Six months after came the little poem, which Irene, without
purposing it, learnt by heart.
A chapter of pure romance; one which, Irene felt, could not possibly
have any relation to her normal life. And perhaps because she felt.
that so strongly, perhaps because her conscience warned her against
the danger of still seeming to encourage a lover she could not dream
of marrying, perhaps because these airy nothings threw into stronger
relief the circumstances which environed her, she forthwith made up
her mind to go on the long journey with her father and Arnold Jacks.
Mrs. Hannaford did not fail to acquaint Piers Otway with the
occurrence.
And those two months of companionship told in Arnold's favour. Jacks
was excellent in travel; he had large experience, and showed to
advantage on the highways of the globe. No more entertaining
companion during the long days of steamship life; no safer guide in
unfamiliar lands. His personality made a striking contrast with the
robustious semi-civilisation of the colonists with whom Irene became
acquainted; she appreciated all the more his many refinements.
Moreover, the respectful reception he met with could not but impress
her; it gave reality to what Miss Derwent sometimes laughed at, his
claim to be a force in the great world. Then, that eternal word
"Empire" gained somewhat of a new meaning. She joked about it,
disliking as much as ever its baser significance but she came to
understand better the immense power it represented.
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