One of Our Conquerors — Volume 3 by George Meredith
page 20 of 108 (18%)
page 20 of 108 (18%)
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Delphica's phosphorial enthusiasm for our galaxy of British Poets.
Assisted by Mr. Semhians, he begins to imagine, that he has, in the person of this artless devotee an ally, who will, through her worship of our poets (by treachery to her sire-a small matter) sacrifice her guttural tongue, by enabling him (through the exercise of her arts, charms, intrigues--also a small matter) to obtain the first audience of the Japanese erudites. Delphica, with each of the rivals in turn, is very pretty Comedy. She is aware that M. Falarique is her most redoubtable adversary, by the time that the vast fleet of steamboats (containing newspaper reporters) is beheld from the decks of the Polypheme puffing past Sandy Hook. There Colney left them, for the next instalment of the serial. Nesta glanced at Dudley Sowerby. She liked him for his pained frown at the part his countrymen were made to play, but did wish that he would keep from expressing it in a countenance that suggested a worried knot; and mischievously she said: 'Do you take to Delphica?' He replied, with an evident sincerity, 'I cannot say I do.' Had Mr. Semhians been modelled on him? 'One bets on the German, of course--with Colney Durance,' Victor said to Dr. Themison, leading him over the grounds of Lakelands. 'In any case, the author teaches us to feel an interest in the rivals. I want to know what comes of it,' said the doctor. 'There's a good opportunity, one sees. But, mark me, it will all end in |
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