Godolphin - Paperback

Excerpt: ...philosophy of the "Rose-garden"-could she ever have supposed that he would side with the bold objects and turbulent will of a popular party in a stormy crisis? The subject was not renewed. But she had the pain of observing that Godolphin's manner was altered: he took pleasure in none of his old hobbies-he was evidently dissatisfied with himself. In fact, it is true that he, for the first time in his life, felt that there is a remorse to the mind as well as to the soul, and that a man of genius cannot be perpetually idle without, as he touches on the middle of his career, looking to the past with some shame, and to the fixture with some ambition. One evening, when he had sat by the open window in a thoughtful and melancholy, almost morose, silence for a considerable time, Constance, after a violent struggle with herself, rose suddenly, and fell on his neck- "Forgive me, Percy," she said, unable to suppress her tears-"forgive me-it is past-I have no right that you, so superior to myself, should be sacrificed to my-my prejudices you would call them-so be it. Is it for your wife to condemn you to be inglorious? No-no-dear Godolphin-fulfil your destiny-you are born for high objects. Be active-be distinguished-and I will ask no more!" John Vernon, in that hour you were forgotten! Who among the dead can ever hope for fidelity, when love to the living invites a woman to betray? "My sweet Constance," said Godolphin, drawing her to his heart, and affected in proportion as he appreciated all that in that speech his wife gave up for his sake-the all, far more than the lovely person, the splendid wealth, the lofty rank that she had brought to his home-"my sweet Constance, do not think I will take advantage of words so generously, but hastily spoken. Time enough hereafter to think of differences between us. At present let us indulge only the luxury of the new love-the holiness of the new nuptials-that have made us as one Being....