One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library

George Meredith
tested the name, though the scenes regained their beauty or
something of it beneath her showery vision. Every time Victor
spoke of dolomites on the journey homeward, she had at
heart an accusation of her cowardice, her duplicity, frailty,
treachery to the highest of her worship and sole support of
her endurance in the world: not much blaming him: but the
degrading view of herself sank them both. On a shifty soil,
down goes the idol. For him she could plead still, for herself
she could not.
The smell of the Channel brine inspirited her sufficiently
to cast off the fit and make it seem, in the main, a bodily
depression; owing to causes, of which she was beginning to
have an apprehensive knowledge: and they were not so fearful
to her as the gloom they displaced.
BOOK 4
CHAPTER XXV
NATALY IN ACTION
A TICKET OF HERALD NEWSPAPERS told the world of Victor’s
returning to his London. Pretty Mrs. Blathenoy was Nataly’s
first afternoon visitor, and was graciously received; no sign
of inquiry for the cause of the lady’s alacrity to greet her
being shown. Colney Durance came in, bringing the rumour
of an Australian cantatrice to kindle Europe; Mr. Peridon, a
seeker of tidings from the city of Bourges; Miss Priscilla
Graves, reporting of Skepsey, in a holiday Sunday tone, that
his alcoholic partner might at any moment release him; Mr.
Septimus Barmby, with a hanged heavy look, suggestive of a
wharfside crane swinging the ponderous thing he had to say.
‘I have seen Miss Radnor.’
‘She was well?’ the mother asked, and the grand basso
pitched forth an affirmative.
‘Dear sweet girl she is!’ Mrs. Blathenoy exclaimed to Colney.
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