ride was
in being very English on the Continent, and Diana's instances of his
lofty appreciations of the garden of Art and Nature, and statuesque walk
through it, would have been more amusing if her friend could have
harmonized her idea of the couple. A description of 'a bit of a wrangle
between us' at Lucca, where an Italian post-master on a journey of
inspection, claimed a share of their carriage and audaciously attempted
entry, was laughable, but jarred. Would she some day lose her relish for
ridicule, and see him at a distance? He was generous, Diana, said she saw
fine qualities in him. It might be that he was lavish on his bridal tour.
She said he was unselfish, kind, affable with his equals; he was cordial
to the acquaintances he met. Perhaps his worst fault was an affected
superciliousness before the foreigner, not uncommon in those days. 'You
are to know, dear Emmy, that we English are the aristocracy of
Europeans.' Lady Dunstane inclined to think we were; nevertheless, in the
mouth of a 'gentlemanly official' the frigid arrogance added a stroke of
caricature to his deportment. On the other hand, the reports of him
gleaned by Sir Lukin sounded favourable. He was not taken to be
preternaturally stiff, nor bright, but a goodish sort of fellow; good
horseman, good shot, good character. In short, the average Englishman,
excelling as a cavalier, a slayer, and an orderly subject. That was a
somewhat elevated standard to the patriotic Emma. Only she would never
have stipulated for an average to espouse Diana. Would he understand her,
and value the best in her? Another and unanswered question was, how could
she have condescended to wed with an average? There was transparently
some secret not confided to her friend.

He appeared. Lady Dunstane's first impression of him recurred on his
departure. Her unanswered question drummed at her ears, though she
remembered that Tony's art in leading him out had moderated her rigidly
judicial summary of the union during a greater part of the visit. But his
requiring to be led out, was against him. Considering the subjects, his
talk was passable. The subjects treated of politics, pictures,
Continental travel, our manufactures, our wealth and the reasons for
it--excellent reasons well-weighed. He was handsome, as men go; rather
tall, not too stout, precise in the modern fashion of his dress, and the
pair of whiskers encasing a colourless depression up to a long, thin,
straight nose, an