Unfortunately, in the flush of blitheness and whirl of activity,
Albinia failed to perceive the relative importance of objects, and he
had taught her to believe herself so little necessary to him that she
had not learnt to make her pursuits and occupations subservient to
his convenience. As long as the drive took place regularly, all was
well, but he caught a severe cold, which lasted even to the setting
in of the east winds, the yearly misery of a man who hardly granted
that India was over-hot. Though Albinia had removed much listing,
and opened various doors and windows, he made no complaints, but did
his best to keep the obnoxious fresh air out of his study, and seldom
crossed the threshold thereof but with a shiver.
His favourite atmosphere was quite enough to account for a return of
the old mood, but Albinia had no time to perceive that it might have
been prevented, or at least mitigated.
Few even of the wisest women are fit for authority and liberty so
little restrained, and happily it seldom falls to the lot of such as
have not previously been chastened by a life-long affliction. But
Mrs. Kendal, at twenty-four, with the consequence conferred by
marriage, and by her superiority of manners and birth, was left as
unchecked and almost as irresponsible as if she had been single or a
widow, and was solely guided by the impulses of her own character,
noble and highly principled, but like most zealous dispositions,
without balance and without repose.
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