But I see the rehearsal is beginning.

May I give you an arm to the hall ?" The offer was entirely disregarded, and it was with the help of mine that Lady Mary retired from an unequal combat, which she never seemed able to resist provoking anew, and in which she was invariably worsted, causing her, as I could see, to regard Charles with the concentrated bitterness of which a severely good woman alone is capable.
I soon perceived that Charles was on the same amicable terms with his father; that they rarely spoke, and that it was evidently only with a view to keeping up appearances that he was ever invited to the paternal roof at all.

Between the brothers, however, in spite of so much to estrange them, a certain kindliness of feeling seemed to exist, which was hardly to have been expected under the circumstances.
The rehearsal now began, and Sir George Danvers, who had remained behind to put by the jewels, and lock them up in his strong-box among his papers, came and sat down by me, again thanking me for taking charge of them, though I assured him it had been very little trouble.
"Not much trouble, perhaps, but a great responsibility," he said, courteously.
"A soldier, Sir George," I replied, with a slight smile, "becomes early inured to the gravest responsibility.

It is the air we breathe; it is taken as a matter of course." He looked keenly at me, and was silent, as if considering something--perhaps what I had said.
I was delighted to find the play was one of those which I had seen acted during our passage home.

There is nothing I like so much as knowing a play beforehand, because then one can always whisper to one's companion what is coming next.