Ducie had some memories of her own wilful marriage, which made her tolerant with Harry.

She had also been accused of causing her mother's death; and though she knew herself to be innocent, she had suffered by the accusation.

She understood Harry's trouble as few others could have done; and though a good deal of his evident misery was on account of his separation from Beatrice, Ducie did not suspect this, and really believed the young man to be breaking his heart over the results of his rash communication.
He was agreeably surprised, also, to find that Stephen treated him with a consideration he had never done when he was a dashing officer, with all his own small world at his feet.

For when any man was in trouble, Steve Latrigg was sure to take that man's part.

He did not ask too particularly into the trouble.