Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 13, 2025
Miss Martell, with the tact of a perfect lady, had the power of putting him at his ease and drawing him out. Hemstead's mind was no stagnant, muddy pool, but a living fountain, and his thought sparkled as it flowed readily on the congenial topics that Mr. and Miss Martell introduced.
But the habit of her old, insincere life swayed her, and she said lightly, "If, instead of dozing away the whole afternoon, you would follow Mr. Hemstead's example and read the Bible, you would be the better for it." "I would have read to you all the afternoon, if you had given me a chance, and even from the Bible if you had asked for it," De Forrest replied, with an injured air.
Though Hemstead's manner was quiet and distant, he was conscious of a strange and unaccountable disappointment and sadness. It was as if a beautiful picture were becoming blurred before his eyes. It was more than that, more than he understood. He had a sense of personal loss.
"Oh! come! save my father!" cried Alice Martell, in a tone that might have moved the very ice around her to pity. "My child, my child!" came the agonized voice of the father. "Never think of me, if you can save her." Hemstead's nature was anthracite, and now glowed at white heat in his grand excitement.
Marchmont and Mr. Dimmerly had retired, and the rather dull servant who admitted them was too sleepy to note anything. Lottie promptly dismissed her, and told her she would wait for the others. Hemstead saw De Forrest to his room. He had become so stupid that he did mechanically what was urged, and the student soon left him sleeping heavily. But Hemstead's heart was strangely burdened.
The glamour faded out of her gay young life, and she saw only the hard lines of fact. Hemstead's words repeated themselves over and over again, and in their light she questioned the past closely. It was not in keeping with her positive nature and strong mind to do things by halves. With fixed and steady scrutiny she reviewed the motives of her life, and estimated the results.
She was seeing "the other set" to her heart's content, and all was as new and strange as if she had visited another land. Harcourt joined Addie, and they began to whisper satirical criticisms on the remarks and manners of those around. Hemstead's interest mainly centred in watching Lottie, and in noting the effect of her contact with plain and uncultured people.
The current of ordinary and worldly life, which Hemstead's sincere but mistaken words had rudely interrupted, now began to flow on as quietly and smoothly as before. But with Lottie it was very different, and the tides of her life seemed seeking new channels. Bel, and to a certain extent the others, noted peculiarities in her manner and that of Hemstead.
The obsequious footman threw open the door, and they entered a tropical atmosphere laden with the perfumes of exotics. Already the music was striking up for the chief feature of the evening. Bel reluctantly accepted of Hemstead's escort, as sh; had no other resource. "He will be so awkward!" she had said to Lottie, in irritable protest.
I couldn't endure to see you, Miss Lottie, going around with that clodhopper of a farmer, and, worst of all, how could you touch that great mountain of flesh they called Auntie Lammer?" "Many men of many minds," trilled out Lottie; but she thought of Hemstead's treatment of the poor old creature in contrast.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking