"Law is law, my dear," he gently explained to her, "until it is changed; certainly. But it is not always good sense. Take our waterways hereabouts! They are every one governed by the same old law of riparian rights which we took from England, whose waterways are no more like those in this country than threads are like ropes. And, moreover, England's law was construed long before the dream of artificial power, having to do merely with streams adapted to navigation. Who cared then for a falls or rapids? Who would have been mad enough to think of bridled electricity? So today, these falls and rapids, which are quite out of the question for navigable purposes, but possess as great a value in other respects to the people at large, are entirely demoralized through the application of an antiquated law framed to deal with streams of a totally different character. Don't you see, my dear, how fallible may be the thing called law if it runs counter to public good? And does it not show you that every common law must be--in order to be sensible--a consensus of public consent? Therefore, do I maintain that the mountaineers of our proud State, who in common consent prosecute their own feuds in their own domain, are within the common law of that domain. Some day, when Brent's and other railroads have poured into them a different civilization, their environment will be changed;--there will arise amongst them a giant to turn things upside down--as Jeremy Bentham threw defiance to the law of diodens." The Colonel now, having distorted a little knowledge into a great flow of verbal pyrotechnics which hopelessly confused and downed Miss Liz, turned back to Nancy with a satisfied smile. "Wasn't diodens a sort of old law that confiscated anything which destroyed life?" Brent, in an undertone, asked Jane. It seemed a safe enough subject, and she nodded: "I think so." "I was just wondering," he whispered, "that if this law prevailed now, which would the State confiscate--your eyes, your mouth, the tip of your chin, your--" "If thoughts kill," she frowned, "my mind would be seized. I've murdered you several times with that." "You've murdered me several times with everything about you! I wish I were the State!" "State of Idiocy? Why carry coals to Newcastle?" "To heap on your head," he laughed, "and scorch your uncharitable soul!" "My poor lost soul," she murmured. "Then take notice that, if finders are keepers, I'm heading a search party." She looked gaily up at him, for it was hard to remember that she was angry; but quickly her face sobered. "I forgot, and I must not forget, that you've mortally offended me."