DOI article:
James, Henry: The death of the lion
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20196#0027
By Henry James 21
" I mean is she a man ?"
"The wife i"—Mr. Morrow, for a moment, was as confused
as myself. But when I explained that I alluded to Dora Forbes
in person he informed me, with visible amusement at my being
so out of it, that this was the " pen-name " of an indubitable male
—he had a big red moustache. " He only assumes a feminine
personality because the ladies are such populär favourites. A great
deal of interest is feit in this assumption, and there's every pro-
spect of its being widely imitated." Our host at this moment
joined us again, and Mr. Morrow remarked invitingly that he
should be happy to make a note of any Observation the movement
in question, the bid for success under a lady's name, might suggest
to Mr. Paraday. But the poor man, without catching the allu-
tion, excused himself, pleading that, though he was greatly
honoured by his visitor's interest, he suddenly feit unwell and
should have to take leave of him—have to go and lie down and
keep quiet. His young friend might be trusted to answer for
him, but he hoped Mr. Morrow didn't expect great things even
of his young friend. His young friend, at this moment, looked
at Neil Paraday with an anxious eye, greatly wondering if he were
doomed to be ill again ; but Paraday's own kind face met his ques-
tion reassuringly, seemed to say in a glance intelligible enough:
Oh, I'm not ill, but I'm scared : get him out of the house as
quietly as possible." Getting newspaper-men out of the house was
odd business for an emissary of Mr. Pinhorn, and I was so exhila-
rated by the idea of it that I called after him as he left us:
" Read the article in The Empire, and you'll soon be all
right !"
" I mean is she a man ?"
"The wife i"—Mr. Morrow, for a moment, was as confused
as myself. But when I explained that I alluded to Dora Forbes
in person he informed me, with visible amusement at my being
so out of it, that this was the " pen-name " of an indubitable male
—he had a big red moustache. " He only assumes a feminine
personality because the ladies are such populär favourites. A great
deal of interest is feit in this assumption, and there's every pro-
spect of its being widely imitated." Our host at this moment
joined us again, and Mr. Morrow remarked invitingly that he
should be happy to make a note of any Observation the movement
in question, the bid for success under a lady's name, might suggest
to Mr. Paraday. But the poor man, without catching the allu-
tion, excused himself, pleading that, though he was greatly
honoured by his visitor's interest, he suddenly feit unwell and
should have to take leave of him—have to go and lie down and
keep quiet. His young friend might be trusted to answer for
him, but he hoped Mr. Morrow didn't expect great things even
of his young friend. His young friend, at this moment, looked
at Neil Paraday with an anxious eye, greatly wondering if he were
doomed to be ill again ; but Paraday's own kind face met his ques-
tion reassuringly, seemed to say in a glance intelligible enough:
Oh, I'm not ill, but I'm scared : get him out of the house as
quietly as possible." Getting newspaper-men out of the house was
odd business for an emissary of Mr. Pinhorn, and I was so exhila-
rated by the idea of it that I called after him as he left us:
" Read the article in The Empire, and you'll soon be all
right !"