But perhaps Aunt Corisande was different to the modern woman." Zara did not speak.

The black panther's look, on its rare day of slumberous indifference when it condescends to come to the front of the cage, grew in her eyes, but the slightest touch could make her snarl.
"Oh! you must not ever blame the women," the Duke--this _preux chevalier_--said.

"If they are different it is the fault of the men.
I took care that my duchess wanted me! Why, my dear boy, I was jealous of even her maid, for at least a year!" And Tristram thought to himself that he went further than that and was jealous of even the air Zara breathed! "You must have been awfully happy, Uncle," he said with a sigh.
But Zara spoke never a word.

And the Duke saw that there was something too deeply strained between them, for his kindly meant _persiflage_ to do any good; so he turned to the pictures, and drew them into lighter things; and the moment he could, Tristram rejoined Lady Anningford by one of the great fires.
Laura Highford, left alone with Lord Elterton up at the end of the long picture gallery, felt she must throw off some steam.

She could not keep from the subject which was devouring her; she knew now she had made an irreparable mistake in what she had said to Tristram in the afternoon, and how to repair it she did not know at present, but she must talk to some one.
"You will have lots of chance before a year is out, Arthur," she said with a bitter smile.