One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library
One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library
One of Our Conquerors cessantly in the mind of shackled men. It seemed like one of the miracles of a divine intervention, that Dartrey should be free, suddenly free; and free while still a youngish man. He was in himself a wonderful fellow, the pick of his country for vigour, gallantry, trustiness, highmindedness; his heavenly good fortune decked him as a prodigy. ‘No harm to the head from that fall of yours?’ Mr. Fenellan said. ‘None.’ Mr. Radnor withdrew his hand from head to hat, clapped it on and cried cheerily: ‘Now to business’; as men may, who have confidence in their ability to concentrate an instant attention upon the substantial. ‘You dine with us. The usual Quartet: Peridon, Pempton, Colney, Yatt, or Catkin: Priscilla Graves and Nataly—the Rev. Septimus; Cormyn and his wife: Young Dudley Sowerby and I—flutes: he has precision, as naughty Fredi said, when some one spoke of expression. In the course of the evening, Lady Grace, perhaps: you like her.’ ‘Human nature in the upper circle is particularly likeable.’ ‘Fenellan,’ said Mr. Radnor, emboldened to judge hopefully of his fortunes by mere pressure of the thought of Dartrey’s, ‘I put it to you: would you say, that there is anything this time behind your friend Carling’s report?’ Although it had not been phrased as a report, Mr. Fenellan’s answering look and gesture, and a run of indiscriminate words, enrolled it in that form, greatly to the inspiriting of Mr. Radnor. Old Veuve in one, to the soul of Old Veuve in the other, they recalled a past day or two, touched the skies; and merriment or happiness in the times behind them held a mirror to the present: or the hour of the reverse of happiness worked the same effect by contrast: so that notions of the singular election of us by Dame Fortune, sprang like vinous bubbles. For it is written, that however powerful you be, you shall not take the Winegod on board to entertain him as a simple passenger; and you may captain your vessel, you may pilot it, and keep to your reckonings, and steer for all the ports you have a mind to, even to doing profitable exchange with Armenian and Jew, and still you shall do the something more, which proves that the Winegod is on board: he is the pilot of your blood if not the captain of your thoughts. 30
George Meredith Mr. Fenellan was unused to the copious outpouring of Victor Radnor’s confidences upon his domestic affairs; and the CHAPTER V unwonted excitement of Victor’s manner of speech would THE LONDON WALK WESTWARD have perplexed him, had there not been such a fiddling of the waltz inside him. IN THAT NATIONALLY interesting Poem, or Dramatic Satire, Payment for the turtle and the bottles of Old Veuve was once famous, The Rajah in London (London, Limbo and performed apart with Benjamin, while Simeon Fenellan Sons, 1889), now obliterated under the long wash of Pressmatter, the reflection—not unknown to philosophical ob- strolled out of the house, questioning a tumbled mind as to what description of suitable entertainment, which would be servers, and natural perhaps in the mind of an Oriental dancing and flirting and fal-lallery in the season of youth, Prince—produced by his observation of the march of London citizens Eastward at morn, Westward at eve, attributes London City could provide near meridian hours for a man of middle age carrying his bottle of champagne, like a guest their practice to a survival of the Zoroastrian form of worship. His Minister, favourable to the people or for the sake of an old-fashioned wedding-breakfast. For although he could stand his wine as well as his friend, his friend’s potent capacity martially after the feast to buckle to business at a sign of show more than the fidelity of the sunflower to her God. of fostering an idea in his Master’s head, remarks, that they the clock, was beyond him. It pointed to one of the embodied elements, hot from Nature’s workshop. It told of the en- princely fashion, accusing him of obscureness of speech:— The Rajah, it would appear, frowns interrogatively, in the durance of powers, that partly explained the successful, astonishing career of his friend among a people making urnally instant to spurn at the whip of that which they do not princes and the louder members of the grey public are fratergent, if unequal, demands perpetually upon stomach and immediately comprehend. It is explained by the Minister: head. not even the flower, he says, would hold constant, as they, to 31
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<strong>One</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Our</strong> <strong>Conquerors</strong><br />
cessantly in the mind <strong>of</strong> shackled men.<br />
It seemed like one <strong>of</strong> the miracles <strong>of</strong> a divine intervention,<br />
that Dartrey should be free, suddenly free; and free while<br />
still a youngish man. He was in himself a wonderful fellow,<br />
the pick <strong>of</strong> his country for vigour, gallantry, trustiness, highmindedness;<br />
his heavenly good fortune decked him as a<br />
prodigy.<br />
‘No harm to the head from that fall <strong>of</strong> yours?’ Mr. Fenellan<br />
said.<br />
‘None.’ Mr. Radnor withdrew his hand from head to hat,<br />
clapped it on and cried cheerily: ‘Now to business’; as men<br />
may, who have confidence in their ability to concentrate an<br />
instant attention upon the substantial. ‘You dine with us.<br />
The usual Quartet: Peridon, Pempton, Colney, Yatt, or Catkin:<br />
Priscilla Graves and Nataly—the Rev. Septimus; Cormyn<br />
and his wife: Young Dudley Sowerby and I—flutes: he has<br />
precision, as naughty Fredi said, when some one spoke <strong>of</strong><br />
expression. In the course <strong>of</strong> the evening, Lady Grace, perhaps:<br />
you like her.’<br />
‘Human nature in the upper circle is particularly likeable.’<br />
‘Fenellan,’ said Mr. Radnor, emboldened to judge hopefully<br />
<strong>of</strong> his fortunes by mere pressure <strong>of</strong> the thought <strong>of</strong><br />
Dartrey’s, ‘I put it to you: would you say, that there is anything<br />
this time behind your friend Carling’s report?’<br />
Although it had not been phrased as a report, Mr. Fenellan’s<br />
answering look and gesture, and a run <strong>of</strong> indiscriminate<br />
words, enrolled it in that form, greatly to the inspiriting <strong>of</strong><br />
Mr. Radnor.<br />
Old Veuve in one, to the soul <strong>of</strong> Old Veuve in the other,<br />
they recalled a past day or two, touched the skies; and merriment<br />
or happiness in the times behind them held a mirror<br />
to the present: or the hour <strong>of</strong> the reverse <strong>of</strong> happiness worked<br />
the same effect by contrast: so that notions <strong>of</strong> the singular<br />
election <strong>of</strong> us by Dame Fortune, sprang like vinous bubbles.<br />
For it is written, that however powerful you be, you shall not<br />
take the Winegod on board to entertain him as a simple passenger;<br />
and you may captain your vessel, you may pilot it,<br />
and keep to your reckonings, and steer for all the ports you<br />
have a mind to, even to doing pr<strong>of</strong>itable exchange with Armenian<br />
and Jew, and still you shall do the something more,<br />
which proves that the Winegod is on board: he is the pilot <strong>of</strong><br />
your blood if not the captain <strong>of</strong> your thoughts.<br />
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