Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: August 22, 2024
"It's not my habit to make purposeless visits," continued he, "especially among frivolous, idle people like you. I've been coming here to make a study of your daughter." He paused. Mrs. Severence gave a feeble, frightened smile, made a sound that might have been mirth and again might have been the beginnings of a hastily-suppressed call for help.
Nearly an hour later Arkwright came for him, cut him off in the middle of an enthusiastic description of how he had enchained and enthralled a vast audience in the biggest hall in St. Paul. "We must go, this instant," said Arkwright. "I had no idea it was so late." "I'll see you soon again, no doubt, Mr. Craig," said Miss Severence, polite but not cordial, as she extended her hand.
Severence, as she entered the drawing-room. "She'll be down presently if you care to wait." This, partly because she hoped he would go, chiefly because he seemed in such a hurry. "I'll wait a few minutes," said Craig in his sharp, irritating voice. And he began to tour the room, glancing at pictures, at articles on the tables, mussing the lighter pieces of furniture about. Mrs.
But Craig's manner was most alarming; what would what would not a person so indifferent to the decencies of life do if he were crossed? "She must get married," pursued Craig firmly. "Do you know why I've been coming here these past two or three weeks?" Mrs. Severence was astounded anew. The man was actually about to propose for her daughter! This common man, with nothing!
Thus, the Severences from being leaders twenty years before, had shrunk into "quiet people," were saved from downright obscurity and social neglect only by the indomitable will and tireless energy of old Cornelia Bowker. Cornelia Bowker was not a Severence; in fact she was by birth indisputably a nobody. Her maiden name was Lard, and the Lards were "poor white trash."
Miss Severence was not attracted; but she was interested. She saw beyond the ill-fitting frock-coat, and the absurd manner, thoroughly ill at ease, trying to assume easy, nonchalant man-of- the-world airs. "I'd never have thought of judging you except on your own ground," said she, "if you hadn't invited the comparison." "You mean, by getting myself up in these clothes and coming here?" "Yes."
And he plumped himself into a chair near by, his claw-like hands upon his knees, his keen eyes and beak-like nose bent toward her. Mrs. Severence visibly shrank. She felt as if that handsome, predatory face were pressed against the very window of her inmost soul. "You wish to talk to me," she echoed, with a feeble conciliatory smile.
Lucius Quintus chose the site partly for the view, partly because spacious grounds could be had at a nominal figure, chiefly because part of his conception of aristocracy was to dwell in grandeur among the humble. The Severence place, enclosed by a high English-like wall of masonry, filled the whole huge square.
Whitesides bowed, and was glad when the outer air was blowing off him the odor of this vulgar incident. "For," said he to himself, "there are some manners so bad that they have a distinct bad smell. He is 'the limit! The little Severence must be infernally hard-pressed to think of taking him on. Poor child! She's devilish interesting.
"Sh-h!" said she in a whisper, for she had not heard the front door close. "He may not be gone. Come with me." Margaret followed her mother into the library at the head of the stairs. "It was that Craig man," explained Mrs. Severence, when she had the door closed. "What DO you think he had the impudence to do?" "I'm sure I can't imagine," said Margaret, impatient. "He proposed for you!"
Word Of The Day
Others Looking