The woman alluded to was Mrs Grantly, the wife of the parson and mother of Lady Dumbello.
The old earl was very cross because destiny and the table of precedence required him to take out Lady Clandidlem to dinner.

He almost insulted her, as she kindly endeavoured to assist him in his infirm step rather than to lean upon him.
"Ugh!" he said, "it's a bad arrangement that makes two old people like you and me be sent out together to help each other." "Speak for yourself," said her ladyship, with a laugh.

"I, at any rate, can get about without any assistance,"-- which, indeed, was true enough.
"It's well for you!" growled the earl, as he got himself into his seat.
And after that he endeavoured to solace his pain by a flirtation with Lady Dumbello on his left.

The earl's smiles and the earl's teeth, when he whispered naughty little nothings to pretty young women, were phenomena at which men might marvel.

Whatever those naughty nothings were on the present occasion, Lady Dumbello took them all with placidity, smiling graciously, but speaking hardly more than monosyllables.
Lady Alexandrina fell to Crosbie's lot, and he felt gratified that it was so.