The English in Italy [by C H Phipps]

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. For some years no more was heard of Lord Elstane. He had got rid in parting at once of all English property and connections, and when he sailed for foreign shores, he left not one tie, one link between him and his country. Reports frequently reached our metropolitan journals, that this...
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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. For some years no more was heard of Lord Elstane. He had got rid in parting at once of all English property and connections, and when he sailed for foreign shores, he left not one tie, one link between him and his country. Reports frequently reached our metropolitan journals, that this singular and talented no- ble was now voyaging in the African Desert, now sojourning in the delightful recesses of Arabia: to Greece, to Asia, even to the North, Lord Elstane's ever erring steps were reported to have borne him. They may have been all true, or all false; an idle traveller in lack of other news, or Elstane himselffor any purpose might have sent forth such reports. Five years had rolled away; and Lord Els- tane once more appeared amongst his countrymen, not however in England, but in the several circles and metropoles of Italy. His appearance was considerably changed, his former pallor and even delicate fairness of complexion had in that time been exchanged for a swarthy hue. The sun alone could not have so embrowned his face; to its southern ray must have been joined reckless exposure, voluntary hardship, a life of wayfaring and peril. The fine expression too, indicative of the continual but minor workings of a susceptible spirit, that used to mark his countenance and attract the eye to gaze upon and study it, was now obliterated, lost in a broader, bolder look of un- mingled passion. Accustomed no doubt to the society alone of menials, or at best of an hired escort, his habitual language was command, his demeanour Asiatic, that which revolts equals, and chapter{{Section 4?'' awes inferiors. And even the domestic arrangement of his household was on the same oriental scale of grandeur. He had of old been frugal, had been even accused of meannessSn expendi...