“Why, then, did you consent to Winnie’s engagement with the coal-heaver?” she asked, abruptly. “Because I thought it the only way to induce her to marry Wroxham.” “Upon my word, Theodore, you’re a very extraordinary man.” “That, my dear, is a fact which has not entirely escaped my observation,” retorted Canon Spratte, rubbing his hands. “I’ve brought you to your knees, Sophia. Confess that this time your intelligence is at fault.” “Nothing of the sort!” “Well, well, I flatter myself----” he began. “You frequently do,” interrupted his sister. “I flatter myself that I know my daughter’s character. Now, I am convinced that if I had put my foot down, Winnie would have gone off and married the man there and then. But I know the Spratte character inside and out. We are a family of marked idiosyncrasies.” “Inherited from the Montmorencys, I suppose,” suggested Lady Sophia, ironically. “I have no doubt. You will remember in our father the firmness and decision of which I speak.” “I remember that he was as obstinate as a pig.” “My dear, I do not want to rebuke you, but I really must ask you not to make these unseemly remarks. If you are incapable of recognizing the respect due to your father, I would have you recollect that he was also Lord Chancellor of England.” “Do you ever give me the chance to forget it?” murmured Lady Sophia. “But what has that to do with Winnie?” “I was about to observe that whatever my faults, when I make up my mind that a thing is right, no power on earth can prevent me from doing it. Now, I do not wish to be offensive, but I cannot help perceiving that the firmness, which, if I may say it without vanity, is so marked a characteristic in me, is apt in other members of our family to degenerate into something which the uncharitable may well call obstinacy.” “Upon my word, Theodore, it’s fortunate you told me you had no wish to be offensive.” “Please don’t interrupt,” pursued the Canon, with a wave of the hand. “Now, I am dealing with Winnie as the Irishman deals with the pig he is taking to market. He pulls the way he doesn’t want to go, and the pig quite happily goes the other.” “I wish you’d say plainly what you’re driving at.” “My dear, when Winnie said she would marry Mr. Railing, she didn’t reckon on Mr. Railing’s mamma and she didn’t reckon on Mr. Railing’s sister who teaches in the Board School. In such cases the man has often educated himself into something that passes muster, and your sex has no great skill in discerning a gentleman from the spurious article. But the women! My dear Sophia, I tell you Winnie won’t like them at all.” “The more repulsive his relations are, the more her pride will force Winnie to keep her promise.” “We shall see.” Lady Sophia, pursing her lips, thought over the wily device which the Canon had complacently unfolded, then she glanced at him sharply. “Are you quite sure it’s honest, Theodore?” “My dear Sophia, what do you mean?” cried he, much astonished.