One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library

One of Our Conquerors
Thence came fruit of reflection:
‘To be instrumental as guides to a tender young life!’
Reflection heated with visions:
‘Once our dream!’
They had the happier feeling of composure, though Tasso
possessed the room. Not Tasso, but a sublimated offensiveness,
issue of the antagonistically combined, dispersed to be
the more penetrating; insomuch that it seemed to them they
could not ever again make use of eau d’Arquebusade without
the vitiating reminder. So true were the words of Mr.
Stuart Rem: ‘Half measures to purification are the most delusive
of our artifices.’ Fatigue and its reflections helped to
be peacefuller. Their souls were mounting to a serenity above
the nauseating degradation, to which the poor little dog had
dragged them.
‘Victor gave his promise.’
‘At least, concession would not imply contact with the
guilty.’
Both sighed as they took up the burden of the vaporous
Tasso to drop him; with the greater satisfaction in the expelling
of their breath.
‘It might be said, dear, that concession to his entreaty does
not in any way countenance the sin.’
‘I can see, dear, how it might be read as a reproof.’
Their exchange of sentences followed meditative pauses;
Dorothea leading.
‘To one so sensitive as Victor!’
‘A month or two of our society for the child!’
‘It is not the length of time.’
‘The limitation assures against maternal claims.’
‘She would not dare.’
‘He used the words: “her serious respect” for us. I should
not wish to listen to him often.’
‘We listen to a higher.’
‘It may really be, that the child is like him.’
‘Not resembling Mr. Stuart Rem’s Clementina!’
‘A week of that child gave us our totally sleepless night.’
‘One thinks more hopefully of a child of Victor’s.’
‘He would preponderate.’
‘He would.’
They sighed; but it was now with the relief of a lightened
oppression.
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