It was not only that he was unable to assert his usual
powers immediately after the attack made upon him, but that on the
following day, at Scrobby's trial, on the Saturday when he started
to the meet, and on the Sunday following when he allowed himself to
be easily persuaded to go to church, he was silent, sheepish, and
evidently afraid of himself. "It is a great pity that we shouldn't
take the ball at the hop," she said to Sir George.
"What ball;--and what hop?"
"Get him to settle himself. There ought to be an end to this kind
of thing now. He has got out of this mess, but every time it
becomes worse and worse, and he'll be taken in horribly by some
harpy if we don't get him to marry decently. I fancy he was very
nearly going in this last affair." Sir George, in this matter, did
not quite agree with his wife. It was in his opinion right to avoid
Miss Trefoil, but he did not see why his brother-in-law should be
precipitated into matrimony with Miss Penge. According to his ideas
in such matters a man should be left alone. Therefore, as was
customary with him when he opposed his wife, he held his tongue.
"You have been called in three or four times when he has been just
on the edge of the cliff."
"I don't know that that is any reason why he should be pushed
over."
"There is not a word to be said against Caroline.
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