I am not learned in the
vagaries of feminine temperament, but I imagine that the fair sex
like to be dominated, and you will do that. You have a light hand
on the reins--I always said that you rode the boys on the snaffle,
but the curb is there! and in matrimony--well, well, I am an old
bachelor of course, and I have a suspicion of all nooses. Never
mind my nonsense, Kennedy--what I like about you, if I may say so,
is that you have authority without pretensions. People will do as
you wish, just to please you; now I have always to be cracking the
whip. These fellows here are very worthy men, but they are not men
of the world! They are honest and sober--indeed one can hardly get
one of them to join one in a glass of port--but they are limited,
very limited. Now if only you could have kept clear of matrimony--
no disrespect to Madam--what a comfortable time we might have had
here! Man appoints and God disappoints--I suppose it is all for the
best."
"Well," said Howard, "I think you will me see back here in October--
my wife is quite ready to come, and there isn't really much for me
to do at Windlow. I believe I am to be on the bench shortly; but if
I live there in the vacations, that will be enough; and I don't
feel that I have finished with Beaufort yet."
"Excellent!" said Mr. Redmayne. "I commend Madam's good sense and
discretion. Pray give her my regards, and say that we shall welcome
her at Cambridge. We will make the best of it--and I confess that
in your place--well, if all women were like Madam, I could view
marriage with comparative equanimity--though of course, I make the
statement without prejudice.
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