 with her, against her
inclination, a necklace which she had pawned and some one else had redeemed.
    While she was going back to England, Grandcourt was coming to find her;
coming, that is, after his own manner - not in haste by express straight from
Diplow to Leubronn, where she was understood to be; but so entirely without
hurry that he was induced by the presence of some Russian acquaintances to
linger at Baden-Baden and make various appointments with them, which, however,
his desire to be at Leubronn ultimately caused him to break. Grandcourt's
passions were of the intermittent, flickering kind: never flaming out strongly.
But a great deal of life goes on without strong passion: myriads of cravats are
carefully tied, dinners attended, even speeches made proposing the health of
august personages, without the zest arising from a strong desire. And a man may
make a good appearance in high social positions - may be supposed to know the
classics, to have his reserves on science, a strong though repressed opinion on
politics, and all the sentiments of the English gentleman, at a small expense of
vital energy. Also, he may be obstinate or persistent at the same low rate, and
may even show sudden impulses which have a false air of dæmonic strength because
they seem inexplicable, though perhaps their secret lies merely in the want of
regulated channels for the soul to move in - good and sufficient ducts of habit
without which our nature easily turns to mere ooze and mud, and at any pressure
yields nothing but a spurt or a puddle.
    Grandcourt had not been altogether displeased by Gwendolen's running away
from the splendid chance he was holding out to her. The act had some piquancy
for him. He liked to think that it was due to resentment of his careless
behaviour in Cardell Chase, which, when he came to consider it, did appear
rather cool. To have brought her so near a tender admission, and then to have
walked headlong away from further opportunities of winning the consent which he
had made her understand him to be asking for, was enough to provoke a girl of
spirit; and to be worth his mastering it was proper that she should have some
spirit. Doubtless she meant him to follow her, and it was what he meant too. But
for a whole week he took no measures towards starting, and did not even inquire
where Miss Harleth was gone. Mr. Lush felt a triumph that was mingled with much
distrust; for Grandcourt had said no word to him about her, and looked as
neutral as an alligator: there was no
