One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library

One of Our Conquerors
reading of absurdities which caused Fredi’s eyes to stream
and Lady Grace beside him to stand awhile and laugh out
her fit. Young Sowerby appeared forgiving enough—he was
a perfect gentleman: but Fredi’s appalling sense of fun must
try him hard. And those young fellows are often more
wounded by a girl’s thoughtless laughter than by a man’s
contempt. Nataly should have protected him. Her face had
the air of a smiling general satisfaction; sign of a pleasure
below the mark required; sign too of a sleepy partner for a
battle. Even in the wonderful kitchen, arched and pillared
(where the explanation came to Nesta of Madame Callet’s
frequent leave of absence of late, when an inferior dinner
troubled her father in no degree), even there his Nataly listened
to the transports of the guests with benign indulgence.
‘Mama!’ said Nesta, ready to be entranced by kitchens in
her bubbling animation: she meant the recalling of instances
of the conspirator her father had been.
‘You none of you guessed Armandine’s business!’ Victor
cried, in a glee that pushed to make the utmost of this matter
and count against chagrin. ‘She was off to Paris; went to
test the last inventions:—French brains are always alert:—
and in fact, those kitchen-ranges, gas and coal, and the apparatus
for warming plates and dishes, the whole of the battery
is on the model of the Duc d’Ariane’s—finest in Europe.
Well,’ he agreed with Colney, ‘to say France is enough.’
Mr. Pempton spoke to Miss Graves of the task for a woman
to conduct a command so extensive. And, as when an inoffensive
wayfarer has chanced to set foot near a wasp’s nest,
out on him came woman and her champions, the worthy
and the sham, like a blast of powder.
Victor ejaculated: ‘Armandine !’ Whoever doubted her capacity,
knew not Armandine; or not knowing Armandine,
knew not the capacity in women.
With that utterance of her name, he saw the orangey spot
on London Bridge, and the sinking Tower and masts and funnels,
and the rising of them, on his return to his legs; he recollected,
that at the very edge of the fall he had Armandine
strongly in his mind. She was to do her part: Fenellan and
Colney on the surface, she below: and hospitality was to do its
part, and music was impressed—the innocent Concerts; his
wealth, all his inventiveness were to serve;—and merely to
attract and win the tastes of people, for a social support to
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