawyer that alone would
tell you he is the defendant. Where a legal
wrong has been committed by A. B. and C., and
there is no remedy against A. or B., there must
either be one against C., or none at all: but
this Law abhors as Nature does a vacuum.
Besides this defendant has done the wrong
complained of. In his person you sue an act, not an
opinion. But of course you are not cool enough
to see all this just at first."

"Cool, sir," said Alfred, despairingly; "I am
frozen with your remorseless law. What, of all
these villains, may I only attack one, and can't
I imprison even him, as he has me? Such narrow
law encourages men to violence, who burn under
wrongs like mine."

Mr. Compton looked keenly at his agitated,
mortified client, but made no concession. He
gave him a minute to digest the law's first
bitter pill: and then said, "If I am to act for
you, you had better write a line to the
Commissioners of Lunacy requesting them to hand
me copies of the order and certificates. Alfred
wrote it.

"And now," said Mr. Compton thoughtfully,
"I don't think they will venture to recapture
you during the fourteen days. But still they
might: and we attorneys are wary animals. So
please give me at once a full authority to act
under advice of counsel for your protection."

Alfred wrote as requested, and Mr. Compton
put the paper in his drawer, remarking, "With
this I can proceed by law or equity, even should
you get into the asylum again." He then
dismissed Alfred somewhat abruptly, but with an
invitation to call again after three clear days.
Like most ardent suitors after their first interview
with passionless law, he went away sadly
chilled, and so home to his cheerless lodging, to
count the hours till he could see Julia, and learn
his fate from her lips.

This very morning a hasty note came to Edward
from Folkestone, worded thus:

"Oh, Edward: my worst misgivings! The
two have parted. Poor papa has taken a man's
boat and is in sight. We shall follow directly in
a steam-boat. But the other! You know my
fears; you must be father and mother to that
poor child till I come home.

"Your sad mother,

"LUCY DODD."

Julia held out her hand for the note. Edward
put it in his pocket.

"What is that for?" said the young lady.

"Why surely I may put my own property in
my pocket."

"Oh, certainly. I only want to look at it."

"Excuse me."

"Are you in earnest, Edward? Not let me
see dear mamma's letter!" and the vivid face
looked piteously surprised.

"Oh, I'll tell you the contents. Papa had got
to Folkestone and taken a boat, and gone to sea:
then mamma took a steam-boat and after him:
so she will soon catch him, and is not that a
comfort?"

"Oh yes," cried Julia, and was for some time
too interested and excited to think of anything
else. But presently she returned to the charge.
"Anything else, dear."

"Humph? Well, not of equal importance."

"Oh, if it is of no importance, there can be no
reason for not telling me. What was it?"

Edward coloured but said nothing. He thought,
however: and thus ran his thoughts: "She's
my intellectual superior; and I've got to deceive
her; and a nice mess I shall make of it."

"It is of importance," said Julia, eyeing him.
"You have told a story: and you don't love your
sister." This fulminated, she drew herself up
proudly and was silent. A minute afterwards,
stealing a look at her, he saw her eyes suddenly
fill with tears, apropos of nothing tangible.

"Now this is nice," said he to himself.

At noon she put on her bonnet to visit her
district. He put on his hat directly, and
accompanied her. Great was her innocent pleasure at
that; it was the first time he had done her the
honour. She took him to her poor people, and
showed him off with innocent pride.

"Hannah, this is my brother." Then in a
whisper, "Isn't he beautiful?" Presently she
saw him looking pale; unheard of phenomenon!
"There now, you are ill," said she. "Come home
directly, and be nursed."

"No, no," said he. "I only want a little fresh
air. What horrid places! what horrid sights
and smells! I say, you must have no end of pluck
to face them."