prison；　in　the　present　tender　state　of　public　feeling；　for　a
  charming　woman　like　Miss　Gwilt！　My　dear　sir；　if　she　had　attempted
  to　murder　you　or　me；　and　if　an　inhuman　judge　and　jury　had　decided
  on　sending　her　to　a　prison；　the　first　object　of　modern　society
  would　be　to　prevent　her　going　into　it；　and；　if　that　couldn't　be
  done；　the　next　object　would　be　to　let　her　out　again　as　soon　as
  possible。　Read　your　newspaper；　Mr。　Armadale；　and　you'll　find　we
  live　in　piping　times　for　the　black　sheep　of　the　communityif
  they　are　only　black　enough。　I　insist　on　asserting；　sir；　that　we
  have　got　one　of　the　blackest　of　the　lot　to　deal　with　in　this
  case。　I　insist　on　asserting　that　you　have　had　the　rare　luck；　in
  these　unfortunate　inquiries；　to　pitch　on　a　woman　who　happens　to
  be　a　fit　object　for　inquiry；　in　the　interests　of　the　public
  protection。　Differ　with　me　as　strongly　as　you　please；　but　don't
  make　up　your　mind　finally　about　Miss　Gwilt　until　events　have　put
  those　two　opposite　opinions　of　ours　to　the　test　that　I　have
  proposed。　A　fairer　test　there　can't　be。　I　agree　with　you　that　no
  lady　worthy　of　the　name　could　attempt　to　force　her　way　in　here；
  after　receiving　your　letter。　But　I　deny　that　Miss　Gwilt　is　worthy
  of　the　name；　and　I　say　she　will　try　to　force　her　way　in　here　in
  spite　of　you。〃
  〃And　I　say　she　won't！〃　retorted　Allan；　firmly。
  Pedgift　Senior　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　smiled。　There　was　a
  momentary　silence；　and　in　that　silence　the　door…bell　rang。
  The　lawyer　and　the　client　both　looked　expectantly　in　the
  direction　of　the　hall。
  〃No；〃　cried　Allan；　more　angrily　than　ever。
  〃Yes！〃　cried　Pedgift　Senior；　contradicting　him　with　the　utmost
  politeness。
  They　waited　the　event。　The　opening　of　the　house　door　was　audible；
  but　the　room　was　too　far　from　it　for　the　sound　of　voices　to　reach
  the　ear　as　well。　After　a　long　interval　of　expectation；　the
  closing　of　the　door　was　heard　at　last。　Allan　rose　impetuously　and
  rang　the　bell。　Mr。　Pedgift　the　elder　sat　sublimely　calm；　and
  enjoyed；　with　a　gentle　zest；　the　largest　pinch　of　snuff　he　had
  taken　yet。
  〃Anybody　for　me？〃　asked　Allan；　when　the　servant　came　in。
  The　man　looked　at　Pedgift　Senior；　with　an　expression　of
  unutterable　reverence；　and　answered；　〃Miss　Gwilt。〃
  〃I　don't　want　to　crow　over　you；　sir；〃　said　Mr。　Pedgift　the　elder；
  when　the　servant　had　withdrawn。　〃But　what　do　you　think　of　Miss
  Gwilt　_　now？_〃
  Allan　shook　his　head　in　silent　discouragement　and　distress。
  〃Time　is　of　some　importance；　Mr。　Armadale。　After　what　has　just
  happened；　do　you　still　object　to　taking　the　course　I　have　had　the
  honor　of　suggesting　to　you？〃
  〃I　can't；　Mr。　Pedgift；〃　said　Allan。　〃I　can't　be　the　means　of
  disgracing　her　in　the　neighborhood。　I　would　rather　be　disgraced
  myselfas　I　am。〃
  〃Let　me　put　it　in　another　way；　sir。　Excuse　my　persisting。　You
  have　been　very　kind　to　me　and　my　family；　and　I　have　a　personal
  interest；　as　well　as　a　professional　interest；　in　you。　If　you
  can't　prevail　on　yourself　to　show　this　woman's　character　in　its
  true　light；　will　you　take　common　precautions　to　prevent　her　doing
  any　more　harm？　Will　you　consent　to　having　her　privately　watched
  as　long　as　she　remains　in　this　neighborhood？〃
  For　the　second　time　Allan　shook　his　head。
  〃Is　that　your　final　resolution；　sir？〃
  〃It　is；　Mr。　Pedgift；　but　I　am　much　obliged　to　you　for　your
  advice；　all　the　same。〃
  Pedgift　Senior　rose　in　a　state　of　gentle　resignation；　and　took　up
  his　hat　〃Good…evening；　sir；〃　he　said；　and　made　sorrowfully　for
  the　door。　Allan　rose　on　his　side；　innocently　supposing　that　the
  interview　was　at　an　end。　Persons　better　acquainted　with　the
  diplomatic　habits　of　his　legal　adviser　would　have　recommended　him
  to　keep　his　seat。　The　time　was　ripe　for　〃Pedgift's　postscript；〃
  and　the　lawyer's　indicative　snuff…box　was　at　that　moment　in　one
  of　his　hands；　as　he　opened　the　door　with　the　other。
  〃Good…evening；〃　said　Allan。
  Pedgift　Senior　opened　the　door；　stopped；　considered；　closed　the
  door　again；　came　back　mysteriously　with　his　pinch　of　snuff　in
  suspense　between　his　box　and　his　nose；　and　repeating　his
  invariable　formula；　〃By…the…by；　there's　a　point　occurs　to　me；〃
  quietly　resumed　possession　of　his　empty　chair
  Allan；　wondering；　took　the　seat；　in　his　turn；　which　he　had　just
  left。　Lawyer　and　client　looked　at　each　other　once　more；　and　the
  inexhaustible　interview　began　again。
  CHAPTER　VI。
  PEDGIFT'S　POSTSCRIPT。
  〃I　MENTIONED　that　a　point　had　occurred　to　me；　sir；〃　remarked
  Pedgift　Senior。
  〃You　did；〃　said　Allan。
  〃Would　you　like　to　hear　what　it　is；　Mr。　Armadale？〃
  〃If　you　please；〃　said　Allan。
  〃With　all　my　heart；　sir！　This　is　the　point。　I　attach　considerable
  importanceif　nothing　else　can　be　doneto　having　Miss　Gwilt
  privately　looked　after；　as　long　as　she　stops　at　Thorpe　Ambrose。
  It　struck　me　just　now　at　the　door；　Mr。　Armadale；　that　what　you
  are　not　willing　to　do　for　your　own　security；　you　might　be　willing
  to　do　for　the　security　of　another　person。〃
  〃What　other　person？〃　inquired　Allan。
  〃A　young　lady　who　is　a　near　neighbor　of　yours；　sir。　Shall　I
  mention　the　name　in　confidence？　Miss　Milroy。〃
  Allan　started；　and　changed　color。
  〃Miss　Milroy！〃　he　repeated。　〃Can　_she_　be　concerned　in　this
  miserable　business？　I　hope　not；　Mr。　Pedgift；　I　sincerely　hope
  not。〃
  〃I　paid　a　visit；　in　your　interests；　sir；　at　the　cottage　this
  morning；〃　proceeded　Pedgift　Senior。　〃You　shall　hear　what　happened
  there；　and　judge　for　yourself。　Major　Milroy　has　been　expressing
  his　opinion　of　you　pretty　freely；　and　I　thought　it　highly
  desirable　to　give　him　a　caution。　It's　always　the　way　with　those
  quiet　addle…headed　me　n：　when　they　do　once　wake　up；　there's　no
  reasoning　with　their　obstinacy；　and　no　quieting　their　violence。
  Well；　sir；　this　morning　I　went　to　the　cottage。　The　major　and　Miss
  Neelie　were　both　in　the　parlormiss　not　looking　so　pretty　as
  usual；　pale；　I　thought；　pale；　and　worn；　and　anxious。　Up　jumps　the
  addle…headed　major　（I　wouldn't　give　_that；_　Mr。　Armadale；　for　the
  brains　of　a　man　who　can　occupy　himself　for　half　his　lifetime　in
  making　a　clock！）up　jumps　the　addle…headed　major；　in　the
  loftiest　manner；　and　actually　tries　to　look　me　down。　Ha！　ha！　the
  idea　of　anybody　looking　_me_　down；　at　my　time　of　life。　I　behaved
  like　a　Christian；　I　nodded　kindly　to　old　What's…o'clock　'Fine
  morning；　major；'　says　I。　'Have　you　any　business　with　me？'　says
  he。　'Just　a　word；'　says　I。　Miss　Neelie；　like　the　sensible　girl
  she　is；　gets　up　to　leave　the　room；　and　what　does　her　ridiculous
  father　do？　He　stops　her。　'You　needn't　go；　my　dear；　I　have　nothing
  to　say　to　Mr。　Pedgift；'　says　this　old　military　idiot；　and　turns
  my　way；　and　tries　to　look　me　down　again。　'You　are　Mr。　Armadale's
  lawyer；'　says　he；　'if　you　come　on　any　business　relating　to　Mr。
  Armadale；　I　refer　you　to　my　solicitor。'　（His　solicitor　is　Darch；
  and　Darch　has　had　enough　of　_me_　in　business；　I　can　tell　you！）
  'My　errand　here；　major；　does　certainly　relate　to　Mr。　Armadale；'
  says　I；　'but　it　doesn't　concern　your　lawyerat　any　rate；　just
  yet。　I　wish　to　caution　you　to　suspend　your　opinion　of　my　client；
  or；　if　you　won't　do　that；　to　be　careful　how　you　express　it　in
  public。　I　warn　you　that　our　turn　is　to　come；　and　that　you　are　not
  at　the　end　yet　of　this　scandal　about　Miss　Gwilt。'　It　struck　me　as
  likely　that　he　would　lose　his　temper　when　he　found　himself
  tackled　in　that　way；　and　he　amply　fulfilled　my　expectations。　He
  was　quite　violent　in　his　languagethe　poor　weak
  creatureactually　violent　with　_me！_　I　behaved　like　a　Christian
  again；　I　nodded　kindly；　and　wished　him　good…morning。　When　I
  looked　round　to　wish　Miss　Neelie　good…morning；　too；　she　was　gone。
  You　seem　restless；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　remarked　Pedgift　Senior；　as
  Allan；　feeling　the　sting　of　old　recollections；　suddenly　started
  out　of　his　chair；　and　began　pacing　up　and　down　the　room。　〃I　won't
  try　your　patience　much　longer；　sir；　I　am　coming　to　the　point。〃
  〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Pedgift；〃　said　Allan；　returning　to　his
  seat；　and　trying　to　look　composedly　at　the　lawyer　through　the
  intervening　image　of　Neelie　which　the　lawyer　had　called　up。
  〃Well；　sir；　I　left　the　cottage；〃　resumed　Pedgift　Senior。　〃Just　as
  I　turned　the　corner　from　the　garden　into　the　park；　whom　should　I
  stumble　on　but　Miss　Neelie　herself；　evidently　on　the　lookout　for
  me。　'I　want　to　speak　to　you　for　one　moment；　Mr。　Pedgift！'　says
  she。　'Does　Mr。　Armadale　think　_me_　mixed　up　in　this　matter？'　She
  was　violently　agitatedtears　in　her　eyes；　sir；　of　the　sort　which
  my　legal　experience　has　_not_　accustomed　me　to　see。　I　quite
  forgot　myself；　I　actually　gave　her　my　arm；　and　led　her　away
  gently　among　the　trees。　（A　nice　position　to　find　me　in；　if　any　of
  the　scandal…mongers　of　the　town　had　happened　to　be　walking　in
  that　direction！）　'My　dear　Miss　Milroy；'　says　I；　'why　should　Mr。
  Armadale　think　_you_　mixed　up　in　it？'　〃
  〃You　ought　to　have　told　her　at　once　that　I　thought　nothing　of　the
  kind！〃　exclaimed　Allan；　indignantly。　〃Why　did　you　leave　her　a
  moment　in　doubt　about　it？〃
  〃Because　I　am　a　lawyer；　Mr。　Armadale；〃　rejoined　Pedgift　Senior；
  dryly。　〃Even　in　moments　of　sentiment；　under　convenient　trees；
  with　a　pretty　girl　on　my　arm；　I　can't　entirely　divest　myself　of
  my　professional　caution。　Don't　look　distressed；　sir；　pray！　I　set
  thin