FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155  
156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   >>   >|  
en of business; and as to social questions, I have only one article of belief, which is, that the sole refiner of human nature is fine art." "Whereas I believe that the sole refiner of art is human nature. Art rises when men rise, and grovels when men grovel. What is your opinion?" "I agree with you in many ways," replied Sir Charles nervously; for a lack of interest in his fellow-creatures, and an excess of interest in himself, had prevented him from obtaining that power of dealing with social questions which, he felt, a baronet ought to possess, and he was consequently afraid to differ from anyone who alluded to them with confidence. "If you take an interest in art, I believe I can show you a few things worth seeing." "Thank you. In return I will some day show you a remarkable collection of photographs I possess; many of them taken by me. I venture to think they will teach you something." "No doubt," said Sir Charles. "Shall we return to the gallery? I have a few treasures there that photography is not likely to surpass for some time yet." "Let's go through the conservatory," said Jane. "Don't you like flowers, Mr. Smi--I never can remember your proper name." "Extremely," said Trefusis. They rose and went out into a long hothouse. Here Lady Brandon, finding Erskine at her side, and Sir Charles before her with Gertrude, looked round for Trefusis, with whom she intended to enjoy a trifling flirtation under cover of showing him the flowers. He was out of sight; but she heard his footsteps in the passage on the opposite side of the greenhouse. Agatha was also invisible. Jane, not daring to rearrange their procession lest her design should become obvious, had to walk on with Erskine. Agatha had turned unintentionally into the opposite alley to that which the others had chosen. When she saw what she had done, and found herself virtually alone with Trefusis, who had followed her, she blamed him for it, and was about to retrace her steps when he said coolly: "Were you shocked when you heard of Henrietta's sudden death?" Agatha struggled with herself for a moment, and then said in a suppressed voice: "How dare you speak to me?" "Why not?" said he, astonished. "I am not going to enter into a discussion with you. You know what I mean very well." "You mean that you are offended with me; that is plain enough. But when I part with a young lady on good terms, and after a lapse of years, during which we
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155  
156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Charles
 

interest

 

Trefusis

 

Agatha

 

possess

 
flowers
 
opposite
 

Erskine

 
return
 

nature


questions

 

refiner

 
social
 

obvious

 
greenhouse
 

design

 
rearrange
 
procession
 

daring

 

invisible


intended

 

trifling

 

looked

 

flirtation

 

footsteps

 

passage

 

showing

 

struggled

 

moment

 

sudden


Henrietta

 
coolly
 

shocked

 

Gertrude

 

suppressed

 
astonished
 

discussion

 
unintentionally
 

chosen

 
virtually

retrace
 

blamed

 
offended
 
turned
 

baronet

 

dealing

 
excess
 

prevented

 
obtaining
 

afraid