One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library

One of Our Conquerors
‘My friend, you speak seriously—an unusual compliment,’
Nataly said, and ungratefully continued: ‘You know what is
occupying me. I want your opinion. I guess it. I want to
hear—a mean thirst perhaps, and you would pay me any
number of compliments to avoid the subject; but let me
hear:—this house!’
Colney shrugged in resignation. ‘Victor works himself out,’
he replied.
‘We are to go through it all again?’
‘If you have not the force to contain him.’
‘How contain him?’
Up went Colney’s shoulders.
‘You may see it all before you,’ he said, ‘straight as the
Seine chaussee from the hill of La Roche Guyon.’
He looked for her recollection of the scene.
‘Ah, the happy ramble that year!’ she cried. ‘And my Nesta
just seven. We had been six months at Craye. Every day of
our life together looks happy to me, looking back, though I
know that every day had the same troubles. I don’t think I’m
deficient in courage; I think I could meet .... But the false
position so cruelly weakens me. I am no woman’s equal when
I have to receive or visit. It seems easier to meet the worst in
life-danger, death, anything. Pardon me for talking so. Perhaps
we need not have left Craye or Creckholt … ?’ she hinted
an interrogation. ‘Though I am not sorry; it is not good to
be where one tastes poison. Here it may be as deadly, worse.
Dear friend, I am so glad you remember La Roche Guyon.
He was popular with the dear French people.’
‘In spite of his accent.’
‘It is not so bad?’
‘And that you’ll defend!’
‘Consider: these neighbours we come among; they may
have heard …’
‘Act on the assumption.’
‘You forget the principal character. Victor promises; he may
have learnt a lesson at Creckholt. But look at this house he
has built. How can I—any woman—contain him! He must
have society.’
‘Paraitre!’
‘He must be in the front. He has talked of Parliament.’
Colney’s liver took the thrust of a skewer through it. He
spoke as in meditative encomium: ‘His entry into Parlia-
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