Mr Bott was particularly anxious.

"The frost was so uncommonly severe," said he, "that any delicate person like Lady Glencora must have suffered in remaining out so long." The insinuation that Alice was not a delicate person and that, as regarded her, the severity of the frost was of no moment, was very open, and was duly appreciated.

Mr Bott was aware that his great patron had in some sort changed his opinion about Miss Vavasor, and he was of course disposed to change his own.

A fortnight since Alice might have been as delicate as she pleased in Mr Bott's estimation.
"I hope you do not consider Lady Glencora delicate," said Alice to Mr Palliser.
"She is not robust," said the husband.
"By no means," said Mrs Marsham.
"Indeed, no," said Mr Bott.
Alice knew that she was being accused of being robust herself; but she bore it in silence.

Ploughboys and milkmaids are robust, and the accusation was a heavy one.