Moths by Ouida — page 133: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

\' " Py ; MOTHS. 129 Dolly was vaguely frightened, as the frivolous are always fright- ened at any strength or depth of nature or any giimpse of sheer despair. Not to be consoled! What can seem more strange to the shallow? What can seem more obstinate to the weak? Not to be consoled is to offend all swiftly forgetting humanity, most of whose memories are writ ' on water. “It is very strange, she seems to me to enjoy nothing!” said Lady Dolly, one morning, to Madame Nelaguine, when Frince Zouroff had announced, at the noonday breakfast, that he had oe for his wife a famous historical diamond known in emoirs and in European courts, as the ‘‘ Roc’s egg,” and Vere, with a brief word of thanks, acknowledged the tidings, her mother thought indignantly, as though he had brought her a twopenny bunch of primroses. ‘“‘ Tt is very strange!” repeated Lady Dolly. ing that she had got the biggest diamond in all the world, ex- > cept five, and receiving the news like that! disappointed, I think, annoyed; didn’t you?” ‘If he wants ecstasies over a diamond he can give it to Noisette,” said Madame Nelaguine, with her little cold smile. “3 think he ought not to be annoyed that his wife is superior to Noisette.”’ ‘‘ The idea of hears Your brother looked ‘‘Was Vera always as cold as that at St. Petersburg before her ehild’s death?” pursued Lady Dolly, who never liked Madame Nelaguine’s smiles. ‘¢ Yes; always the same.” ** Doesn’t society amuse her in the least?” ‘* Not in the least. I quite understand why it does not do so. Without coquetry or ambition it is impossible to enjoy society much. Every pretty woman should bea flirt, every clever woman a politician; the aim, the animus, the intrigue, the rivalry that accompany each of those pursuits are the salt, without which the great dinner were tasteless. A good many brainless creatures do, it is true, flutter through society all their lives for the mere pleas- ure of fluttering; but that is poor work, after all,” added Madame — Nelaguine, ignoring the pretty flutterer to whom she was speak- ing. ‘‘ One needs an aim, just as anangler must have fishin the stream or he grows weary of whipping it. never be a coquette, because her temperament forbids it. too proud, and also men have the misfortune not to interest her, And I think she will never be a politician; at least, she is inter- ested in great questions, but the small means by which men strive to accomplish their aims disgust her, and she will never be a diplomatist. In the first week she was in Russia she compro- mised Sergius seriously at the Imperial court by praising a Nihil- ist novelist to the Empress!” ‘¢Oh, I know!’ said Lady Doliy, desperately. Now, your Vere will She is ‘*She has not two grains of sense. She is beautiful and distinguished-looking. When you have said that you have said everything that is to be said. The education she had with her hopelessly stupid, actually staupid/” grandmother made hey mn ole Y@ S