There are some people in the world who are constituted like this.

They create a mental atmosphere around them which is as impenetrable to conviction in certain matters as a brick wall is to a parched pea.

They will fall back on any loophole of a theory, however imbecile and far-fetched, rather than accept some simple and self-evident solution that they start out by regarding as impossible.

And Aunt Charlotte was a very apposite specimen of the class.
"I'll not scoff, at anyrate, Austin," she said at last.

"I cannot forget--and I never will forget--that it's to you I owe it that I am sitting here this moment.