He began to talk, to assert himself, to prove himself cock of his own walk.

And Maule suavely encouraged him to lay down the law on things Australian, while Lady Bridget withdrew into herself, baffling and enraging McKeith still more hopelessly.

He did not seem now to know his wife! A catastrophe had happened.

What?
How?
Why?
....

Nothing was the same, or could be the same again.
It was a relief when dinner was over.