This etext was produced by Pat Castevans <patcat@ctnet.net>
and David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
By George Meredith
Emilia stretched out her hand and said, "Good-bye." Seeing that thehardened girl, with her dead eyelids, did not appear to feel herself athis mercy, and also that Sir Purcell's forehead looked threatening, Mr.Pericles stopped his sardonic noise. He went straight to the door, whichhe opened with alacrity, and mimicking very wretchedly her words ofadieu, stood prepared to bow her out. She astonished him by passingwithout another word. Before he could point a phrase bitter enough forexpression, Sir Purcell had likewise passed, and in going had given him aquietly admonishing look.
"Zose Poles are beggars!" Mr. Pericles roared after them over the stairs,and slammed his door for emphasis. Almost immediately there was a knockat it. Mr. Pericles stood bent and cat-like as Sir Purcell reappeared.The latter, avoiding all preliminaries, demanded of the Greek that heshould promise not to use the names of his friends publicly in such amanner again.
"I require a promise for the future. An apology will be needless fromyou."
"I shall not give it," said Mr. Pericles, with a sharp lift of his upperlip.
"But you will give me the promise I have returned for."
In answer Mr. Pericles announced that he had spoken what was simply true:that the prosperity of the Poles was fictitious: that he, or anyunfavourable chance, could ruin them: and that their friends might dobetter to protect their interests than by menacing one who had them inhis power.
Sir Purcell merely reiterated his demand for the promise, which wasultimately snarled to him; whereupon he retired, joy on his features.For, Cornelia poor, she might be claimed by him fearlessly: that is tosay, without the fear of people whispering that the penniless baronet hadsued for gold, and without the fear of her father rejecting his suit. Atleast he might, with this knowledge that he had gained, appoint to meether now! All the morning Sir Purcell had been combative, owing to thatsubordinate or secondary post he occupied in a situation of someexcitement;—which combativeness is one method whereby men thus placed,imagining that they are acting devotedly for their friends, contrivestill to assert themselves. He descended to the foot of the stairs,where he had told Emilia to wait for him, full of kind feelings and readycheerful counsels; as thus: "Nothing that we possess belongs to us;—Allwill come round rightly in the end; Be patient, look about for amusement,and improve your mind." And more of this copper coinage of wisdom in theway of proverbs. But Emilia was nowhere visible to receive theadministration of comfort. Outside the house the fog appeared to haveswallowed her. With some chagrin on her behalf (partly a sense of dutyunfulfilled) Sir Purcell made his way to the residence of the Marinis, toreport of her there, if she should not have arrived. The punishment heinflicted on himself in keeping