[The Short Works of George Meredith by George Meredith]@TWC D-Link bookThe Short Works of George Meredith CHAPTER V 5/11
And he's gone stone-blind over that Tinman." While they were speaking, Annette appeared. "I saw you," she said to Fellingham; gladly and openly, in the most commonplace manner. "Are you going to give me a walk along the beach ?" said he. She proposed the country behind the town, and that was quite as much to his taste.
But it was not a happy walk.
He had decided that he admired her, and the notion of having Tinman for a rival annoyed him.
He overflowed with ridicule of Tinman, and this was distressing to Annette, because not only did she see that he would not control himself before her father, but he kindled her own satirical spirit in opposition to her father's friendly sentiments toward his old schoolmate. "Mr.Tinman has been extremely hospitable to us," she said, a little coldly. "May I ask you, has he consented to receive instruction in deportment and pronunciation ?" Annette did not answer. "If practice makes perfect, he must be near the mark by this time." She continued silent. "I dare say, in domestic life, he's as amiable as he is hospitable, and it must be a daily gratification to see him in his Court suit." "I have not seen him in his Court suit." "That is his coyness." "People talk of those things." "The common people scandalize the great, about whom they know nothing, you mean! I am sure that is true, and living in Courts one must be keenly aware of it.
But what a splendid sky and-sea!" "Is it not ?" Annette echoed his false rapture with a candour that melted him. He was preparing to make up for lost time, when the wild waving of a parasol down a road to the right, coming from the town, caused Annette to stop and say, "I think that must be Mrs.Cavely.We ought to meet her." Fellingham asked why. "She is so fond of walks," Anisette replied, with a tooth on her lip Fellingham thought she seemed fond of runs. Mrs.Cavely joined them, breathless.
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