Moreover, a little problem arose, not in itself serious, but showing the extreme inconvenience which results when people who are in a position to confer pleasant favors so act as to make it doubtful whether favors can properly be accepted from them. Such a state of affairs puts an unfair strain on virtue, inconsiderately demanding martyrdom where righteousness only has been volunteered. As may have been gathered, Jenny's neighbors were in the habit of using the road through her park as an alternative route to the high road in their comings and goings to and from Catsford. For some it was shorter--as for the Wares, the Dormers, and the Aspenicks; for all it was pleasanter. What was to be done about this now? Fillingford had no doubt; neither he nor Lady Sarah used the park road any more; but then the road was no great saving of distance for the folks at the Manor--their martyrdom was easy--whereas it was very materially shorter for the Wares, the Dormers, and, above all, for the Aspenicks. The question was so acute for the Aspenicks that I heard of Lady Aspenick's collecting opinions on the subject from persons of light and leading. She did not consider Fillingford's course impartial--nor decisive of the question; it was easy for him to take the virtuous line; it did not involve his going pretty nearly two miles out of his way. Discussion ran high on the question. Mrs. Jepps declared against using the road, though her fat pair of horses had been accustomed to get what little exercise they ever did get along it three afternoons a week. "If I use the road, and she comes back and finds me using it, where am I?" asked Mrs. Jepps. "I can't cut her when I'm driving in her park by her permission. Yet I may feel obliged to refuse to bow to her!" The attitude had all Mrs. Jepps's logic in it; it was unassailable. Very reluctantly old Mr. and Mrs. Dormer gave in to it--they would go round by the King's highway, longer though it was. Bertram Ware, lawyer and politician, stole round the difficulty--and along the park road--by adopting a provisional attitude; until more was known, he felt justified in using--and in allowing Mrs. Ware to use--the road. He reserved liberty of action if more facts condemnatory of Jenny should appear. The Aspenicks remained--to whom the road was more precious than to any of the others. Sir John would have none of Ware's provisional attitude--it was not what he called "straight"; but then he had a prejudice against lawyers, and held no particularly high opinion of Bertram Ware. "Make up your mind," he said to his wife. "Either we use it or we don't. But if we use it, it's taking a favor from her, and that may be awkward later on."