Instead of dressing herself as a lady should, especially on such occasions, she chooses some fantastic, or old-fashioned, or negligent bedizening, which makes her at least look odd, if it cannot make her ridiculous--such triple tiaras of various-coloured gauze on her head--such pieces of old tapestry, I think, instead of shawls and pelisses--such thick-soled shoes--such tan-leather gloves--mercy upon us, Hal, the very sight of her equipment would drive mad a whole conclave of milliners! Then her postures are so strange--she does so stoop and lollop, as the women call it, so cross her legs and square her arms--were the goddess of grace to look down on her, it would put her to flight for ever!" "And you are willing to make this awkward, ill-dressed, unmannered dowdy, your Countess, Etherington; you, for whose critical eye half the town dress themselves ?" said Jekyl.
"It is all a trick, Hal--all an assumed character to get rid of me, to disgust me, to baffle me; but I am not to be had so easily.

The brother is driven to despair--he bites his nails, winks, coughs, makes signs, which she always takes up at cross-purpose .-- I hope he beats her after I go away; there would be a touch of consolation, were one but certain of that." "A very charitable hope, truly, and your present feelings might lead the lady to judge what she may expect after wedlock.

But," added Jekyl, "cannot you, so skilful in fathoming every mood of the female mind, divine some mode of engaging her in conversation ?" "Conversation!" replied the Earl; "why, ever since the shock of my first appearance was surmounted, she has contrived to vote me a nonentity; and that she may annihilate me completely, she has chosen, of all occupations, that of working a stocking! From what cursed old antediluvian, who lived before the invention of spinning-jennies, she learned this craft, Heaven only knows; but there she sits, with her work pinned to her knee--not the pretty taper silken fabric, with which Jeannette of Amiens coquetted, while Tristram Shandy was observing her progress; but a huge worsted bag, designed for some flat-footed old pauper, with heels like an elephant--And there she squats, counting all the stitches as she works, and refusing to speak, or listen, or look up, under pretence that it disturbs her calculation!" "An elegant occupation, truly, and I wonder it does not work a cure upon her noble admirer," said Jekyl.
"Confound her--no--she shall not trick me.

And then amid this affectation of vulgar stolidity, there break out such sparkles of exultation, when she thinks she has succeeded in baffling her brother, and in plaguing me, that, by my faith, Hal, I could not tell, were it at my option, whether to kiss or to cuff her." "You are determined to go on with this strange affair, then ?" said Jekyl.
"On--on--on, my boy!--Clara and Nettlewood for ever!" answered the Earl.
"Besides this brother of hers provokes me too--he does not do for me half what he might--what he ought to do.

He stands on points of honour, forsooth, this broken-down horse-jockey, who swallowed my two thousand pounds as a pointer would a pat of butter .-- I can see he wishes to play fast and loose--has some suspicions, like you, Hal, upon the strength of my right to my father's titles and estate; as if, with the tithe of the Nettlewood property alone, I would not be too good a match for one of his beggarly family.