Hannaford. She was regaining strength, and hoped soon to come South
again. Her brother had already taken a nice little house for her at
Campden Hill, where Olga would have a sort of studio, and, she
trusted, would make herself happy. Both looked forward to seeing
Piers; they sent him their very kindest remembrances.
CHAPTER XXI
The passionate temperament is necessarily sanguine. To desire with
all one's being is the same thing as to hope. In Piers Otway's case,
the temper which defies discouragement existed together with the
intellect which ever tends to discourage, with the mind which probes
appearances, makes war upon illusions. Hence his oft varying moods,
as the one or the other part of him became ascendent. Hence his
fervours of idealism, and the habit of destructive criticism which
seemed inconsistent with them. Hence his ardent ambitions, and his
appearance of plodding mediocrity in practical life.
Intensely self-conscious, he suffered much from a habit of
comparing, contrasting himself with other men, with men who achieved
things, who made their way, who played a part in the world. He could
not read a newspaper without reflecting, sometimes bitterly, on the
careers and position of men whose names were prominent in its
columns. So often, he well knew, their success came only of accident
--as one uses the word: of favouring circumstance, which had no
relation to the man's powers and merits.
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