He knew that the country which broke his military career and ridiculed his newspaper controversy was unforgiven by him.

He did not reflect on the consequences of such an unpardoning spirit in its operation on his mind.
If he could but have passed the injury, he would ultimately--for his claims of service were admitted--have had employment of some kind.
Inoccupation was poison to him; travel juggled with his malady of restlessness; really, a compression of the warrior's natural forces.
His Aminta, pushed to it by the woman Pagnell, declined to help him in softening the virulence of the disease.

She would not travel; she would fix in this London of theirs, and scheme to be hailed the accepted Countess of Ormont.

She manoeuvred; she threw him on the veteran soldier's instinct, and it resulted spontaneously that he manoeuvred.
Hence their game of Pull, which occupied him a little, tickled him and amused.

The watching of her pretty infantile tactics amused him too much to permit of a sidethought on the cruelty of the part he played.