But Lady Glencora was not brought to repentance1 by her husband’s last words. It seemed to her to be so intolerably cruel, this demand of his, that she should be made to pass the whole of her first evening in town with an old woman for whom it was impossible that she should entertain the slightest regard, that she resolved upon rebellion. Had he positively2 ordered Mrs Marsham, she would have sent for that lady, and have contented3 herself with enduring her presence in disdainful silence; but Mr Palliser had not given any order. He had made a request, and a request, from its very nature, admits of no obedience4. The compliance5 with a request must be voluntary, and she would not send for Mrs Marsham, except upon compulsion. Had not she also made a request to him, and had not he refused it? It was his prerogative6, undoubtedly7, to command; but in that matter of requests she had a right to expect that her voice should be as potent8 as his own. She wrote a line, therefore, to Alice before she went to bed, begging her cousin to come to her early on the following day, so that they might go out together, and then afterwards dine in company with Mr Bott.
“I know that will be an inducement to you,” Lady Glencora said, “because your generous heart will feel of what service you may be to me. Nobody else will be here — unless, indeed, Mrs Marsham should be asked, unknown to myself.”
Then she sat herself down to think — to think especially about the cruelty of husbands. She had been told over and over again, in the days before her marriage, that Burgo would ill-use her if he became her husband. The Marquis of Auld9 Reekie had gone so far as to suggest that Burgo might probably beat her. But what hard treatment, even what beating, could be so unendurable as this total want of sympathy, as this deadness in life, which her present lot entailed10 upon her? As for that matter of beating, she ridiculed11 the idea in her very soul. She sat smiling at the absurdity12 of the thing as she thought of the beauty of Burgo’s eyes, of the softness of his touch, of the loving, almost worshipping, tones of his voice. Would it not even be better to be beaten by him than to have politics explained to her at one o’clock at night by such a husband as Plantagenet Palliser? The British Constitution, indeed! Had she married Burgo they would have been in sunny Italy, and he would have told her some other tale than that as they sat together under the pale moonlight. She had a little water-coloured drawing called Raphael and Fornarina, and she was infantine enough to tell herself that the so-called Raphael was like her Burgo — no, not her Burgo, but the Burgo that was not hers. At any rate, all the romance of the picture she might have enjoyed had they allowed her to dispose as she had wished of her own hand. She might have sat in marble balconies, while the vines clustered over her head, and he would have been at her knee, hardly speaking to her, but making his presence felt by the halo of its divinity. He would have called upon her for no hard replies. With him near her she would have enjoyed the soft air, and would have sat happy, without trouble, lapped in the delight of loving. It was thus that Fornarina sat. And why should not such a lot have been hers? Her Raphael would have loved her, let them say what they would about his cruelty.
Poor, wretched, overburthened child, to whom the commonest lessons of life had not yet been taught, and who had now fallen into the hands of one who was so ill-fitted to teach them! Who would not pity her? Who could say that the fault was hers? The world had laden13 her with wealth till she had had no limb free for its ordinary uses, and then had turned her loose to run her race!
“Have you written to your cousin?” her husband asked her the next morning. His voice, as he spoke14, clearly showed that his anger was either over or suppressed.
“Yes; I have asked her to come and drive, and then to stay for dinner. I shall send the carriage for her if she can come. The man is to wait for an answer.”
“Very well,” said Mr Palliser, mildly. And then, after a short pause, he added, “As that is settled, perhaps you would have no objection to ask Mrs Marsham also?”
“Won’t she probably be engaged?”
“No; I think not,” said Mr Palliser. And then he added, being ashamed of the tinge15 of falsehood of which he would otherwise have been guilty, “I know she is not engaged.”
“She expects to come, then?” said Lady Glencora.
“I have not asked her, if you mean that, Glencora. Had I done so, I should have said so. I told her that I did not know what your engagements were.”
“I will write to her, if you please,” said the wife, who felt that she could hardly refuse any longer.
“Do, my dear!” said the husband. So Lady Glencora did write to Mrs Marsham, who promised to come — as did also Alice Vavasor.
Lady Glencora would, at any rate, have Alice to herself for some hours before dinner. At first she took comfort in that reflection; but after a while she bethought herself that she would not know what to tell Alice, or what not to tell. Did she mean to show that letter to her cousin? If she did show it, then — so she argued with herself — she must bring herself to endure the wretchedness of her present lot, and must give up for ever all her dreams about Raphael and Formarina. If she did not show it — or, at any rate, tell of it — then it would come to pass that she would leave her husband under the protection of another man, and she would become — what she did not dare to name even to herself. She declared that so it must be. She knew that she would go with Burgo, should he ever come to her with the means of going at his and her instant command. But should she bring herself to let Alice know that such a letter had been conveyed to her, Burgo would never have such power.
I remember the story of a case of abduction in which a man was tried for his life, and was acquitted16, because the lady had acquiesced17 in the carrying away while it was in progress. She had, as she herself declared, armed herself with a sure and certain charm or talisman18 against such dangers, which she kept suspended round her neck; but whilst she was in the postchaise she opened the window and threw the charm from her, no longer desiring, as the learned counsel for the defence efficiently19 alleged20, to be kept under the bonds of such protection. Lady Glencora’s state of mind was, in its nature, nearly the same as that of the lady in the post-chaise. Whether or no she would use her charm, she had not yet decided21, but the power of doing so was still hers.
Alice came, and the greeting between the cousins was very affectionate. Lady Glencora received her as though they had been playmates from early childhood; and Alice, though such impulsive22 love was not natural to her as to the other, could not bring herself to be cold to one who was so warm to her. Indeed, had she not promised her love in that meeting at Matching Priory in which her cousin had told her of all her wretchedness? “I will love you!” Alice had said; and though there was much in Lady Glencora that she could not approve — much even that she could not bring herself to like — still she would not allow her heart to contradict her words. They sat so long over the fire in the drawing-room that at last they agreed that the driving should be abandoned.
“What’s the use of it?” said Lady Glencora. “There’s nothing to see, and the wind is as cold as charity. We are much more comfortable here; are we not?” Alice quite acquiesced in this, having no great desire to be driven through the parks in the gloom of a February afternoon.
“If I had Dandy and Flirt23 up here, there would be some fun in it; but Mr Palliser doesn’t wish me to drive in London.”
“I suppose it would be dangerous?”
“Not in the least. I don’t think it’s that he minds; but he has an idea that it looks fast.”
“So it does. If I were a man I’m sure I shouldn’t like my wife to drive horses about London.”
“And why not? Just because you’d be a tyrant24 — like other husbands? What’s the harm of looking fast, if one doesn’t do anything improper25? Poor Dandy, and dear Flirt! I’m sure they’d like it.”
“Perhaps Mr Palliser doesn’t care for that?”
“I can tell you something else he doesn’t care for. He doesn’t care whether Dandy’s mistress likes it.”
“Don’t say that, Glencora.”
“Why not say it — to you?”
“Don’t teach yourself to think it. That’s what I mean. I believe he would consent to anything that he didn’t think wrong.”
“Such as lectures about the British Constitution! But never mind about that, Alice. Of course the British Constitution is everything to him, and I wish I knew more about it — that’s all. But I haven’t told you whom you are to meet at dinner.”
“Yes, you have — Mr Bott.”
“But there’s another guest, a Mrs Marsham. I thought I’d got rid of her for today, when I wrote to you; but I hadn’t. She’s coming.”
“She won’t hurt me at all,” said Alice.
“She will hurt me very much. She’ll destroy the pleasure of our whole evening, I do believe that she hates you, and that she thinks you instigate26 me to all manner of iniquity27. What fools they all are!”
“Who are they all, Glencora?”
“She and that man, and —. Never mind. It makes me sick when I think that they should be so blind. Alice, I hardly know how much I owe to you; I don’t, indeed. Everything, I believe.” Lady Glencora, as she spoke, put her hand into her pocket, and grasped the letter which lay there.
“That’s nonsense,” said Alice.
“No; it’s not nonsense. Who do you think came to Matching when I was there?”
“What — to the house?” said Alice, feeling almost certain that Mr Fitzgerald was the person to whom Lady Glencora was alluding28.
“No; not to the house.”
“If it is the person of whom I am thinking,” said Alice, solemnly, “let me implore29 you not to speak of him.”
“And why should I not speak of him? Did I not speak of him before to you, and was it not for good? How are you to be my friend, if I may not speak to you of everything?”
“But you should not think of him.”
“What nonsense you talk, Alice! Not think of him! How is one to help one’s thoughts? Look here.”
Her hand was on the letter, and it would have been out in a moment, and thrown upon Alice’s lap, had not the servant opened the door and announced Mrs Marsham.
“Oh, how I do wish we had gone to drive!” said Lady Glencora, in a voice which the servant certainly heard, and which Mrs Marsham would have heard had she not been a little hard of hearing — in her bonnet30.
“How do, my dear?” said Mrs Marsham. “I thought I’d just come across from Norfolk Street and see you, though I am coming to dinner in the evening. It’s only just a step, you know. How d’ye do, Miss Vavasor?” and she made a salutation to Alice which was nearly as cold as it could be.
Mrs Marsham was a woman who had many good points. She was poor, and bore her poverty without complaint. She was connected by blood and friendship with people rich and titled; but she paid to none of them egregious31 respect on account of their wealth or titles. She was stanch32 in her friendships, and stanch in her enmities. She was no fool, and knew well what was going on in the world. She could talk about the last novel, or — if need be — about the Constitution. She had been a true wife, though sometimes too strong-minded, and a painstaking33 mother, whose children, however, had never loved her as most mothers like to be loved.
The catalogue of her faults must be quite as long as that of her virtues34. She was one of those women who are ambitious of power, and not very scrupulous35 as to the manner in which they obtain it. She was hard-hearted, and capable of pursuing an object without much regard to the injury she might do. She would not flatter wealth or fawn36 before a title, but she was not above any artifice37 by which she might ingratiate herself with those whom it suited her purpose to conciliate. She thought evil rather than good. She was herself untrue in action, if not absolutely in word. I do not say that she would coin lies, but she would willingly leave false impressions. She had been the bosom38 friend, and in many things the guide in life, of Mr Palliser’s mother; and she took a special interest in Mr Palliser’s welfare. When he married, she heard the story of the loves of Burgo and Lady Glencora; and though she thought well of the money, she was not disposed to think very well of the bride. She made up her mind that the young lady would want watching, and she was of opinion that no one would be so well able to watch Lady Glencora as herself. She had not plainly opened her mind on this matter to Mr Palliser; she had not made any distinct suggestion to him that she would act as Argus to his wife. Mr Palliser would have rejected any such suggestion, and Mrs Marsham knew that he would do so; but she had let a word or two drop, hinting that Lady Glencora was very young — hinting that Lady Glencora’s manners were charming in their childlike simplicity39; but hinting also that precaution was, for that reason, the more necessary. Mr Palliser, who suspected nothing as to Burgo or as to any other special peril40, whose whole disposition41 was void of suspicion, whose dry nature realized neither the delights nor the dangers of love, acknowledged that Glencora was young. He especially wished that she should be discreet42 and matronly; he feared no lovers, but he feared that she might do silly things — that she would catch cold — and not know how to live a life becoming the wife of a Chancellor43 of the Exchequer44. Therefore he submitted Glencora — and, to a certain extent, himself — into the hands of Mrs Marsham.
Lady Glencora had not been twenty-four hours in the house with this lady before she recognised in her a duenna. In all such matters no one could be quicker than Lady Glencora. She might be very ignorant about the British Constitution, and, alas45! very ignorant also as to the real elements of right and wrong in a woman’s conduct, but she was no fool. She had an eye that could see, and an ear that could understand, and an abundance of that feminine instinct which teaches a woman to know her friend or her enemy at a glance, at a touch, at a word. In many things Lady Glencora was much quicker, much more clever, than her husband, though he was to be Chancellor of the Exchequer, and though she did know nothing of the Constitution. She knew, too, that he was easily to be deceived — that though his intelligence was keen, his instincts were dull — that he was gifted with no fineness of touch, with no subtle appreciation46 of the characters of men and women; and, to a certain extent, she looked down upon him for this obtusity47, He should have been aware that Burgo was a danger to be avoided; and he should have been aware also that Mrs Marsham was a duenna not to be employed. When a woman knows that she is guarded by a watch-dog, she is bound to deceive her Cerberus, if it be possible, and is usually not ill-disposed to deceive also the owner of Cerberus. Lady Glencora felt that Mrs Marsham was her Cerberus, and she was heartily48 resolved that if she was to be kept in the proper line at all, she would not be so kept by Mrs Marsham.
Alice rose and accepted Mrs Marsham’s salutation quite as coldly as it had been given, and from that time forward those two ladies were enemies. Mrs Marsham, groping quite in the dark, partly guessed that Alice had in some way interfered49 to prevent Lady Glencora’s visit to Monkshade, and, though such prevention was, no doubt, good in that lady’s eyes, she resented the interference. She had made up her mind that Alice was not the sort of friend that Lady Glencora should have about her. Alice recognised and accepted the feud51.
“I thought I might find you at home,” said Mrs Marsham, “as I know you are lazy about going out in the cold — unless it be for a foolish midnight ramble52,” and Mrs Marsham shook her head. She was a little woman, with sharp small eyes, with a permanent colour in her face, and two short, crisp, grey curls at each side of her face; always well dressed, always in good health, and, as Lady Glencora believed, altogether incapable53 of fatigue54.
“The ramble you speak of was very wise, I think,” said Lady Glencora; “but I never could see the use of driving about in London in the middle of winter.”
“One ought to go out of the house every day,” said Mrs Marsham.
“I hate all those rules. Don’t you, Alice?” Alice did not hate them, therefore she said nothing.
“My dear Glencora, one must live by rules in this life. You might as well say that you hated sitting down to dinner.”
“So I do, very often; almost always when there’s company.”
“You’ll get over that feeling after another season in town,” said Mrs Marsham, pretending to suppose that Lady Glencora alluded55 to some remaining timidity in receiving her own guests.
“Upon my word I don’t think I shall. It’s a thing that seems always to be getting more grievous, instead of less so. Mr Bott is coming to dine here tonight.”
There was no mistaking the meaning of this. There was no pretending even to mistake it. Now, Mrs Marsham had accepted the right hand of fellowship from Mr Bott — not because she especially liked him, but in compliance with the apparent necessities of Mr Palliser’s position. Mr Bott had made good his ground about Mr Palliser; and Mrs Marsham, as she was not strong enough to turn him off from it, had given him the right hand of fellowship.
“Mr Bott is a Member of Parliament, and a very serviceable friend of Mr Palliser’s,” said Mrs Marsham.
“All the same; we do not like Mr Bott — do we, Alice? He is Dr Fell to us; only I think we could tell why.”
“I certainly do not like him,” said Alice.
“It can be but of small matter to you, Miss Vavasor,” said Mrs Marsham, “as you will not probably have to see much of him.”
“Of the very smallest moment,” said Alice. “He did annoy me once, but will never, I dare say, have an opportunity of doing so again.”
“I don’t know what the annoyance56 may have been.”
“Of course you don’t, Mrs Marsham.”
“But I shouldn’t have thought it likely that a person so fully57 employed as Mr Bott, and employed, too, on matters of such vast importance, would have gone out of his way to annoy a young lady whom he chanced to meet for a day or two in a country-house.”
“I don’t think that Alice means that he attempted to flirt with her,” said Lady Glencora, laughing. “Fancy Mr Bott’s flirtation58!”
“Perhaps he did not attempt,” said Mrs Marsham; and the words, the tone, and the innuendo59 together were more than Alice was able to bear with equanimity60.
“Glencora,” said she, rising from her chair, “I think I’ll leave you alone with Mrs Marsham. I’m not disposed to discuss Mr Bott’s character, and certainly not to hear his name mentioned in disagreeable connection with my own.”
But Lady Glencora would not let her go. “Nonsense, Alice,” she said. “If you and I can’t fight our little battles against Mr Bott and Mrs Marsham without running away, it is odd. There is a warfare61 in which they who run away never live to fight another day.”
“I hope, Glencora, you do not count me as your enemy?” said Mrs Marsham; drawing herself up,
“But I shall — certainly, if you attack Alice. Love me, love my dog. I beg your pardon, Alice; but what I meant was this, Mrs Marsham; Love me, love the best friend I have in the world.”
“I did not mean to offend Miss Vavasor,” said Mrs Marsham, looking at her very grimly. Alice merely bowed her head. She had been offended, and she would not deny it. After that, Mrs Marsham took herself off, saying that she would be back to dinner. She was angry, but not unhappy. She thought that she could put down Miss Vavasor, and she was prepared to bear a good deal from Lady Glencora — for Mr Palliser’s sake, as she said to herself, with some attempt at a sentimental62 remembrance of her old friend.
“She’s a nasty old cat,” said Lady Glencora, as soon as the door was closed; and she said these words with so droll63 a voice, with such a childlike shaking of her head, with so much comedy in her grimace64, that Alice could not but laugh. “She is,” said Lady Glencora. “I know her, and you’ll have to know her, too, before you’ve done with her. It won’t at all do for you to run away when she spits at you. You must hold your ground, and show your claws — and make her know that if she spits, you can scratch.”
“But I don’t want to be a cat myself.”
“She’ll find I’m of the genus, but of the tiger kind, if she persecutes65 me. Alice, there’s one thing I have made up my mind about. I will not be persecuted66. If my husband tells me to do anything, as long as he is my husband I’ll do it; but I won’t be persecuted.”
“You should remember that she was a very old friend of Mr Palliser’s mother.”
“I do remember; and that may be a very good reason why she should come here occasionally, or go to Matching, or to any place in which we may be living. It’s a bore, of course; but it’s a natural bore, and one that ought to be borne.”
“And that will be the beginning and the end of it.”
“I’m afraid not, my dear. It may be perhaps the end of it, but I fear it won’t be the beginning. I won’t be persecuted. If she gives me advice, I shall tell her to her face that it’s not wanted; and if she insults any friend of mine, as she did you, I shall tell her that she had better stay away. She’ll go and tell him, of course; but I can’t help that. I’ve made up my mind that I won’t be persecuted.”
After that, Lady Glencora felt no further inclination67 to show Burgo’s letter to Alice on that occasion. They sat over the drawing-room fire, talking chiefly of Alice’s affairs, till it was time for them to dress. But Alice, though she spoke much of Mr Grey, said no word as to her engagement with George Vavasor. How could she speak of it, inasmuch as she had already resolved — already almost resolved — that that engagement also should be broken?
Alice, when she came down to the drawing-room, before dinner, found Mr Bott there alone. She had dressed more quickly than her friend, and Mr Palliser had not yet made his appearance.
“I did not expect the pleasure of meeting Miss Vavasor today,” he said, as he came up, offering his hand. She gave him her hand, and then sat down, merely muttering some word of reply.
“We spent a very pleasant month down at Matching together — didn’t you think so?”
“I spent a pleasant month there certainly.”
“You left, if I remember, the morning after that late walk out among the ruins? That was unfortunate, was it not? Poor Lady Glencora! It made her very ill; so much so, that she could not go to Monkshade, as she particularly wished. It was very sad. Lady Glencora is very delicate — very delicate, indeed. We, who have the privilege of being near her, ought always to remember that.”
“I don’t think she is at all delicate.”
“Oh! don’t you? I’m afraid that’s your mistake, Miss Vavasor.”
“I believe she has very good health, which is the greatest blessing68 in the world. By delicate I suppose you mean weak and infirm.”
“Oh, dear, no — not in the least — not infirm certainly! I should be very sorry to be supposed to have said that Lady Glencora is infirm. What I mean is, not robust69, Miss Vavasor. Her general organisation70, if you understand me, is exquisitely71 delicate. One can see that, I think, in every glance of her eye.”
Alice was going to protest that she had never seen it at all, when Mr Palliser entered the room along with Mrs Marsham.
The two gentlemen shook hands, and then Mr Palliser turned to Alice. She perceived at once by his face that she was unwelcome, and wished herself away from his house. It might be all very well for Lady Glencora to fight with Mrs Marsham — and with her husband, too, in regard to the Marsham persecution72 — but there could be no reason why she should do so. He just touched her hand, barely closing his thumb upon her fingers, and asked her how she was. Then he turned away from her side of the fire, and began talking to Mrs Marsham on the other. There was that in his face and in his manner which was positively offensive to her. He made no allusion73 to his former acquaintance with her — spoke no word about Matching, no word about his wife, as he would naturally have done to his wife’s friend. Alice felt the blood mount into her face, and regretted greatly that she had ever come among these people. Had she not long since made up her mind that she would avoid her great relations, and did not all this prove that it would have been well for her to have clung to that resolution? What was Lady Glencora to her that she should submit herself to be treated as though she were a poor companion — a dependent, who received a salary for her attendance — an indigent74 cousin, hanging on to the bounty75 of her rich connection? Alice was proud to a fault. She had nursed her pride till it was very faulty. All her troubles and sorrows in life had come from an overfed craving76 for independence. Why, then, should she submit to be treated with open want of courtesy by any man; but, of all men, why should she submit to it from such a one as Mr Palliser — the heir of a ducal house, rolling in wealth, and magnificent with all the magnificence of British pomp and pride? No; she would make Lady Glencora understand that the close intimacies77 of daily Life were not possible to them!
“I declare I’m very much ashamed,” said Lady Glencora, as she entered the room. “I shan’t apologise to you, Alice, for it was you who kept me talking; but I do beg Mrs Marsham’s pardon.”
Mrs Marsham was all smiles and forgiveness, and hoped that Lady Glencora would not make a stranger of her. Then dinner was announced, and Alice had to walk down stairs by herself. She did not care a do it for that, but there had been a disagreeable little contest when the moment came. Lady Glencora had wished to give up Mr Bott to her cousin, but Mr Bott had stuck manfully to Lady Glencora’s side. He hoped to take Lady Glencora down to dinner very often, and was not at all disposed to abate78 his privilege.
During dinner-time Alice said very little, nor was there given to her opportunity of saying much. She could not but think of the day of her first arrival at Matching Priory, when she had sat between the Duke of St Bungay and Jeffrey Palliser, and when everybody had been so civil to her! She now occupied one side of the table by herself, away from the fire, where she felt cold and desolate79 in the gloom of the large half-lighted room. Mr Palliser occupied himself with Mrs Marsham, who talked politics to him; and Mr Bott never lost a moment in his endeavours to say some civil word to Lady Glencora. Lady Glencora gave him no encouragement; but she hardly dared to snub him openly in her husband’s immediate80 presence. Twenty times during dinner she said some little word to Alice, attempting at first to make the time pleasant, and then, when the matter was too far gone for that, attempting to give some relief. But it was of no avail. There are moments in which conversation seems to be impossible — in which the very gods interfere50 to put a seal upon the lips of the unfortunate one. It was such a moment now with Alice. She had never as yet been used to snubbing. Whatever position she had hitherto held, in that she had always stood foremost — much more so than had been good for her. When she had gone to Matching, she had trembled for her position; but there all had gone well with her; there Lady Glencora’s kindness had at first been able to secure for her a reception that had been flattering, and almost better than flattering. Jeffrey Palliser had been her friend, and would, had she so willed it, have been more than her friend. But now she felt that the halls of the Pallisers were too cold for her, and that the sooner she escaped from their gloom and hard discourtesy the better for her.
Mrs Marsham, when the three ladies had returned to the drawing-room together, was a little triumphant81. She felt that she had put Alice down; and with the energetic prudence82 of a good general who knows that he should follow up a victory, let the cost of doing so be what it may, she determined83 to keep her down. Alice had resolved that she would come as seldom as might be to Mr Palliser’s house in Park Lane. That resolution on her part was in close accordance with Mrs Marsham’s own views.
“Is Miss Vavasor going to walk home?” she asked.
“Walk home — all along Oxford84 Street! Good gracious! no. Why should she walk? The carriage will take her.”
“Or a cab,” said Alice. “I am quite used to go about London in a cab by myself.”
“I don’t think they are nice for young ladies after dark,” said Mrs Marsham. “I was going to offer my servant to walk with her. She is an elderly woman, and would not mind it.”
“I’m sure Alice is very much obliged,” said Lady Glencora; “but she will have the carriage.”
“You are very good-natured,” said Mrs Marsham; “but gentlemen do so dislike having their horses out at night.”
“No gentleman’s horses will be out,” said Lady Glencora, savagely85; “and as for mine, it’s what they are there for.” It was not often that Lady Glencora made any allusion to her own property, or allowed any one near her to suppose that she remembered the fact that her husband’s great wealth was, in truth, her wealth. As to many matters her mind was wrong. In some things her taste was not delicate as should be that of a woman. But, as regarded her money, no woman could have behaved with greater reticence86, or a purer delicacy87. But now, when she was twitted by her husband’s special friend with ill-usage to her husband’s horses, because she chose to send her own friend home in her own carriage, she did find it hard to bear.
“I dare say it’s all right,” said Mrs Marsham.
“It is all right,” said Lady Glencora. “Mr Palliser has given me my horses for my own use, to do as I like with them; and if he thinks I take them out when they ought to be left at home, he can tell me so. Nobody else has a right to do it.” Lady Glencora, by this time, was almost in a passion, and showed that she was so.
“My dear Lady Glencora, you have mistaken me,” said Mrs Marsham; “I did not mean anything of that kind.”
“I am so sorry,” said Alice. “And it is such a pity as I am quite used to going about in cabs.”
“Of course you are,” said Lady Glencora. “Why shouldn’t you? I’d go home in a wheelbarrow if I couldn’t walk, and had no other conveyance88. That’s not the question. Mrs Marsham understands that.”
“Upon my word, I don’t understand anything,” said that lady.
“I understand this,” said Lady Glencora; “that in all such matters as that, I intend to follow my own pleasure. Come, Alice, let us have some coffee,” — and she rang the bell. “What a fuss we have made about a stupid old carriage!”
The gentlemen did not return to the drawing-room that evening, having, no doubt, joint89 work to do in arranging the great financial calculations of the nation; and, at an early hour, Alice was taken home in Lady Glencora’s brougham, leaving her cousin still in the hands of Mrs Marsham.
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repentance
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positively
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contented
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obedience
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compliance
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prerogative
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undoubtedly
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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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auld
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| adj.老的，旧的 | |
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entailed
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| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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ridiculed
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
talisman
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| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
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efficiently
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| adv.高效率地，有能力地 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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instigate
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| v.教唆，怂恿，煽动 | |
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iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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alluding
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| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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29
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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30
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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egregious
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| adj.非常的，过分的 | |
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stanch
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| v.止住（血等）；adj.坚固的；坚定的 | |
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painstaking
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| adj.苦干的；艰苦的，费力的，刻苦的 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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fawn
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| n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承 | |
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artifice
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| n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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exchequer
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| n.财政部；国库 | |
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45
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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obtusity
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| n.obtuse（钝的，不尖的）的变形 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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ramble
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| v.漫步，漫谈，漫游；n.漫步，闲谈，蔓延 | |
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53
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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54
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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58
flirtation
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| n.调情，调戏，挑逗 | |
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59
innuendo
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| n.暗指，讽刺 | |
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60
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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61
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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grimace
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| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
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persecutes
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的第三人称单数 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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67
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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organisation
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| n.组织，安排，团体，有机休 | |
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exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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72
persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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73
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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74
indigent
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的 | |
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75
bounty
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| n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与 | |
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76
craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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77
intimacies
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| 亲密( intimacy的名词复数 )； 密切； 亲昵的言行； 性行为 | |
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78
abate
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| vi.(风势，疼痛等)减弱，减轻，减退 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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80
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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81
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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82
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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83
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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84
Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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85
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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86
reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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87
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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88
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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89
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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