Tragic Comedians, the — Volume 3 by George Meredith
page 43 of 65 (66%)
page 43 of 65 (66%)
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reluctant or conniving; and he harangued the people, he bore off his
captive, he held her firmly as he had sworn he would; he defied authority, he was a public rebel--he with his detected little secret aim, which he nursed like a shamed mother of an infant, fond but afraid to be proud of it! She had seen that he aimed at standing well with the world and being one with it honourably: holding to his principles of course: but a disposition that way had been perceived, and the vision of him in open rebellion because of his shy catching at the thread of an alliance with the decorous world, carved an ironic line on her jaw. Full surely he would not be baffled without smiting the world on the face. And he might suffer for it; the Rudigers would suffer likewise. She considered them very foolish people. Her survey of the little nobility beneath her station had previously enabled her to account for their disgust of such a suitor as Alvan, and maintain that they would oppose him tooth and nail. Owing to his recent success, the anticipation of a peaceful surrender to him seemed now on the whole to carry most weight. This girl gives Alvan her hand and her family repudiate her. Volatile, flippant, shallow as she is, she must have had some turn for him; a physical spell was on her once, and it will be renewed when they meet. It sometimes inspires a semblance of courage; she may determine; she may be stedfast long enough for him to take his measures to bear her away. And the Brocken witches congratulate him on his prize! Almost better would it be, she thought, that circumstance should thwart him and kindle his own demon element. The forenoon, the noon, the afternoon, went round. |
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