The Sphinx of Mrs.Pagnell had been communing with himself unwontedly during the recent weeks.
What was the riddle of him?
That, he did not read.

But, expecting an assault, and relieved by his sister Charlotte's departure with Weyburn, he went to the drawing-room, where he had seen her sniff her strong suspicions of a lady coming to throne it.

Charlotte could believe that he flouted the world with a beautiful young woman on his arm; she would not believe him capable of doing that in his family home and native county; so, then, her shrewd wits had nothing or little to learn.
But her vehement fighting against facts; her obstinate aristocratic prejudices, which he shared; her stinger of a tongue: these in ebullition formed a discomforting prospect.

The battle might as well be conducted through the post.

Come it must! Even her writing of the pointed truths she would deliver was an unpleasant anticipation.