In the meantime Lord Chiltern had intimated
to his wife that if Gerard Maule behaved badly he should consider
himself to be standing in the place of Adelaide's father or brother.
His wife pointed out to him that were he her father or her brother he
could do nothing,--that in these days let a man behave ever so badly,
no means of punishing was within reach of the lady's friends. But
Lord Chiltern would not assent to this. He muttered something about
a horsewhip, and seemed to suggest that one man could, if he were so
minded, always have it out with another, if not in this way, then in
that. Lady Chiltern protested, and declared that horsewhips could not
under any circumstances be efficacious. "He had better mind what he
is about," said Lord Chiltern. It was after this that Adelaide wrote
her letter:--
Harrington Hall, 5th April.
DEAR GERARD,--
I have been thinking that I should hear from you, and have
been surprised,--I may say unhappy,--because I have not
done so. Perhaps you thought I ought to have answered the
three words which you wrote to me about your father; if
so, I will apologise; only they did not seem to give me
anything to say.
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