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enjoyed above all Paganini's Farmyard Imitations。 The man had made
his fiddle bray like an ass； cluck like a hen； grunt； squeal； bark； neigh；
quack； bellow； and growl； that last item； in George's estimation； had
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almost compensated for the tediousness of the rest of the concert。 He
smiled with pleasure at the thought of it。 Yes； decidedly； he was no
classicist in music； he was a thoroughgoing transcendentalist。
〃George followed up this first introduction by paying a call on the
young ladies and their mother； who occupied； during the season； a small
but elegant house in the neighbourhood of Berkeley Square。 Lady Lapith
made a few discreet inquiries； and having found that George's financial
position； character； and family were all passably good； she asked him to
dine。 She hoped and expected that her daughters would all marry into the
peerage； but； being a prudent woman； she knew it was advisable to prepare
for all contingencies。 George Wimbush； she thought； would make an
excellent second string for one of the twins。
〃At this first dinner； George's partner was Emmeline。 They talked of
Nature。 Emmeline protested that to her high mountains were a feeling
and the hum of human cities torture。 George agreed that the country was
very agreeable； but held that London during the season also had its charms。
He noticed with surprise and a certain solicitous distress that Miss
Emmeline's appetite was poor； that it didn't； in fact； exist。 Two spoonfuls
of soup； a morsel of fish； no bird； no meat； and three grapesthat was her
whole dinner。 He looked from time to time at her two sisters； Georgiana
and Caroline seemed to be quite as abstemious。 They waved away
whatever was offered them with an expression of delicate disgust； shutting
their eyes and averting their faces from the proffered dish； as though the
lemon sole； the duck； the loin of veal； the trifle； were objects revolting to
the sight and smell。 George； who thought the dinner capital； ventured to
comment on the sisters' lack of appetite。
〃'Pray； don't talk to me of eating；' said Emmeline； drooping like a
sensitive plant。 'We find it so coarse； so unspiritual； my sisters and I。
One can't think of one's soul while one is eating。'
〃George agreed； one couldn't。 'But one must live；' he said。
〃'Alas！' Emmeline sighed。 'One must。 Death is very beautiful； don't
you think？' She broke a corner off a piece of toast and began to nibble at
it languidly。 'But since； as you say； one must live。。。' She made a little
gesture of resignation。 'Luckily a very little suffices to keep one alive。'
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She put down her corner of toast half eaten。
〃George regarded her with some surprise。 She was pale； but she
looked extraordinarily healthy； he thought； so did her sisters。 Perhaps if
you were really spiritual you needed less food。 He； clearly； was not
spiritual。
〃After this he saw them frequently。 They all liked him； from Lady
Lapith downwards。 True； he was not very romantic or poetical； but he
was such a pleasant； unpretentious； kind…hearted young man； that one
couldn't help liking him。 For his part； he thought them wonderful；
wonderful； especially Georgiana。 He enveloped them all in a warm；
protective affection。 For they needed protection； they were altogether
too frail； too spiritual for this world。 They never ate； they were always
pale； they often complained of fever； they talked much and lovingly of
death； they frequently swooned。 Georgiana was the most ethereal of all；
of the three she ate least； swooned most often； talked most of death； and
was the palestwith a pallor that was so startling as to appear positively
artificial。 At any moment； it seemed； she might loose her precarious hold
on this material world and become all spirit。 To George the thought was
a continual agony。 If she were to die。。。
〃She contrived； however； to live through the season； and that in spite
of the numerous balls； routs； and other parties of pleasure which； in
company with the rest of the lovely trio； she never failed to attend。 In the
middle of July the whole household moved down to the country。 George
was invited to spend the month of August at Crome。
〃The house…party was distinguished； in the list of visitors figured the
names of two marriageable young men of title。 George had hoped that
country air； repose； and natural surroundings might have restored to the
three sisters their appetites and the roses of their cheeks。 He was
mistaken。 For dinner； the first evening； Georgiana ate only an olive； two
or three salted almonds； and half a peach。 She was as pale as ever。
During the meal she spoke of love。
〃'True love；' she said； 'being infinite and eternal； can only be
consummated in eternity。 Indiana and Sir Rodolphe celebrated the
mystic wedding of their souls by jumping into Niagara。 Love is
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incompatible with life。 The wish of two people who truly love one
another is not to live together but to die together。'
〃'Come； come； my dear；' said Lady Lapith； stout and practical。 'What
would become of the next generation； pray； if all the world acted on your
principles？'
〃'Mamma！。。。' Georgiana protested； and dropped her eyes。
〃'In my young days；' Lady Lapith went on； 'I should have been laughed
out of countenance if I'd said a thing like that。 But then in my young
days souls weren't as fashionable as they are now and we didn't think
death was at all poetical。 It was just unpleasant。'
〃'Mamma！。。。' Emmeline and Caroline implored in unison。