But he thought it a reason too delicate, of too fine a gossamer to be offered to the prosaic mind of his Aunt Margaret.

With what ridicule and disbelief she would rend it into tatters! Reasons so exquisite were not for her.

She could never understand them.
Mrs.Pettifer abandoned her remonstrances and was for dropping the subject altogether.

But Dick was obstinate.
"You don't know Mrs.Ballantyne, Aunt Margaret.

You are unjust to her because you don't know her.