as her judgment was weak, was more painful perhaps than absolute
ill-usage. Sir Philip was a voluptuary--that is, a completely
selfish egotist--whose disposition and character resembled the
rapier he wore, polished, keen, and brilliant, but inflexible and
unpitying. As he observed carefully all the usual forms towards
his lady, he had the art to deprive her even of the compassion of
the world; and useless and unavailing as that may be while
actually possessed by the sufferer, it is, to a mind like Lady
Forester's, most painful to know she has it not.

The tattle of society did its best to place the peccant husband
above the suffering wife. Some called her a poor, spiritless
thing, and declared that, with a little of her sister's spirit,
she might have brought to reason any Sir Philip whatsoever, were
it the termagant Falconbridge himself. But the greater part of
their acquaintance affected candour, and saw faults on both
sides--though, in fact, there only existed the oppressor and the
oppressed. The tone of such critics was, "To be sure, no one
will justify Sir Philip Forester, but then we all know Sir
Philip, and Jemmie Falconer might have known what she had to
expect from the beginning. What made her set her cap at Sir
Philip? He would never have looked at her if she had not thrown
herself at his head, with her poor ten thousand pounds. I am
sure, if it is money he wanted, she spoiled his market. I know
where Sir Philip could have done much better. And then, if she
WOULD have the man, could not she try to make him more
comfortable at home, and have his friends oftener, and not plague
him with the squalling children, and take care all was handsome
and in good style about the house? I declare I think Sir Philip
would have made a very domestic man, with a woman who knew how to