He, looking at the matter with his own lights,
had thought that he had been right, but had resolved to submit the
question to another person. As judge in the matter he had chosen
Lady Cantrip, and Lady Cantrip had given judgement against him.
He had pressed Lady Cantrip for a decided opinion, and she had
told him that she, in the same position, would have done just as
Mrs Finn had done. He had constituted Lady Cantrip his judge, and
had resolved that her judgement should be final. He declared to
himself that he did not understand it. If a man's house be on
fire, do you think of certain rules of etiquette before you bid
him send for the engines? If a wild beast be loose, do you go
through some ceremony before you caution the wanderers abroad?
There should not have been a moment! But, nevertheless, it was
now necessary that he should conform himself to the opinion of
Lady Cantrip, and in doing so he must apologise for the bitter
scorn with which he allowed himself to treat his wife's most loyal
and loving friend.
The few words to the Duke had not been difficult, but this letter
seemed to be an Herculean task.
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