But what, after all, could you know about girls ?" "As much as Robin Drummond, ma'am," the General said, with a growl; and was not placated by the Dowager's tolerant smile.
He was at once glad and sorry when the weeks were over.

He dreaded, for one thing, going back to London where Nelly might hear news of Godfrey Langrishe.

To be sure, he had acted entirely for her happiness, yet he had an idea that Nell might be angry with him for keeping things from her if she found out that Langrishe's regiment was engaged in the deadly frontier war.

He had been so used to being perfectly frank with her that his reservation galled him.
He had studied with attentiveness the columns of such papers as had come his way, dreading to find Langrishe's name among the casualties.
Hitherto it had not occurred, and for that he was deeply grateful.

If there had been news he must have betrayed it to Nelly by his eyes and his voice.
"I wish we could have stayed longer," she said to him on the eve of their departure from Italy.
"And I, Nell." "Oh," she looked at him in wonder.