DOI Artikel:
D'Arcy, Ella: The web of Maya
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27806#0312
308 The Web of Maya
and at St. Helier’s tea-parties. The absolutely platonic nature of
the Professor’s relations with Lily seemed to be understood, for in
a place where scandal is peculiarly rife, their friendship never
excited any.
In the course of six years Le Mesurier had become a cipher in
his own house, and Shergold ruled by suggestion in small things
as well as in great. Le Mesurier covered an intolerable hatred
with a sullen and morose manner, and had endured with apparent
insensibility many keener mortifications than the one which
finally brought matters to a crisis.
He had come home tired one day from the golf links, and
found Shergold, as usual, discoursing to Lily in the drawing-
room. Le Mesurier threw himself into an easy chair, conscious
of no more than his habitual annoyance. The drawing-room tea
had been taken away, and it wanted about half-an-hour to dinner.
Shergold commented on his fagged appearance, and offered him
refreshment.
“ Come now, do take a glass of wine,” he said, “ or some
brandy and soda ; ” with all the cordial civility of a man dispensing
hospitality from his own hearth-rug. “ Let me ring for it.”
But before he could touch the bell, Le Mesurier was on his
feet, his temper boiling over, his mouth spluttering forth indignant
protestations. The infernal insolence of the man, to play the
host to him in his own house ! “ By God,” he cried, “ I think
this really is the limit ! ”
The Professor, always coldly superior, and deaf to Lily’s
entreaties where his own dignity was at stake, took up his hat,
and left the room. A moment later he was passing before the
windows on his way to the lodge-gates.
Then came a scene with Lily, more shattering than anything
Le Mesurier could have imagined. In her coel little voice, she said
the
and at St. Helier’s tea-parties. The absolutely platonic nature of
the Professor’s relations with Lily seemed to be understood, for in
a place where scandal is peculiarly rife, their friendship never
excited any.
In the course of six years Le Mesurier had become a cipher in
his own house, and Shergold ruled by suggestion in small things
as well as in great. Le Mesurier covered an intolerable hatred
with a sullen and morose manner, and had endured with apparent
insensibility many keener mortifications than the one which
finally brought matters to a crisis.
He had come home tired one day from the golf links, and
found Shergold, as usual, discoursing to Lily in the drawing-
room. Le Mesurier threw himself into an easy chair, conscious
of no more than his habitual annoyance. The drawing-room tea
had been taken away, and it wanted about half-an-hour to dinner.
Shergold commented on his fagged appearance, and offered him
refreshment.
“ Come now, do take a glass of wine,” he said, “ or some
brandy and soda ; ” with all the cordial civility of a man dispensing
hospitality from his own hearth-rug. “ Let me ring for it.”
But before he could touch the bell, Le Mesurier was on his
feet, his temper boiling over, his mouth spluttering forth indignant
protestations. The infernal insolence of the man, to play the
host to him in his own house ! “ By God,” he cried, “ I think
this really is the limit ! ”
The Professor, always coldly superior, and deaf to Lily’s
entreaties where his own dignity was at stake, took up his hat,
and left the room. A moment later he was passing before the
windows on his way to the lodge-gates.
Then came a scene with Lily, more shattering than anything
Le Mesurier could have imagined. In her coel little voice, she said
the