excuses, and he more than others. Chillon was amused
up to inquisitive surprise by Carinthia's novel idea of her formerly
dreaded riddle of a husband. As she sketched the very rational alliance
proposed to her, and his kick at the fetters of Calesford, a shadowy
dash for an image of the solicitous tyrant was added perforce to
complete the scene; following which, her head moved sharply, the subject
was flung over her shoulder.

She was developing; she might hold her ground with the husband, if the
alliance should be resumed; and she would be a companion for Henrietta
in England: she was now independent, as to money, and she could break an
intolerable yoke without suffering privation. He kept his wrath under,
determined not to use his influence either way, sure though he was of
her old father's voting for her to quit the man and enter the field
where qualities would be serviceable. The man probably feared a
scandal more than the loss of his wife in her going. He had never been
thrashed--the sole apology Chillon discovered for him, in a flushed
review of the unavenged list of injuries Carinthia had sustained. His
wise old father insisted on the value of an early thrashing to trim
and shape the growth of most young men. There was no proof of Lord
Fleetwood's having schemed to thwart his wager, so he put that
accusation by: thinking for an instant, that if the man desired to have
his wife with him, and she left the country with her brother, his own
act would recoil; or if she stayed to hear of a villany, Carinthia's
show of scorn could lash. Henrietta praised my lord's kindness. He had
been one of the adorers--as what man would not be!--and upon her
at least (he could hardly love her husband) he had not wreaked his
disappointment. A young man of huge wealth, having nothing to do
but fatten his whims, is the monster a rich country breeds under the
blessing of peace. His wife, if a match for him, has her work traced
out:--mean work for the child of their father, Chillon thought. She
might be doing braver, more suitable to the blood in her veins. But
women have to be considered as women, not as possible heroines; and
supposing she held her own with this husband of hers, which meant,
judging by the view of their unfolded characters at present, a certain
command of the freakish beast; she, whatever her task, would not be the
one set trotting. He came to his opinion through the estimate he had
recently formed of Lord Fleetwood, a