The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-01
GEORGE MEREDITH,
GREATEST OF ENGLISH NOVELISTS,
Sends to The Sun this Original View
of English Life.
WlTTYAND INTERESTING STORY
TINE CASE OF GEN. oPLE AND LADY CAMPER,
CHAPTER 1.


An excursion beyond the immediate suburbs
az London. projected long before his pony
carriage was hired to conduct him. In fact
over aimee his retirement from active service.
lad Gen Oplo across famous common.
With which hs fell in love at once to lofty
highway along the borders OF park. for
which he promptly exchanged his hoart. and
90 gradually within q stones throw or so OF
the river side. whore he determined not solely
TO bestov his affections. but to settle for life
II may be seen that he was OF an impulsive
temperament though he had thought fit to
loosen his sword belt The pony carriage
however. had been hired for the very special
purpose OF helping him to pass in review
the lines OF what he called country houses.
cottages, or even sites for building. not too
remote from sweet London: and as when Co.,
lebs goes forth intending to pursue and obtain,
there is no doubt OF his bringing home wife.
the circumstance that there stood house to
let, In an airy situation. at certain distance
in hail OF the metropolis he worshpped. was
enough to kindle the Generals enthusiasm.
He would have taken the first he saw had 1t
not been for his daughter. who accompanied
him and at the age OF IS was about to
undertake the man agement OF his house. For
tune, under Elizabeth Ople's guiding re-
straint, directed him to an epitome OF the
comforts. The place ho fell upon Is
only to be described in the tongue OF
Nuctioneers. and for the first week after
taking 1t he modestly followed them by term
ing It q bijou. In time. when his own magma
ton, instigated by state OF something more
than mere contontment had been at work on
Il, he chose the happy phrase. "a gentlemsnly
residence" For 1t was, he declared, q small
estate. There wasa lodge to 1t. resembling two
sentry boxes forced into union whore In one
half an old couple sat bent, in the other half
lay compressed: thero was back drive to
discoverable stables, there was bit OF grass
that would have appeared meadow II magni-
fed and there was q wall round the kitchen
garden and q strip Of wood round the flower
garden. The prying OF the the outside world
was impossible Comfort. fertilization. and
emanness made the place, as the Gen
oral said an ideal English homo.
The compass OF the estate was half an acre.
and perhaps q perch or two. Just the size for
tho hugging love Gen. Ople was happiest In
giving He wisely decided to retain the old
couple at the lodge, whose members were used
to restriction. and also not to purchase COW,
that would have wanted pasture. With the old
man. while the old woman attended to the bell
at the handsome front entrance with It's gilt
spiked gate. he undertook to do the gardening
business he delighted in so long as he could
perform 1t In gentlemanly manner, that is to
say. 80 long as he was not overlooked. He was
perfectly concealed from the road. Only one
house. and. curiously indeed. only one window
OF the house. and further to show the protec-
ton extended to Douro Lodge. that window
an attic. overlooked him. And the house was
empty.
Tho house flor who can hope and who should
desire q commodious house with conserva-
tories, sviaries. pond. and boat shed. and other
Joys OF wealth. to remain unoccupied) was
taken two seasons later by lady OF whom
fame, rolling like dust cloud from the place
she had left. reported that she was eccentric.
The word is uninstructive: 1t docs not frighten.
10 q lady Of a certain age. 1t is rather char
acteristic OF aristocracy in retirement. And at
least it implies wealth.
Gen. Ope was very anxious to see her. He
had the sentiment OF humble respectfulness
toward aristocracy. and there was that in
riches which rousedt his admiration. London,
for instance. he was not afraid to say he
thought the wonder Of the world He remarked.
in addition. that the sackinG OF London would
suffce to make every common soldier Of the
foreign army OF occupation an independent
gentleman for the term OF his natural days.
But this is q nightmare. said he. startling him
self with an abhorent dream of envy of those
enriched invading officers for booty Is the one
lovely thing which the military mind can con-
template In the abstract His habit was to 20
of In an explosion OF heavy signs when he had
delivered himself 80 far. like man at war with
himself.
The lady arrived in time. She received the
cards OF the neiGhborhood. and siRnalized her
eccentriciLy by paying no attention to them.
excepting the card OF q Mrs Baerens. who had
audience OF her at once By express arrange
ment the card OF Gen. Wilson Ople as her
nearest neighbour. followed the card OF the
rector. tho social head OF the district and to
the rector was an interview granted but Lady
Camper was not at homo to Con. Ople. She Is
OF superior station to me- and may not wish to
associate with me. the General modestly said.
Nevertheless he was wounded. for in spite OF
himself. and without the slightest wish
10 obtrude his own person, as he ex-
planned the meaning THAT he had In him.
his rank In the British army forced
him to be the representative OF 1t, in the ABB
sence OF any one OF superior rank. So that
he was professionally hurt aud bis heart being
In his profession. 1t may be honestly stated
that he was wounded in his feelings, though
he said no. and insisted on tho distinction.
Once day his walk for constitutional exercise
compelled him TO pass before Lady Camper 8
windows. which were not bashtully withdrawn.
as he said humorously OF Douro Lodge. in the
seclusion OF half-pay. but bowed out imperi-
ously. militarily. like a Reneralissimo on horse
back. and had full command OF the road and
levels up to the swelling park foliage. He
went by'at q smart stride with delicate de-
preston OF his upright bearing. as though has
tSninR to greet friend In view. whose hand
was getting ready for the shake. This
much would have been observed by a
housemaid and considering his fine hG-
ure and the peculiar shining silv er-
mess OF his hair. the acceleraton OF his gait
was noticeable. When he drove by, the pony g
right ear was aicked to the extreme indigna-
ton Of the mettlesome littleIanimal. 1t en-.
sued In consequence that tho General was
borne flying under the eyes Of Lady Camper.
and such pace dIspleRsinR him. he reduced II
invariably at step or two beyond the corner
OF her grounds
But neither he nor his daughter Elizabeth
attached importance to 80 trivial a circum-
stance. The General punctiliously avoided
glancing at the windows during the passage
past them. whether in his wild career or on
foot Elizabeth took q side shot. as ono looks
at q wayside tree. Their speech concern
iDRALady Camper was an exchange Of
md