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meditated taking his own life。 In course of time； however； he lived down
this humiliation； but never again； though he often fell in love； and that
very passionately； did he dare to make any advances to those in whom he
was interested。 After coming to the estate and finding that he was in a
position to create his own world as he desired it； he saw that； if he was to
have a wifewhich he very much desired； being of an affectionate and；
indeed； amorous temperhe must choose her as he had chosen his
servantsfrom among the race of dwarfs。 But to find a suitable wife was；
he found； a matter of some difficulty； for he would marry none who was
not distinguished by beauty and gentle birth。 The dwarfish daughter of
Lord Bemboro he refused on the ground that besides being a pigmy she
was hunchbacked； while another young lady； an orphan belonging to a
very good family in Hampshire； was rejected by him because her face； like
that of so many dwarfs； was wizened and repulsive。 Finally； when he
was almost despairing of success； he heard from a reliable source that
Count Titimalo； a Venetian nobleman； possessed a daughter of exquisite
beauty and great accomplishments； who was by three feet in height。
Setting out at once for Venice； he went immediately on his arrival to pay
his respects to the count； whom he found living with his wife and five
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children in a very mean apartment in one of the poorer quarters of the
town。 Indeed； the count was so far reduced in his circumstances that he
was even then negotiating （so it was rumoured） with a travelling company
of clowns and acrobats； who had had the misfortune to lose their
performing dwarf； for the sale of his diminutive daughter Filomena。 Sir
Hercules arrived in time to save her from this untoward fate； for he was so
much charmed by Filomena's grace and beauty； that at the end of three
days' courtship he made her a formal offer of marriage； which was
accepted by her no less joyfully than by her father； who perceived in an
English son…in…law a rich and unfailing source of revenue。 After an
unostentatious marriage； at which the English ambassador acted as one of
the witnesses； Sir Hercules and his bride returned by sea to England；
where they settled down； as it proved； to a life of uneventful happiness。
〃Crome and its household of dwarfs delighted Filomena； who felt
herself now for the first time to be a free woman living among her equals
in a friendly world。 She had many tastes in common with her husband；
especially that of music。 She had a beautiful voice； of a power surprising
in one so small； and could touch A in alt without effort。 Accompanied by
her husband on his fine Cremona fiddle； which he played； as we have
noted before； as one plays a bass viol； she would sing all the liveliest and
tenderest airs from the operas and cantatas of her native country。 Seated
together at the harpsichord； they found that they could with their four
hands play all the music written for two hands of ordinary size； a
circumstance which gave Sir Hercules unfailing pleasure。
〃When they were not making music or reading together； which they
often did； both in English and Italian； they spent their time in healthful
outdoor exercises； sometimes rowing in a little boat on the lake； but more
often riding or driving； occupations in which； because they were entirely
new to her； Filomena especially delighted。 When she had become a
perfectly proficient rider； Filomena and her husband used often to go
hunting in the park； at that time very much more extensive than it is now。
They hunted not foxes nor hares； but rabbits； using a pack of about thirty
black and fawn…coloured pugs； a kind of dog which； when not overfed； can
course a rabbit as well as any of the smaller breeds。 Four dwarf grooms；
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dressed in scarlet liveries and mounted on white Exmoor ponies； hunted
the pack； while their master and mistress； in green habits； followed either
on the black Shetlands or on the piebald New Forest ponies。 A picture of
the whole huntdogs； horses； grooms； and masterswas painted by
William Stubbs； whose work Sir Hercules admired so much that he invited
him； though a man of ordinary stature； to come and stay at the mansion for
the purpose of executing this picture。 Stubbs likewise painted a portrait of
Sir Hercules and his lady driving in their green enamelled calash drawn by
four black Shetlands。 Sir Hercules wears a plum…coloured velvet coat
and white breeches； Filomena is dressed in flowered muslin and a very
large hat with pink feathers。 The two figures in their gay carriage stand
out sharply against a dark background of trees； but to the left of the picture
the trees fall away and disappear； so that the four black ponies are seen
against a pale and strangely lurid sky that has the golden…brown colour of
thunder… clouds lighted up by the sun。
〃In this way four years passed happily by。 At the end of that time
Filomena found herself great with child。 Sir Hercules was overjoyed。
'If God is good；' he wrote in his day…book； 'the name of Lapith will be
preserved and our rarer and more delicate race transmitted through the
generations until in the fullness of time the world shall recognise the
superiority of those beings whom now it uses to make mock of。' On his
wife's being brought to bed of a son he wrote a poem to the same effect。
The child was christened Ferdinando in memory of the builder of the
house。
〃With the passage of the months a certain sense of disquiet began to
invade the minds of Sir Hercules and his lady。 For the child was growing
with an extraordinary rapidity。 At a year he weighed as much as
Hercules had weighed when he was three。