So she played the coward.

The blow fell on the evening when Endymion announced, in casual tones, that the Court Martial was fixed for the day after next.
That night, indeed, brought something like an inspiration; and on the morrow she rode into Axcester and called upon Polly, now a bride of six days' standing and domiciled in one of the Westcote cottages in Church Street, a little beyond the bridge.

For a call of state this was somewhat premature, but it might pass.
Polly appeared to think it premature.

Her furniture was topsy-turvy, and her hair in curl-papers; she obviously did not expect visitors, and resented this curtailment of the honeymoon.

She showed it even when Dorothea, after apologies, came straight to the point: "Polly, I am very unhappy." "Indeed, Miss ?" "You know that I must be, since M.Raoul is going to that horrible war-prison rather than let the truth be known." "But since you didn't encourage him, Miss--" "Of course I didn't encourage him to come," said Dorothea, quickly.
"Why then it was his own fault, and he broke his word by breaking bounds." "Yes, strictly his parole was broken; but the meaning of parole is, that a prisoner promises to make no attempt to escape.