"I am all attention, good ladies," he said, with the gentlest resignation.

"Let me hear how you mean to do it." The good ladies looked at each other.

They discovered that it is one thing to set an abuse at defiance in words, and another thing to apply the remedy in deeds.

The kind-hearted lawyer helped them with a suggestion.

"Perhaps you think of making your escape with the child, and taking refuge abroad ?" Mrs.Linley eagerly accepted the hint.