, in a
subsequent letter, relating simply to masculine habits. In those days the famous
ancestral plea of the passion for his charmer had not been altogether socially
quashed down among the provinces, where the bottle maintained a sort of sway,
and the beauty which inflamed the sons of men was held to be in coy expectation
of violent effects upon their boiling blood. There were, one hears that there
still are, remnants of the pristine male, who, if resisted in their suing,
conclude that they are scorned, and it infuriates them: some also whose passion
for the charmer is an instinct to pull down the standard of the sex, by a bully
imposition of sheer physical ascendancy, whenever they see it flying with an air
of gallant independence: and some who dedicate their lives to a study of the
arts of the Lord of Reptiles, until they have worked the crisis for a display of
him in person. Assault or siege, they have achieved their triumphs; they have
dominated a frailer system of nerves, and a young woman without father, or
brother, or husband, to defend her, is cryingly a weak one, therefore inviting
to such an order of heroes. Lady Dunstane was quick-witted and had a talkative
husband; she knew a little of the upper social world of her time. She was
heartily glad to have Diana by her side again.
    Not a word of any serious experience was uttered. Only on one occasion while
they conversed, something being mentioned of her tolerance, a flush of swarthy
crimson shot over Diana, and she frowned, with the outcry, »Oh! I have
discovered that I can be a tigress!«
    Her friend pressed her hand, saying, »The cause a good one!«
    »Women have to fight.«
    Diana said no more. There had been a bad experience of her isolated position
in the world.
    Lady Dunstane now indulged a partial hope that Mr. Redworth might see in
this unprotected beautiful girl a person worthy of his esteem. He had his
opportunities, and evidently he liked her. She appeared to take more cordially
to him. She valued the sterling nature of the man. But they were a hopeless
couple, they were so friendly. Both ladies noticed in him an abstractedness of
look, often when conversing, as of a man in calculation; they put it down to an
ambitious mind. Yet Diana said then, and said always, that it was he who had
first taught her the art of observing. On the whole, the brilliant marriage
seemed a fairer prospect for her; how reasonable to anticipate,
