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Trollope, Anthony, 1815-1882

"The Eustace Diamonds"

"'Instinct with inexpressible beauty and grace,
each stain of earthliness had passed away.' I can see him now in all his
manly beauty, as we used to sit together by the hour, looking over the
waters. Oh, Julia, the thing itself has gone, the earthly reality; but the
memory of it will live forever."
"He was a very handsome man certainly," said Miss Macnulty, finding
herself forced to say something.
"I see him now," she went on, still gazing out upon the shining water.
"'It reassumed its native dignity and stood primeval amid ruin.' Is not
that a glorious idea, gloriously worded?" She had forgotten one word and
used a wrong epithet; but it sounded just as well. Primeval seemed to her
to be a very poetical word.
"To tell the truth," said Miss Macnulty, "I never understand poetry when
it is quoted unless I happen to know the passage beforehand. I think I'll
go away from this, for the light is too much for my poor old eyes."
Certainly Miss Macnulty had fallen into a profession for which she was not
suited.


CHAPTER XXII
LADY EUSTACE PROCURES A PONY FOR THE USE OF HER COUSIN

Lady Eustace could make nothing of Miss Macnulty in the way of sympathy,
and could not bear her disappointment with patience.


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