Anthony Trollope: The Belton Estate

17. CHAPTER XVII: AYLMER PARK (continued)

'Don't bite my nose off, Frederic, because I am anxious about your wife.'

'What is it that you wish me to do? I have written to her, and can only wait for her answer.'

'It may be that she feels a delicacy in writing to you on such a subject; though I own However, to make a long story short, if you like, I will write to her myself.'

'I don't see that that would do any good. It would only give her offence.'

'Give her offence, Frederic, to receive a letter from her future mother-in-law from me! Only think, Frederic, what you are saying.'

'If she thought she was being bullied about this, she would turn rusty at once.'

'Turn rusty! What am I to think of a young lady who is prepared to turn rusty at once, too because she is cautioned by the mother of the man she professes to love against an improper acquaintance against an acquaintance so very improper?' Lady Aylmer's eloquence should have been heard to be appreciated. It is but tame to say that she raised her fat arms and fat hands, and wagged her front her front that was the more formidable as it was the old one, somewhat rough and dishevelled, which she was wont to wear in the morning. The emphasis of her words should have been heard, and the fitting solemnity of her action should have been seen. 'If there were any doubt,' she continued to say, 'but there is no doubt. There are the damning proofs.' There are certain words usually confined to the vocabularies of men, which women such as Lady Aylmer delight to use on special occasions, when strong circumstances demand strong language. As she said this she put her hand below the table, pressing it apparently against her own august person; but she was in truth indicating the position of a certain valuable correspondence, which was locked up in the drawer of her writing-table.

'You can write if you like it, of course; but I think you ought to wait a few more days.'