The situation was far beyond the poor lady's by-laws and regulations for the upbringing of families and the conduct of life.

The elemental mother in her battled on the side of her only son--foolishly, irrationally, unkindly.

Her exordium was as correct as could be.

The tragedy shocked her, the scandal grieved her, the innuendoes of the Press she refused to believe; she sympathised with me deeply.

But then she turned from me to Dale, and feminine unreason took possession of her pen.