The professor had shrunk a little from that classing of her age with his, but has now found matter for hope in it.

“Still—­my age—­as you suggest—­so far exceeds Perpetua’s—­I am indeed so much older than she is, that I might be allowed to escort her wherever it may please her to go.”

“The real age of a man nowadays, sir, is a thing impossible to know,” says Miss Majendie.  “You wear glasses—­a capital disguise!  I mean nothing offensive—­so far—­sir, but it behoves me to be careful, and behind those glasses, who can tell what demon lurks?  Nay!  No offence!  An innocent man would feel no offence!”

“Really, Miss Majendie!” begins the poor professor, who is as red as though he were the guiltiest soul alive.

“Let me proceed, sir.  We were talking of the ages of men.”

"We?"

“Certainly!  It was you who suggested the idea that, being so much older than my niece, Miss Wynter, you could therefore escort her here and there—­in fact everywhere—­in fact”—­with awful meaning—­"any where!”

“I assure you, madam,” begins the professor, springing to his feet—­Perpetua puts out a white hand.

“Ah! let her talk,” says she. "Then you will understand.”

“But men’s ages, sir, are a snare and a delusion!” continues Miss Majendie, who has now mounted her hobby, and will ride it to the death.  “Who can tell the age of any man in this degenerate age?  We look at their faces, and say he must be so and so, and he a few years younger, but looks are vain, they tell us nothing.  Some look old, because they are old, some look old—­through vice!"

The professor makes an impatient gesture.  But Miss Majendie is equal to most things.

“‘Who excuses himself accuses himself,’” quotes she with terrible readiness.  “Why that gesture, Mr. Curzon?  I made no mention of your name.  And indeed, I trust your age would place you outside of any such suspicion, still, I am bound to be careful where my niece’s interests are concerned.  You, as her guardian if a faithful guardian” (with open doubt as to this, expressed in eye and pointed finger), “should be the first to applaud my caution.”

“You take an extreme view,” begins the professor, a little feebly, perhaps.  That eye and that pointed finger have cowed him.

“One’s views have to be extreme in these days if one would continue in the paths of virtue,” said Miss Majendie. "Your views,” with a piercing and condemnatory glance, “are evidently not extreme.  One word for all, Mr. Curzon, and this argument is at an end.  I shall not permit my niece, with my permission, to walk with you or any other man whilst under my protection.”

“I daresay you are right—­no doubt—­no doubt” mumbles the professor, incoherently, now thoroughly frightened and demoralized.  Good heavens!  What an awful old woman!  And to think that this poor child is under her care.  He happens at this moment to look at the poor child, and the scorn for him that gleams in her large eyes perfects his rout.  To say that she was right!