condensed novels(压缩小说)-第4章
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estates of which he had not even heard。
Everybody at Plusham played croquet； and none badly。 Next to their
purity of blood and great wealth； the family were famous for this
accomplishment。 Yet Lothaw soon tired of the game； and after seriously
damaging his aristocratically large foot in an attempt to 〃tight croquet〃 the
Lady Aniseed's ball； he limped away to join the Duchess。
〃I'm going to the hennery；〃 she said。
〃Let me go with you； I dearly love fowlsbroiled；〃 he added；
thoughtfully。
〃The Duke gave Lady Montairy some large Cochins the other day；〃
continued the Duchess； changing the subject with delicate tact。
〃Lady Montairy； Quite contrairy； How do your cochins grow？〃
sang Lothaw gayly。
The Duchess looked shocked。 After a prolonged silence； Lothaw
abruptly and gravely said：
〃If you please； ma'am； when I come into my property I should like to
build some improved dwellings for the poor； and marry Lady Coriander。〃
〃You amaze me； dear friend； and yet both your aspirations are noble
and eminently proper；〃 said the Duchess； 〃Coriander is but a child；and
yet；〃 she added； looking graciously upon her companion； 〃for the matter of
that； so are you。〃
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CHAPTER III。
Mr。 Putney Giles's was Lothaw's first grand dinner…party。 Yet； by
carefully watching the others； he managed to acquit himself creditably；
and avoided drinking out of the finger…bowl by first secretly testing its
contents with a spoon。 The conversation was peculiar and singularly
interesting。
〃Then you think that monogamy is simply a question of the
thermometer？〃 said Mrs。 Putney Giles to her companion。
〃I certainly think that polygamy should be limited by isothermal
lines；〃 replied Lothaw。
〃I should say it was a matter of latitude；〃 observed a loud talkative
man opposite。 He was an Oxford Professor with a taste for satire； and had
made himself very obnoxious to the company； during dinner； by speaking
disparagingly of a former well…known Chancellor of the Exchequer；a
great statesman and brilliant novelist；whom he feared and hated。
Suddenly there was a sensation in the room； among the females it
absolutely amounted to a nervous thrill。 His Eminence； the Cardinal； was
announced。 He entered with great suavity of manner； and； after shaking
hands with everybody； asking after their relatives； and chucking the more
delicate females under the chin with a high…bred grace peculiar to his
profession； he sat down； saying； 〃And how do we all find ourselves this
evening； my dears？〃 in several different languages； which he spoke
fluently。
Lothaw's heart was touched。 His deeply religious convictions were
impressed。 He instantly went up to this gifted being； confessed； and
received absolution。 〃To…morrow；〃 he said to himself； 〃I will partake of the
communion； and endow the Church with my vast estates。 For the present
I'll let the improved cottages go。〃
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CHAPTER IV。
As Lothaw turned to leave the Cardinal； he was struck by a beautiful
face。 It was that of a matron； slim but shapely as an Ionic column。 Her face
was Grecian； with Corinthian temples； Hellenic eyes that looked from
jutting eyebrows； like dormer… windows in an Attic forehead； completed
her perfect Athenian outline。 She wore a black frock…coat tightly buttoned
over her bloomer trousers； and a standing collar。
〃Your Lordship is struck by that face；〃 said a social parasite。
〃I am； who is she？〃
〃Her name is Mary Ann。 She is married to an American； and has lately
invented a new religion〃
〃Ah！〃 said Lothaw eagerly； with difficulty restraining himself from
rushing toward her。
〃Yes； shall I introduce you？〃 Lothaw thought of Lady Coriander's
High Church proclivities； of the Cardinal； and hesitated： 〃No； I thank you；
not now。〃
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CHAPTER V。
Lothaw was maturing。 He had attended two woman's rights
conventions； three Fenian meetings； had dined at White's； and had danced
vis…a…vis to a prince of the blood； and eaten off of gold plates at Crecy
House。
His stables were near Oxford； and occupied more ground than the
University。 He was driving over there one day； when he perceived some
rustics and menials endeavoring to stop a pair of runaway horses attached
to a carriage in which a lady and gentleman were seated。 Calmly awaiting
the termination of the accident； with high…bred courtesy Lothaw forbore to
interfere until the carriage was overturned； the occupants thrown out； and
the runaways secured by the servants； when he advanced and offered the
lady the exclusive use of his Oxford stables。
Turning upon him a face whose perfect Hellenic details he
remembered； she slowly dragged a gentleman from under the wheels into
the light and presented him with ladylike dignity as her husband； Major…
General Camperdown； an American。
〃Ah；〃 said Lothaw； carelessly； 〃I believe I have some land there。 If I
mistake not； my agent； Mr。 Putney Giles； lately purchased the State of
IllinoisI think you call it。〃
〃Exactly。 As a former resident of the city of Chicago； let me introduce
myself as your tenant。〃
Lothaw bowed graciously to the gentleman； who； except that he
seemed better dressed than most Englishmen； showed no other signs of
inferiority and plebeian extraction。
〃We have met before；〃 said Lothaw to the lady as she leaned on his
arm； while they visited his stables； the University； and other places of
interest in Oxford。 〃Pray tell me； what is this new religion of yours？〃
〃It is Woman Suffrage； Free Love； Mutual Affinity； and Communism。
Embrace it and me。〃
Lothaw did not know exactly what to do。 She however soothed and
sustained his agitated frame and sealed with an embrace his speechless
form。 The General approached and coughed slightly with gentlemanly
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tact。
〃My husband will be too happy to talk with you further on this
subject；〃 she said with quiet dignity； as she regained the General's side。
Come with us to Oneida。 Brook Farm is a thing of the past。〃
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CHAPTER VI。
As Lothaw drove toward his country…seat； 〃The Mural Enclosure；〃 he
observed a crowd； apparently of the working class； gathered around a
singular…looking man in the picturesque garb of an Ethiopian serenader。
〃What does he say？〃 inquired Lothaw of his dri
