Ordeal of Richard Feverel — Volume 4 by George Meredith
page 96 of 106 (90%)
page 96 of 106 (90%)
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his boy with this one: his own bright boy! And where was the difference
between them? "Mere outward gilding!" said his familiar. "Yes," he responded, "I daresay this one never positively plotted to deceive his father: he followed his appetites unchecked, and is internally the sounder of the two." Ripton, with his sunken chin and snoring nose under the light of the lamp, stood for human nature, honest, however abject. "Miss Random, I fear very much, is a necessary establishment!" whispered the monitor. "Does the evil in us demand its natural food, or it corrupts the whole?" ejaculated Sir Austin. "And is no angel of avail till that is drawn off? And is that our conflict--to see whether we can escape the contagion of its embrace, and come uncorrupted out of that?" "The world is wise in its way," said the voice. "Though it look on itself through Port wine?" he suggested, remembering his lawyer Thompson. "Wise in not seeking to be too wise," said the voice. "And getting intoxicated on its drug of comfort!" "Human nature is weak." |
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