She had long
considered Miss Leland among accepted things, like the chimney-pots on
the roof, and submitted, as we do, to any unalterable fact, but had
never praised her or expressed liking in any way.
considered Miss Leland among accepted things, like the chimney-pots on
the roof, and submitted, as we do, to any unalterable fact, but had
never praised her or expressed liking in any way.
Yeats
Again he lighted
it; again it went out. 'I am a traitor--and that good, stupid fellow,
Sherman, never to be jealous! ' he thought. 'But then, how could I
help it? And, besides, it cannot be a bad action to save her from a
man she is so much above in refinement and feeling. ' He was getting
into good-humour with himself. He got up and went over and looked
at the photograph of Raphael's Madonna, which he had hung over the
mantelpiece. 'How like Margaret's are her big eyes! '
VI
The next day when Sherman came home from his office he saw an envelope
lying on the smoking-room table. It contained a letter from Howard,
saying that he had gone away, and that he hoped Sherman would forgive
his treachery, but that he was hopelessly in love with Miss Leland, and
that she returned his love.
Sherman went downstairs. His mother was helping the servant to set the
table.
'You will never guess what has happened,' he said. 'My affair with
Margaret is over. '
'I cannot pretend to be sorry, John,' she replied.
She had long
considered Miss Leland among accepted things, like the chimney-pots on
the roof, and submitted, as we do, to any unalterable fact, but had
never praised her or expressed liking in any way. 'She puts belladonna
in her eyes, and is a vixen and a flirt, and I dare say her wealth is
all talk. But how did it happen? '
Her son was, however, too excited to listen.
He went upstairs and wrote the following note:
'MY DEAR MARGARET:
'I congratulate you on a new conquest. There is no end
to your victories. As for me, I bow myself out with
many sincere wishes for your happiness, and remain,
Your friend,
JOHN SHERMAN. '
Having posted this letter he sat down with Howard's note spread
out before him, and wondered whether there was anything mean and
small-minded in neatness--he himself was somewhat untidy. He had
often thought so before, for their strong friendship was founded in a
great measure on mutual contempt, but now immediately added, being in
good-humour with the world, 'He is much cleverer than I am. He must
have been very industrious at school. '
A week went by. He made up his mind to put an end to his London life.
He broke to his mother his resolve to return to Ballah. She was
delighted, and at once began to pack. Her old home had long seemed to
her a kind of lost Eden, wherewith she was accustomed to contrast the
present. When, in time, this present had grown into the past it became
an Eden in turn.
it; again it went out. 'I am a traitor--and that good, stupid fellow,
Sherman, never to be jealous! ' he thought. 'But then, how could I
help it? And, besides, it cannot be a bad action to save her from a
man she is so much above in refinement and feeling. ' He was getting
into good-humour with himself. He got up and went over and looked
at the photograph of Raphael's Madonna, which he had hung over the
mantelpiece. 'How like Margaret's are her big eyes! '
VI
The next day when Sherman came home from his office he saw an envelope
lying on the smoking-room table. It contained a letter from Howard,
saying that he had gone away, and that he hoped Sherman would forgive
his treachery, but that he was hopelessly in love with Miss Leland, and
that she returned his love.
Sherman went downstairs. His mother was helping the servant to set the
table.
'You will never guess what has happened,' he said. 'My affair with
Margaret is over. '
'I cannot pretend to be sorry, John,' she replied.
She had long
considered Miss Leland among accepted things, like the chimney-pots on
the roof, and submitted, as we do, to any unalterable fact, but had
never praised her or expressed liking in any way. 'She puts belladonna
in her eyes, and is a vixen and a flirt, and I dare say her wealth is
all talk. But how did it happen? '
Her son was, however, too excited to listen.
He went upstairs and wrote the following note:
'MY DEAR MARGARET:
'I congratulate you on a new conquest. There is no end
to your victories. As for me, I bow myself out with
many sincere wishes for your happiness, and remain,
Your friend,
JOHN SHERMAN. '
Having posted this letter he sat down with Howard's note spread
out before him, and wondered whether there was anything mean and
small-minded in neatness--he himself was somewhat untidy. He had
often thought so before, for their strong friendship was founded in a
great measure on mutual contempt, but now immediately added, being in
good-humour with the world, 'He is much cleverer than I am. He must
have been very industrious at school. '
A week went by. He made up his mind to put an end to his London life.
He broke to his mother his resolve to return to Ballah. She was
delighted, and at once began to pack. Her old home had long seemed to
her a kind of lost Eden, wherewith she was accustomed to contrast the
present. When, in time, this present had grown into the past it became
an Eden in turn.
