A Bride from the Bush - The Original Classic Edition. Hornung E

had the wit to tell it simply. But when he reached the point where the Judge appeared on the scene Lady Bligh stopped him; Granville was disappointed.

       'I think perhaps I have been told what happened then,' said Lady Bligh; 'at all [63] events I seem to know, and I don't care to hear it again. Oh! it was too scandalous! But tell me, Gran, how did your father bear it?--at the time, I mean.'

       'Like a man!' said Granville, with righteous warmth. 'Like a man! With that vile whip cracking under his very nose, he did not flinch--he did not stir. Then she whipped his hat from his head; and then she saw what she had done, and went down on her knees to him--as if that would undo it!'

       'And your father?'

       'My father behaved splendidly; as no other man in England in his position and--in that position--would have behaved. He told her at once, when she said she had not seen it was he, that he quite understood that; that, in fact, he had seen it for himself from the

       first. Then he told her to get up that instant; then he smiled--actually smiled; and then--you will hardly believe this, but it is a fact--

       he gave his arm to Mistress Gladys and took her in to breakfast!' Lady Bligh sighed, but made no remark.

       'It was more than she deserved; even Alfred admitted that.' Lady Bligh did not answer.

       'Even Alfred was knocked out of time. [64] I never saw a fellow look more put out than he did at breakfast. He had warned us to prepare for "mannerisms," but----'

       Granville made a tempting pause. Lady Bligh, however, refused to fill it in. She was engrossed in thought. Her line of thought sud-

       denly flashed across Granville, and he caught it up dexterously.

       'As for the Judge,' said he, 'what the Judge feels no one can say. As I said, he behaved as only he could have behaved in the infamous circumstances. But I did see him steal a quiet glance at Alfred; and that glance said plainer than words: "You've done it, my boy; this is irrevocable!"'

       Lady Bligh was drawn at last.

       'This is very painful,' she murmured; 'this is too painful, Granville!'

       'Painful?' cried Granville. 'I grant you it's painful; but it's the fact; it's got to be faced.'

       'That may be,' said Lady Bligh, sadly; 'that may be. But we ought not to be hasty; and we certainly ought not to make too much of this one escapade.'

       Granville shook his head wisely, and smiled.

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       'I don't think there is much fear of that. [65] On the contrary, I doubt if our eyes are even yet fully open to the enormity of this morning's work. I don't think we any of us realise the hideous indignity to which my father has been subjected. But we should. We should think of it--and of him. Here we have one of the oldest and ablest of Her Majesty's judges--a man of the widest experience and of the fairest fame, whose name is a synonym for honour and humanity, not only in the Profession, but throughout every section of the community--a man, my dear mother, with whom the very smartest of us--I tell you frankly--would fight shy of a tilt in court, yet whom we all respect and honour; in very truth, "a wise and upright judge," though I say it who am his son. And what