The Opposite House: A Novel — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

The Opposite Flouse. 209 ae proach her for her reckless conduct, and pouted scornfully when he talked of marriage. ‘This irri- . tated his proud nature, and he broke with her. She left the country, and Maurice married a mem- ber of the aristocracy, the beautiful, idolized smar- guise, who possessed every attraction save a heart to love him. He admired her beauty, without feel- ing any thrill of affection; endured her caprices without a murmur; shared her triumphs without being jealous. Day by day he became more gloomy, till he was at last called an oddity. Then his wife’s conduct suddenly passed beyond the borders of de- corum ; he roused himself from his indifference, de- fended the honor of his name, obtained a divorce from his wife, and shot her lover in a duel. He was now entirely alone in the world; but he did not grieve. He had become too grave to find pleasure in Paris, and so buried himself in the soli- tude of his estates. There he wandered alone through the woods, without friend or companion. He did not even hunt much; he had no interest in the flying game; but when he saw a glittering lizard glide over the moor, with its bright eyes sparkling through the blades of grass, he thought of his litttle dancer, and sighed deeply at the re- membrance. Then the war came. He hurried back to Paris, and took up arms. While riding through the Comicboolk<s 5}