Part 22 (2/2)
”Remote”
”Unfriended”
”Solitary”
”Slow”
”And, best of all, hitherto untried”
”Yes, its novelty is undeniable”
”So much so,” said Mrs Thornton, ”that it overwhelinal idea, and in these days of commonplace is it not creditable? The idea is mine, Sir, and I will match it with your--what?--your Syony”
”Econoest it by way of a change”
”It must be so, since you say it; but I have a weakness for the word Economy It is derived fro her hands ”You surely are not going to be so ungenerous as to quote Greek! Am I not a lady? Will you be so base as to take hly ashaoing on within iven,” said Mrs Thornton
”I can not conceive how I could have so far forgotten myself I do not usually speak Greek to ladies I consider it reeable I can make myself, if I try”
”I? I have no idea? Is it you who say that, and to ht melodraerated ”After what I told you--of s?”
”I see I shall have to devote all the rest of ies Avoid your besetting sins Otherwise, fond as I aerated soleard you as a failure”
The conversation went on uninterruptedly in this style for some time It appeared to suit each of therave, assisted hi the mock-serious tone which he chose to adopt; and Mrs Thornton's peculiar style of face gave her the sae
It pleased each to express for the other an exaggerated sentie How far it was safe was another thing But they had known one another years before, and were only resu the manner of earlier tirave Rector of Holby to adopt the inflated style of a troubadour in addressing the Lady of Thornton Grange? Neither of the hour after this fashi+on, until at length the conversation was interrupted by the opening of folding-doors, and the entrance of a servant who announced--dinner
On entering the dining-rooreeted with respectful formality by the master of the house He was a man of about forty, with the professional air of the lawyer about him, and an abstracted expression of face, such as usually belongs to one who is deeply engrossed in the cares of business His tone, in spite of its friendliness, was naturally stiff, and was in
”How do you like your new quarters?” he asked, as they sat down
”Very well,” said Despard ”It is more my home, you know, than any other place I lived there so many years as school-boy with Mr Carson that it seems natural to take up my station there as home”
Mr Thornton relapsed into his abstraction while Despard was speaking, who directed the reht, idle chat, in the saed Once or twice, at soant remark, Mr Thornton looked up in perplexity, which was not lessened on seeing their perfect gravity
They had a long discussion as to theof the phrase ”the day after to-morrow” Despard asserted that it meant the same as eternal duration, and insisted that it must be so, since when to-, and when that came there was still the day after He supported his theory with sofor a while, took the trouble to go heavily and at length into the whole question, and conclude it triuainst Despard
Then the subject of politics came up, and a probable ith France was considered Despard professed to take no interest in the subject, since, even if an invasion took place, clergy They were exeers Thediscussion as to the spelling of the word gauger