The earl contemplated her, measuring her powers of resistance for a prolonged engagement.  Odd that the pride which had withdrawn him from the service of an offending country should pitch him into a series of tussles with women, for its own confusion!  He saw that, too, in his dim reflectiveness, and held the country answerable for it.

Mr. Eglett was taken into confidence by him privately after lunch.  Mr. Eglett’s position between the brother and sister was perplexing; habitually he thought his wife had strong good sense, in spite of the costliness of certain actions at law not invariably confirming his opinion; he thought also that the earl’s demand must needs be considered obediently.  At the same time, his wife’s objections to the new Countess of Ormont, unmasked upon the world, seemed very legitimate; though it might be asked why the earl should not marry, marrying the lady who pleased him.  But if, in the words of his wife, the lady had no claim to be called a lady, the marriage was deplorable.  On the other hand, Lord Ormont spoke of her in terms of esteem, and he was no fondling dotard.

How to compromise the matter for the sake of peace?  The man perpetually plunged into strife by his combative spouse, cried the familiar question again; and at every suggestion of his on behalf of concord he heard from Lady Charlotte that he had no principles, or else from Lord Ormont that his head must be off his shoulders.

The man for peace had the smallest supply of language, and so, unless he took a side and fought, his active part was football between them.

It went on through the afternoon up to five o’clock.  No impression was betrayed by Lady Charlotte.

She congratulated her brother on the recruit he had enlisted.  He smiled his grimmest of the lips drawn in.  A combat, perceptibly of some extension, would soon give him command of the man of peace; and energy to continue attacks will break down the energies of any dogged defensive stand.

He deferred the discussion with his unreasonable sister until the next day at half-past twelve o’clock.  Lady Charlotte nodded to the appointment.  She would have congratulated herself without irony on the result of the first day’s altercation but for her brother Rowsley’s unusual and ominous display of patience.  Twice during the wrangle she had to conceal a difficult breathing.  She felt a numbness in one arm now it was over, and mentally complimented her London physician on the unerringness of his diagnosis.  Her heart, however, complained of the cruelty of having in the end, perhaps, if the wrangle should be protracted, to yield, for sheer weakness, without ceasing to beat.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE ORMONT JEWELS