One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library

George Meredith
She boasted of acquaintance with Nesta?’
‘She thanked God for having met her.’
‘Is it one of the hysterical creatures?’
Mrs. Marsett appeared fronting Dartrey.
He laughed to himself. ‘A clever question. There is a leaning
to excitement of manner at times. It ‘s not hysteria. Allow
for her position.’
Nataly took the unintended blow, and bowed to it; and
still more harshly said: ‘What rank of life does the woman
come from?’
‘The class educated for a skittish career by your popular
Stage and your Book-stalls. I am not precise?’
‘Leave Mr. Durance. Is she in any degree commonly well
bred? … behaviour, talk-her English.’
‘I trench on Mr. Durance in replying. Her English is passable.
You may hear …’
‘Everywhere, of course! And this woman of slipshod English
and excited manners imposed upon Nesta!’
‘It would not be my opinion.’
‘Did not impose on her!’
‘Not many would impose on Nesta Radnor for long.’
‘Think what that says, Dartrey!’
‘You have had a detestable version of the story.’
‘Because an excited creature thanks God to you for having
met her!’
‘She may. She’s a better woman for having met her. Don’t
suppose we’re for supernatural conversions. The woman
makes no show of that. But she has found a good soul among
her sex—her better self in youth, as one guesses; and she is
grateful—feels farther from exile in consequence. She has
found a lady to take her by the hand!—not a common case.
She can never go to the utterly bad after knowing Nesta. I
forget if she says it; I say it. You have heard the story from
one of your conventional gentlemen.’
‘A true gentleman. I have reason to thank him. He has not
your ideas on these matters, Dartrey. He is very sensitive …
on Nesta’s behalf.’
‘With reference to marriage. I’ll own I prefer another kind
of gentleman. I ‘ve had my experience of that kind of gentleman.
Many of the kind have added their spot to the outcasts
abominated for uncleanness—in holy unction. Many?—I
won’t say all; but men who consent to hear black words
359