Diana of the Crossways — Volume 5 by George Meredith
page 44 of 106 (41%)
page 44 of 106 (41%)
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world ever know, what cunning had inspired the frosty Cupid to return to
her and be warmed by striking a bargain for his weighty secret. She knew too well that she was not of the snows which do not melt, however high her conceit of herself might place her. Happily she now stood out of the sun, in a bracing temperature, Polar; and her compassion for women was deeply sisterly in tenderness and understanding. She spoke of it to Emma as her gain. 'I have not seen that you required to suffer to be considerate,' Emma said. 'It is on my conscience that I neglected Mary Paynham, among others--and because you did not take to her, Emmy.' 'The reading of it appears to me, that she has neglected you.' 'She was not in my confidence, and so I construe it as delicacy. One never loses by believing the best.' 'If one is not duped.' 'Expectations dupe us, not trust. The light of every soul burns upward. Of course, most of them are candles in the wind. Let us allow for atmospheric disturbance. Now I thank you, dear, for bringing me back to life. I see that I was really a selfish suicide, because I feel I have power to do some good, and belong to the army. When we are beginning to reflect, as I do now, on a recovered basis of pure health, we have the world at the dawn and know we are young in it, with great riches, great things gained and greater to achieve. Personally I behold a queer little wriggling worm for myself; but as one, of the active world I stand high |
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