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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。
〃'In my young days' Lady Lapith was launched into her subject；
nothing； it seemed； could stop her now。 'In my young days； if you didn't
eat； people told you you needed a dose of rhubarb。 Nowadays。。。'
〃There was a cry； Georgiana had swooned sideways on to Lord
Timpany's shoulder。 It was a desperate expedient； but it was successful。
Lady Lapith was stopped。
〃The days passed in an uneventful round of pleasures。 Of all the gay
party George alone was unhappy。 Lord Timpany was paying his court to
Georgiana； and it was clear that he was not unfavourably received。
George looked on； and his soul was a hell of jealousy and despair。 The
boisterous company of the young men became intolerable to him； he
shrank from them； seeking gloom and solitude。 One morning； having
broken away from them on some vague pretext； he returned to the house
alone。 The young men were bathing in the pool below； their cries and
laughter floated up to him； making the quiet house seem lonelier and more
silent。 The lovely sisters and their mamma still kept their chambers； they
did not customarily make their appearance till luncheon； so that the male
guests had the morning to themselves。 George sat down in the hall and
abandoned himself to thought。
〃At any moment she might die； at any moment she might become
Lady Timpany。 It was terrible； terrible。 If she died； then he would die
too； he would go to seek her beyond the grave。 If she became Lady
Timpany。。。ah； then！ The solution of the problem would not be so simple。
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If she became Lady Timpany： it was a horrible thought。 But then
suppose she were in love with Timpanythough it seemed incredible that
anyone could be in love with Timpany suppose her life depended on
Timpany； suppose she couldn't live without him？ He was fumbling his
way along this clueless labyrinth of suppositions when the clock struck
twelve。 On the last stroke； like an automaton released by the turning
clockwork； a little maid； holding a large covered tray； popped out of the
door that led from the kitchen regions into the hall。 From his deep arm…
chair George watched her （himself； it was evident； unobserved） with an
idle curiosity。 She pattered across the room and came to a halt in front of
what seemed a blank expense of panelling。 She reached out her hand and；
to George's extreme astonishment； a little door swung open； revealing the
foot of a winding staircase。 Turning sideways in order to get her tray
through the narrow opening； the little maid darted in with a rapid crab…like
motion。 The door closed behind her with a click。 A minute later it
opened again and the maid； without her tray； hurried back across the hall
and disappeared in the direction of the kitchen。 George tried to
recompose his thoughts； but an invincible curiosity drew his mind towards
the hidden door； the staircase； the little maid。 It was in vain he told
himself that the matter was none of his business； that to explore the secrets
of that surprising door； that mysterious staircase within； would be a piece
of unforgivable rudeness and indiscretion。 It was in vain； for five
minutes he struggled heroically with his curiosity； but at the end of that
time he found himself