I have made up my mind that I ought not to be a perfect horsewoman, and so I should never correspond to your pattern of a lady." Dorothea looked straight before her, and spoke with cold brusquerie , very much with the air of a handsome boy, in amusing contrast with the solicitous amiability of her admirer.

Polina was not at all pleased at my questions; I could see that she was doing her best to irritate me with the brusquerie of her answers.

I hope you have not been so foolish as to take offence at any little brusquerie of mine; but no, that is improbable.