The Duchess of Roxburghe expresses her frustration about her great-nephew's romantic gestures, particularly observing him carrying Miss Balfour. She draws a comical parallel to classic romantic poetry, where such actions are depicted as heroic and passionate, yet her great-nephew's approach seems misguided. Her disappointment stems from his lack of understanding of women's preferences toward more graceful displays of affection.

She humorously notes that despite his experience, he fails to consider the practical aspects, such as messy hair and flushed faces, that result from his clumsiness. This situation prompts her to prepare for yet another conversation with him, aiming to guide him on how to better approach romance without leaving the lady feeling embarrassed.