She fell too low in her esteem to charge it upon Henrietta that she stood hesitating, leaning on the hated side of the debate; though she could almost have blamed Chillon for refusing her his positive counsel, and not ordering his wife to follow him.  Once Lady Arpington, reasoning with her on behalf of the husband who sought reconciliation, sneered at her brother’s project, condemned it the more for his resolve to carry it out now that he had means.  The front of a shower sprang to Carinthia’s eyelids.  Now that her brother had means, he from whom she might be divided was alert to keep his engagement and study war on the field, as his father had done in foreign service, offering England a trained soldier, should his country subsequently need him.  The contrast of her heroic brother and a luxurious idle lord scattering blood of bird or stag, and despising the soldier’s profession, had a singular bitter effect, consequent on her scorn of words to defend the man her heart idolized.  This last of young women for weeping wept in the lady’s presence.

The feminine trick was pardoned to her because her unaccustomed betrayal of that form of enervation was desired.  It was read as woman’s act of self-pity over her perplexity:  which is a melting act with the woman when there is no man to be dissolved by it.  So far Lady Arpington judged rightly; Carinthia’s tears, shed at the thought of her brother under the world’s false judgement of him, left her spiritless to resist her husband’s advocates.  Unusual as they were, almost unknown, they were thunder-drops and shook her.

All for the vivid surface, the Dame frets at stresses laid on undercurrents.  There is no bridling her unless the tale be here told of how Lord Brailstone in his frenzy of the disconcerted rival boasted over town the counterstroke he had dealt Lord Fleetwood, by sending Mrs. Levellier a statement of the latter nobleman’s base plot to thwart her husband’s wager, with his foul agent, the repentant and well-paid ruffian in person, to verify every written word.  The town’s conception of the necessity for the reunion of the earl and countess was too intense to let exciting scandal prosper.  Moreover, the town’s bright anticipation of its concluding festivity on the domain of Calesford argued such tattle down to a baffled adorer’s malice.  The Countess of Cressett, having her cousin, the beautiful Mrs. Kirby-Levellier, in her house, has denied Lord Brailstone admission at her door, we can affirm.  He has written to her vehemently, has called a second time, has vowed publicly that Mrs. Levellier shall have her warning against Lord Fleetwood.  The madness of jealousy was exhibited.  Lady Arpington pronounced him in his conduct unworthy the name of gentleman.  And how foolish the scandal he circulates!  Lord Fleetwood’s one aim is to persuade his offended wife to take her place beside him.  He expresses regret everywhere, that the death of her uncle Lord Levellier withholds