The Works Of George Meredith - Vol Xx

THE WORKS OF GEORGE MEREDITH VOLUME XX - 1897 - ONE OF OUR CONQUERORS I I ONE OF OUR CONQUERORS VOLUME I I -CONTENTS - Page XXI. Dartrey Fenellan, . . l XXII. Concerns the Intrusion of Jarniman, 24 XXIII. Treats of the Ladies Lapdog Tasso for an Instance of Momentous Effects produced by Very Minor Causes, . . . . 35 XXIV. Nestas Engagement, . . 53 XXV. Nataly in Action, . . . 72 XXVI. In which we see a Conventional Gentleman endeavouring to ex amine a Spectre of himself, . . 87 XXVII. Contains what is a Small Thing or a Great, as the Soul of the Chief Actor may decide, . . . . 95 XXVIII. . Mrs. Marsett, . . . . 105 b ix CONTENTS XXIX. Shows one of the Shadows of the World crossing a Virgins Mind, XXX. The Burden upon Nesta, . XXXI. Shows how the Squires in a Conquerors Service have at times to do Knightly Conquest of themselves, . . . XXXII. Shows how Temper may kindle Temper and an Indignant Woman get her Weapon, . . . XXXIII. A Pair of Wooers, . . . XXXIV. Contains Deeds Unrelated and Ex positions of Feelings, . . XXXV. In which again we make Use of the Old Lamps for Lighting an Abysmal Darkness, . . XXXVI. Nesta and her Father, . . XXXVII. The Mother The Daughter, . . XXXVIII. Nataly, Nesta, and Dartrey Fenellan, Page 122 CONTENTS XXXIX. A Chapter in the Shadow of Mrs. page Marsett, . 256 XL. An Expiation, . 275 XLI. The Night of the Great Undelivered Speech, . . . 289 XLII. The Last, 306 ONE OF OUR CONQUERORS C CHAPTER XXI Dartrey Fenellan Had Nataly and Nesta known who was outside aelping Skepsey to play ball with the boys, they would not have worked through their share of the performance . with so graceful a composure. Even Simeon Fenellan was unaware that his half-brother Dartreyhad landed in England. Dartrey went first to Victors office, where he found Skepsey packing the days letters and circulars into the bag for the delivery of them at Lakelands. They sprang a chatter, and they missed the last of the express trains which did not greatly signify, Skepsey said, as it was a Con-- cert. To hear his hero talk, was the music for him and he richly enjoyed the pacing along the railway-platform. Arrived on the grounds, they took opposite sides in a game of rounders, at that moment tossing heads or tails for innings. These boys were slovenly players, and were made unhappy by Skepseys fussy instructions to them in smartness. They had a stupid way of feeding the stick, and they ran sprawling it con cerned Great Britain for them to learn how to use their legs. It was pitiful for the country to see how lumpish her younger children were. Dartrey knew his little man and laughed, after warning him that 20-A . l ONE OF OUR CONQUERORS CHAPTER his English would want many lessons before they stomached the mixture of discipline and pleasure. Dartrey Fenelm SO it appeared the pride of the boys in themselves, their confidence, enjoyment of the game, were all gone and all were speedily out but Skepsey who ran for the rounder, with his coat off, sharp as a porpoise, and would have got it, he had it in his grasp, when, at the jump, just over the line of the goal, a clever fling, if ever was, caught him a crack on that part of the human frame where sound is best achieved. Then were these young lumps transformed to limber, lither, merry fellows. They rejoiced Skepseys heart they did everything better, ran and dodged and threw in a style to win the nod from the future official inspectorof Games and Amusements of the common people a deputy of the Government, proposed by Skepsey to his hero with a deferential eagerness. Dartrey clapped him on the shoulder, softly laughing. g System - Mr...