'You see, Clarice has refused him, and really he's very sweet and polite to me.' Fielding pointed out with the elaborate calmness of intense exasperation that there could be no finality in a refusal given by Miss Le Mesurier.
Mrs.Willoughby replied that they had differed before in their views of Clarice, and that the point he mentioned was one upon which Mr.Mallinson must be left to judge for himself.

'Exactly,' said Fielding with emphasis, 'he should be left to judge for himself,' and was for marching off with colours flying.

But Mrs.Willoughby could not refrain from declaring that the unprecedented interest which Mr.Fielding took in his friend Mr.Mallinson had raised that friend to a very different position in her esteem from that which he had held before.
The combat was renewed more than once, but with no different result, and upon the same lines.

Mrs.Willoughby received his attacks with a patient humility, and rushed out to catch him a flout as he was retiring.
Finally, however, she shifted her position, and became the aggressor.

She suggested that Fielding was really in love with Clarice, and trying to gain favour with her by bringing an admirer back to her feet.