After one or two annoying incidents, in which the compatriots had shown several distinctly un-English characteristics, the duke became, in his wife's eyes, tiresome, strict, a burden.

Perhaps, also, she felt the Englishwoman's surprise at the inadequate belief in a woman's power of guarding her own virtue, which remains in some nations an hereditary masculine instinct.
She felt that she could take care of herself, which was, in reality, just what she could not do, as her imperturbable, watchful husband was well aware.
But was he aware of the subject of her thoughts at this moment?
It was more than probable that he was.

But Fay had not the faintest suspicion that he had guessed anything.
One of her many charms was a certain youthful innocence of mind, which imputed no evil to others, which never suspected that others would impute it to her.

Her husband was wearisome.

He looked coldly on her if she smiled on young men, and she had to smile at them when they smiled at her.