One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library

One of Our Conquerors
dral voices: carry one up. I remember, in Dresden, once, a
Fraulein Kuhnstreich, a prodigy, very young, considering her
accomplishments. But it was not the same.’
Nesta wondered at Dartrey Fenellan for staying so long
with Mr. and Mrs. Blathenoy.
‘Ah, Mr. Sowerby, if I am to have flattery, I cannot take it
as a milliner’s dumb figure wears the beautiful dress; I must
point out my view of some of my merits.’
‘Oh! do, I beg, Miss … You have a Christian name and I
too: and once … not Mr. Sowerby: yes, it was Dudley!,
‘Quite accidentally, and a world of pardons entreated.’
‘And Dudley begged Dudley might be Dudley always !’
He was deepening to the Barmby intonation—apparently
Cupid’s; but a shade more airily Pagan, not so fearfully clerical.
Her father had withdrawn Dartrey Fenellan from Mr. and
Mrs. Blathenoy. Dr. Schlesien was bowing with Dartrey.
‘And if Durandarte would only—but you are one with Miss
Graves to depreciate my Durandarte, in favour of the more
classical Jachimo; whom we all admire; but you shall be just,’
said she, and she pouted. She had seen her father plant
Dartrey Fenellan in the midst of a group of City gentlemen.
Simeon touched among them to pluck at his brother. He
had not a chance; he retired, and swam into the salmon-net
of seductive Mrs. Blathenoy’s broad bright smile.
‘It’s a matter of mines, and they’re hovering in the attitude
of the query, like corkscrews over a bottle, profoundly indifferent
to blood-relationships,’ he said to her.
‘Pray, stay and be consoled by me,’ said the fair young
woman. ‘You are to point me out all the distinguished people.
Is it true, that your brother has left the army?’
‘Dartrey no longer wears the red. Here comes Colonel
Corfe, who does. England has her army still!’
‘His wife persuaded him?’
‘You see he is wearing the black.’
‘For her? How very very sad! Tell me—what a funnily
dressed woman meeting that gentleman!’
‘Hush—a friend of the warrior. Splendid weather, Colonel
Corfe.’
‘Superb toilettes!’ The colonel eyed Mrs. Blathenoy
dilatingly, advanced, bowed, and opened the siege.
She decided a calculation upon his age, made a wall of it,
smilingly agreed with his encomium of the Concert, and
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