Page:Duty and Inclination 1.pdf/239

Rh than that, by his supporting a conversation with his wife, it drew her attention from himself, leaving him to the mercy of those reflections, which in spite of his endeavours to banish, nevertheless intruded.

In passing flippantly from subject to subject, the Count again touched upon the entertainment he derived between the combat of the infuriated cat and his ferocious bull-dog. Whilst shuddering at the relation, the mind of Mrs. De Brooke was led to the event of the morning, as she had from time to time gathered it, partly from her husband, and from the children themselves; and which she could not but conclude was the cause of the nervous irritation from which her husband was apparently suffering. Interrupting the Count, she could not forbear expostulating with him on so cruel a sport. But, treating her arguments with jocularity, he defended himself with an address worthy of a better cause.

No longer inclined to dispute, Mrs. De Brooke fell into that silence and reserve by which her husband was affected; she saw in the Count nothing that could please her, and wondered she had been before so blind to his demerits; his gaiety appeared but trifling, his conversation insipid, and,