Complete Project Gutenberg Works of George Meredith eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 10,116 pages of information about Complete Project Gutenberg Works of George Meredith.

Complete Project Gutenberg Works of George Meredith eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 10,116 pages of information about Complete Project Gutenberg Works of George Meredith.

“And love of compliments.”

“Possibly.  I was not conscious of paying them”

“And a disposition to rebel?”

“To challenge authority, at least.”

“That is a dreadful character.”

“At all events, it is a character.”

“Fit for an Alpine comrade?”

“For the best of comrades anywhere.”

“It is not a piece of drawing-room sculpture:  that is the most one can say for it!” she dropped a dramatic sigh.

Had he been willing she would have continued the theme, for the pleasure a poor creature long gnawing her sensations finds in seeing herself from the outside.  It fell away.  After a silence, she could not renew it; and he was evidently indifferent, having to his own satisfaction dissected and stamped her a foreigner.  With it passed her holiday.  She had forgotten Sir Willoughby:  she remembered him and said.  “You knew Miss Durham, Mr. Whitford?”

He answered briefly, “I did.”

“Was she? . . .” some hot-faced inquiry peered forth and withdrew.

“Very handsome,” said Vernon.

“English?”

“Yes; the dashing style of English.”

“Very courageous.”

“I dare say she had a kind of courage.”

“She did very wrong.”

“I won’t say no.  She discovered a man more of a match with herself; luckily not too late.  We’re at the mercy . . .”

“Was she not unpardonable?”

“I should be sorry to think that of any one.”

“But you agree that she did wrong.”

“I suppose I do.  She made a mistake and she corrected it.  If she had not, she would have made a greater mistake.”

“The manner. . .”

“That was bad—­as far as we know.  The world has not much right to judge.  A false start must now and then be made.  It’s better not to take notice of it, I think.”

“What is it we are at the mercy of?”

“Currents of feeling, our natures.  I am the last man to preach on the subject:  young ladies are enigmas to me; I fancy they must have a natural perception of the husband suitable to them, and the reverse; and if they have a certain degree of courage, it follows that they please themselves.”

“They are not to reflect on the harm they do?” said Miss Middleton.

“By all means let them reflect; they hurt nobody by doing that.”

“But a breach of faith!”

“If the faith can be kept through life, all’s well.”

“And then there is the cruelty, the injury!”

“I really think that if a young lady came to me to inform me she must break our engagement—­I have never been put to the proof, but to suppose it:—­I should not think her cruel.”

“Then she would not be much of a loss.”

“And I should not think so for this reason, that it is impossible for a girl to come to such a resolution without previously showing signs of it to her . . . the man she is engaged to.  I think it unfair to engage a girl for longer than a week or two, just time enough for her preparations and publications.”

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Complete Project Gutenberg Works of George Meredith from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.