He will gain nothing by sending messengers here." Lady Milborough, who had undertaken a most disagreeable task from the purest motives of old friendship, did not like being called a messenger; but the woman before her was so strong in her words, so eager, and so passionate, that she did not know how to resent the injury.

And there was coming over her an idea, of which she herself was hardly conscious, that after all, perhaps, the husband was not in the right.

She had come there with the general idea that wives, and especially young wives, should be submissive.

She had naturally taken the husband's part; and having a preconceived dislike to Colonel Osborne, she had been willing enough to think that precautionary measures were necessary in reference to so eminent, and notorious, and experienced a Lothario.

She had never altogether loved Mrs.
Trevelyan, and had always been a little in dread of her.