Moths by Ouida — page 262: what you’re looking at

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

958 ! MOTHS — suspected of revolutionary conspiracies, had harbored suspected persons, or were suspected themselves—Nihilists, in a word. ‘¢ How very interesting !” said Lady Dolly again. ‘‘ Now, one would never see such a sight as that in England, Lord Bangor ?” ‘‘No,” said Lord Bangor, seriously; ‘‘I don’t think we should. There are defects in our constitution——”’ ‘Poor things!” said Lady Dolly, a pretty figure in feudlemorte and violet, with a jeweled ebony cane as high as her shoulder, surveying through her glass the chained, dusty, heart-sick prisoners. ‘*But why couldn’t they keep quiet? So stupid of them! I never understand those revolutionaries; they upset everything, and bore everybody, and think themselves martyrs ! It will be such a pity if you do get those horrid principles here. » Russia is too charming as it is—everybody so obedient and nice as they are al present; everybody kneeling and bowing and doing what they’re told; not like ws with our horrid servants, who take themselves off the very day of a big party, or say they wont stay if they haven’t pineapples. I think the whole social system of Russia perfect—quite perfect; only it must have been nicer | still before the Tsar was too kind, and let loose all those serfs, . who, I am quite sure, haven’t an idea what to do with them- selves, and will be sure to shoot him for it some day.” Lady Dolly paused in these discursive political utterances, and looked again at the little band of fettered youths and maidens — dusty, pale, jaded, who were being hustled along by the Cossacks through the silent scattered groups of the people. <A local . official had been wounded by ashot from a revolver, and they were all implicated, or the police wished to suppose them to be implicated, in the offense. They were being carried away be- yond the Ourals; their parents, and brothers and sisters, and > overs knew very well that never more would their young feet. tread the stones of their native town. A silence like that of the grave—which would perhaps be the silence of the grave—would soon engulf and close over them. Henceforth they would be > mere memories to those who loved them: no more. ‘They look very harmless,” said Lady Dolly, disappointed that — conspirators did not look a little as they do on the stage. ‘‘Really, you know. if it wasn’t for these handcuffs, one might take them for a set of excursionists, really, now, mightn’t we? Just that sort of jaded, dusty, uncomfortable look——” ‘* Consequent on ‘ three shillings to Margate and back,’ Yes: they have a Bank holiday look,” said Lord Bangor. ‘ But it will be a long Bank holiday for them: they are on their first stage to Siberia.” ** How interesting!” said Lady Dolly. . At that moment an old white-haired woman, with a piercing cry, broke through the ranks, and fell on the neck of a young man, clinging to him for all that the police could do til. the _ lances of the Cossacks parted the mother and son. ‘It is a sad state of things for any country,” said Lord Ban. gor; and the young captain of the Guard laughed. “Well, why couldn’t they keep quiet!” said Lady Dolly. “' Dear me! with all this.crowd, how ever shadi we find the car. \ owe ’ b af OR : , 7 ban : A vit 7 bt 4 ’ a4 , ¥ a Lae : a 7 TP ud ) aa . “, es ian ate TaN, 9 4 aad » , J a iS FF Sf PF, ae « P al iv" * ¢ - = 1 7 a { ; at ‘ Me 4! * " seat, Baie { ~ ee = a ow ‘ = = iM ~ aes _" ; aa = oe oe ao lie cae, Oe I oe ee = =F, = ra a el