There was a time when I thought well of Captain Bertram.

I'm the last to deny there was such a time, but handsome is that handsome does, and when a young man had not the courage to obey his heart's promptings, and when rumors will travel on the breezes of extravagant, not to say naughty ways, I say, Beatrice, a woman can't become blind as a bat when these things stare her in the face." No one in Northbury ever remembered seeing Beatrice in a passion.

She was acknowledged to be sweet-tempered, and slow to be provoked.

On this occasion, however, she was very nearly making the proverbial exception to her general rule.

Beatrice was very nearly angry.