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I say that she took no color from external things, and that the vague air of refinement that pervaded her nature clung to her as closely in the society of her boorish husband at the Castle Inn as in Lady Audley's boudoir at the Court. She looked up suddenly as Robert entered the bar-parlor.
Robert Audley's heart sunk within him as the shabby hired vehicle stopped at a stern-looking barred fence, and the driver dismounted to open a broad iron gate which swung back with a clanking noise and was caught by a great iron tooth, planted in the ground, which snapped at the lowest bar of the gate as if it wanted to bite.
"To be a comfort and a friend to your poor father under a very heavy affliction." "Yes!" cried Alicia, passionately. "How can you ask me such a question? Do you think there is anything I would not do to lighten any sorrow of my father's? Do you think there is anything I would not suffer if my suffering could lighten his?" The rushing tears rose to Miss Audley's bright gray eyes as she spoke.
His words greatly raised Mistress Audley's spirits; for he was evidently a man who would carry out whatever he purposed. Already advancing towards middle life, he possessed an eagle eye, a determined expression of countenance, and a strongly-knit figure capable of enduring fatigue and hardship.
And Audley's emotions seemed to him so earnest and genuine, to show so good a heart, that out by little and little came more: first, his suspicions that poor Nora had been betrayed; then his hopes that there might have been private marriage; and as Audley, with his iron self-command, showed just the proper degree of interest, and no more, he went on, till Audley knew that he had a child.
P. S. For Heaven's sake, caution and recaution your friend the minister not to drop a word to this woman that may betray my hiding-place. "Is he really happy?" murmured Harley, as he closed the letter; and he sank for a few moments into a revery. "This life in a village, this wife in a lady who puts down her work to talk about villagers what a contrast to Audley's full existence!
Audley's nature, whatever its faults and defects, was essentially masculine; and it was the sense of masculine power that gave to his voice a music when addressing the gentler sex, and to his manner a sort of indulgent tenderness that appeared equally void of insincerity and presumption.
He stared round him, as if perplexed and confused, till his eyes resting on Harley, he smiled and said, "So early! Ah, I remember, it is the day for our great boat-race. We shall have the current against us; but you and I together when did we ever lose?" Audley's mind was wandering; it had gone back to the old Eton days.
Audley's haughty countenance darkened; as the dog, in his bravest mode, turns dismayed from the stone plucked from the mire, so, when Ambition rears itself to defy mankind, whisper "disgrace and a jail," and, lo, crestfallen, it slinks away!
Coming by Temple Bar I bought "Audley's Way to be Rich," a serious pamphlett and some good things worth my minding.
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