The Short Works of George Meredith

the bars. There was not a sign to tell of a change or twist in her neighbourly affability. She remarked simply enough, that it was her nephew's habit to take early gallops, and

usually calls to me through his door w

odded kindly

cipation of victory, a carefully arranged toilet, and an unaccustomed spirit of e

ept well?' s

ently,

t by your door in the morning for a ride to meet my ne

ous to his emotion was feeble and passed instantly. 'Prepared! Oh, certai

ble,' she responded; '

eed to your painting in

e. I

hould not hav

kle through the rouge; but the truth is, I am of a supernatural paleness if I do not

n calling it business. I ha

gentlemanl

dy, it is. It

amper sighed

perfect

the French word as if you were swearing

apologized for his pronunciation. Her variability was now v

o discuss concerns the

iness; it is a secondary part; it has to be discussed; I say I subscribe beforehand. I

a home and an

will be welcome in your home. I certainly

en to me. I rouge, I have told you. I like colour, and I do not like to see wrinkles or have them seen. Therefore I rouge.

eneral, was to raise him from his chair in

r his alternate blinking and gazing that drew her

n innocent and, I think, a proper one, before the world, though not to the gentleman who does me the honour to propose to me for my hand. You desire to s

gasped, 'I say I can-I cannot-I

iberty to cal

and in shame relapsed

contractions of decent speech in my presence. I

ed it all my life,'

t understood that you renounce

he General almost wailed; there

e to a union that necessitates the leaving of the front door open day and night to the doctor. My be

l Ople

y humbly, 'As Gene

mpted to marshal her signs of younger years against her awful confession of the extremely ancient, the witheringly ancient. But for the manifest rouge, manifest in spite of her declaration that she had not yet that morning proceeded to her paintbrush, he would have thrown down his

epeated it to himself half alo

years to come. I am a widow, as you know. And, by the way, you have a leaning for widows. Have you not? I thought I

al raised

ss, are you still of the same mind as to marriage? And one moment, General. I promise you most sincerely that your withdrawing a s

ended her delic

hrunken fingers, and kissing them, said, 'I never withdraw

me is

again: he could

fficult in itself. It is, it seems, th

a!' sa

t a more beautiful femal

s long as you live. Address me

s meant for propitiation and swe

ish to step b

er. My life is yours. I say, my li

gel

blushingly deli

ble one may be admired too much as an artist, I mu

, madam,' sai

w: never call any place a gentlemanly residence in my hearing, nor let it come to my ears that you have been using the phrase elsewhere. Don't express astoni

aying-hem!-Angela, I cou

e on his arm, observing, 'You have a

ind: I was saying, I am in love with your mind,' th

y powers as

r extraordinary

General of Brigade is as good a crutc

ading her grounds with the aged wo

fruit, which responds to the longing of his eyes by falling on his head; but it appeared to him, that

recognized his position, as to object in

hen he inclined to feel hurt) she remarked, 'I fear me, Wilsonople, if we are to speak plainly, tho

semblance of harshness, and harridan-like s

, and again with naked eyes at the soft-beaming moon, when the crater-ridges are faint as eyebro

our caprice, and contemplating a woman who shifts a

He could have believed (if he had not known full surely

to satisfy his present craving, it was a lady-like adieu-the adieu of a delicate and

And, worse, she had betrayed most melancholy signs of sourness a

o you to retreat,'

nswered gallant

s he said it, and somethi