And, oh, forgive me for saying so, but the Countess Shulski does not look as if--she loved Tristram--much." Francis Markrute did not speak for an instant, then he turned and gazed straight into her eyes gravely, as he said: "Believe me, I would not allow your cousin to marry my niece if I were not truly convinced that it will be for the eventual great happiness of them both.

Will you promise me something, Lady Ethelrida?
Will you help me not to permit any one to interfere between them for some time, no matter how things may appear?
Give them the chance of settling everything themselves." Ethelrida looked back at him, with a seriousness equal to his own as she answered, "I promise." And inwardly the sense of some unknown undercurrent that might grow into a rushing torrent made itself felt, stronger than before.
Meanwhile Lady Coltshurst, who could just see Zara's profile all the time when she put up those irritating, longhandled glasses of hers, now gave her opinion of the bride-elect to Lord Charles Montfitchet, her neighbor on the left hand.
"I strongly disapprove of her, Charles.

Either her hair is dyed or her eyes are blackened; that mixture is not natural, and if, indeed, it should be in this case then I consider it uncanny and not what one would wish for in the family." "Oh, I say, my lady!" objected Lord Charles, "I think she is the most stunning-looking young woman I've seen in a month of Sundays!" Lady Coltshurst put up her glasses again and glared: "I cannot bear your modern slang, Charles, but 'stunning,' used literally, is quite appropriate.

She does stun one; that is exactly it.
I fear poor Tristram with such a type can look forward to very little happiness, or poor Jane to any likelihood that the Tancred name will remain free from scandal." Lord Charles grew exasperated and retaliated.
"By George! A demure mouse can cause scandal to a name, with probably more certainty than this beauty!" There was a member of Lady Coltshurst's husband's family whom she herself, having no children, had brought out, and who had been perilously near the Divorce Court this very season: and she was a dull, colorless little thing.
Her ladyship turned the conversation abruptly, with an annihilating glance.

And fortunately, just then Zara rose, and the ladies filed out of the room: and so this trying dinner was over..