Sandra Belloni — Volume 5 by George Meredith
page 39 of 96 (40%)
page 39 of 96 (40%)
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The gentleman's mechanical assent provoked the lady's smile. But Wilfrid was torn between a profound admiration of her and the galling reflection that until she had named the engagement, none had virtually existed which diplomacy, aided by time and accident, might not have stopped. "You must be aware that I am portionless," she continued. "I have--let me name the sum--a thousand pounds. It is some credit to me that I have had it five years and not spent it. Some men would think that a quality worth double the amount. Well, you will make up your mind to my bringing you no money;--I have a few jewels. En revanche, my habits are not expensive. I like a horse, but I can do without one. I like a large house, and can live in a small one. I like a French cook, and can dine comfortably off a single dish. Society is very much to my taste; I shall indulge it when I am whipped at home." Wilfrid took her hand and pressed his lips to the fingers, keeping his face ponderingly down. He was again so divided that the effort to find himself absorbed all his thinking faculties. At last he muttered: "A lieutenant's pay!"--expecting her to reply, "We can wait," as girls do that find it pleasant to be adored by curates, Then might follow a meditative pause--a short gaze at her, from which she could have the option of reflecting that to wait is not the privilege of those who have lived to acquire patience. The track he marked out was clever in a poor way; perhaps it was not positively unkind to instigate her to look at her age: but though he read character shrewdly, and knew hers pretty accurately, he was himself too much of a straw at the moment |
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