a fraught relationship; a fraught process

Blue-bearded though they were, and bereft of the youthful smoothness of cheek which is imparted by what is termed in Albion a ‘Whitechapel shave’ (and which is, in fact, whitening, judiciously applied to the jaws with the palm of the hand), I recognised them.

[…]Well ſtrooke in yeares,[…]

Many, and probably true, anecdotes have been published on the long-delayed and artful revenge of various animals.