Beauchamp's Career — Volume 7 by George Meredith
page 31 of 77 (40%)
page 31 of 77 (40%)
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'You see me every night.'
'I see you sound asleep.' 'I see you watching me.' 'Let's reason,' said the earl; and again they went through the argument upon the apology to Dr. Shrapnel. He was willing to indulge her in any amount of it: and she perceived why. Fox! she thought. Grand fox, but fox downright. For her time was shortening to days that would leave her no free-will. On the other hand, the exercise of her free-will in a fast resolve, was growing all the more a privilege that he was bound to respect. As she became sacreder and doubly precious to him, the less would he venture to thwart her, though he should think her mad. There would be an analogy between his manner of regarding her and the way that superstitious villagers look on their crazy innocents, she thought sadly. And she bled for him too: she grieved to hurt his pride. But she had come to imagine that there was no avoidance of this deed of personal humiliation. Nevil had scrawled a note to her. She had it in her hand one forenoon in mid November, when she said to her husband: 'I have ordered the carriage for two o'clock to meet the quarter to three train to London, and I have sent Stanton on to get the house ready for us tonight.' Lord Romfrey levelled a marksman's eye at her. 'Why London? You know my wish that it should be here at the castle.' |
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