He was a big-chested fellow, and that excruciating twist within of the revolution of the wheels of the brain snapping their course to grind the contrary to that of the heart, was revealed in one short lift and gasp, a compression of the tremendous change he underwent.
'Why did you not speak before ?' said Lady Dunstane.

Her words were tremulous.
'I should have had no justification!' 'You might have won her!' She could have wept; her sympathy and her self-condolence under disappointment at Diana's conduct joined to swell the feminine flood.
The poor fellow's quick breathing and blinking reminded her of cruelty in a retrospect.

She generalized, to ease her spirit of regret, by hinting it without hurting: 'Women really are not puppets.

They are not so excessively luxurious.

It is good for young women in the early days of marriage to rough it a little.' She found herself droning, as he had done.
He had ears for nothing but the fact.
'Then I am too late!' 'I have heard it to-day.' 'She is engaged! Positively ?' Lady Dunstane glanced backward at the letter on her desk.