defence of his friends--to be
named friends when they were vilified: defence of poor Ambrose at least,
the sinner who, or one as bad, might have reached to pardon through the
priesthood.

Gower offered him no chance..

Entering Esslemont air, Fleetwood tossed his black mood to the winds.
She breathed it. She was a mountain girl, and found it hard to forgive
our lowlands. She would learn tolerance, taking her flights at seasons.
The yacht, if she is anything of a sailor, may give her a taste of
England's pleasures. She will have a special allowance for distribution
among old Mr. Woodseer's people. As to the rest of the Countess of
Fleetwood's wishes, her family ranks with her husband's in claims of
any kind on him. There would be--she would require and had a right to
demand--say, a warm half-hour of explanations: he knew the tone for
them, and so little did he revolve it apprehensively, that his mind
sprang beyond, to the hearing from her mouth of her not intending
further to 'guard her rooms.' How quietly the words were spoken! There
was a charm in the retrospect of her mouth and manner. One of the
rare women who never pout or attitudinize, she could fling her glove
gracefully--one might add, capturingly under every aspect, she was a
handsome belligerent. The words he had to combat pleased his memory.
Some good friend, Lady Arpington probably, had instructed her in the art
of dressing to match her colour.

Concerning himself, he made no stipulation, but he reflected on Lord
Feltre's likely estimate of her as a bit of a heathen. And it might
be to her advantage, were she and Feltre to have some conversations.
Whatever the faith, a faith should exist, for without the sentiment of
religion, a woman, he says, is where she was when she left the gates
of Eden. A man is not much farther. Feltre might have saved Ambrose
Mallard. He is, however, right in saying, that the woman with
the sentiment of religion in her bosom is a box of holy incense
distinguishing her from all other women. Empty of it, she is devil's
bait. At best, she is a creature who cannot overlook an injury, or must
be exacting God knows what humiliations before she signs the treaty.

Informed at the house that her ladyship had been staying up on Croridge
for the last two days, Fleetwood sent his hardest shot of the eyes at
Gower. Let her be absent: it was equal to the first move of war,
and absolved him from contemplated proposals to make amends. But the
e