Shirley

Keeldar, have sometimes, in your laughing satire, called me a material philosopher, and implied that I live sufficiently for the substantial. Certainly I feel material from head to foot; and glorious as Nature is, and deeply as I worship her with the solid powers of a solid heart, I would rather behold her through the soft human eyes of a loved and lovely wife, than through the wild orbs of the highest goddess of Olympus.‹
    ›Juno could not cook a buffalo steak as you like it,‹ said she.
    ›She could not; but I will tell you who could – some young, penniless, friendless orphan girl. I wish I could find such a one: pretty enough for me to love, with something of the mind and heart suited to my taste: not uneducated – honest and modest. I care nothing for attainments; but I would fain have the germ of those sweet natural powers which nothing acquired can rival: any temper Fate wills, – I can manage the hottest. To such a creature as this, I should like to be first tutor and then husband. I would teach her my language, my habits, and my principles, and then I would reward her with my love.‹
    ›
Reward
her! lord of the creation!
Reward
her!‹ ejaculated she, with a curled lip.
    ›And be repaid a thousandfold.‹
    ›If she willed it, Monseigneur.‹
    ›And she
should
will it.‹
    ›You have stipulated for any temper Fate wills. Compulsion is flint and a blow to the metal of some souls.‹
    ›And love the spark it elicits.‹
    ›Who cares for the love that is but a spark – seen, flown upward, and gone?‹
    ›I must find my orphan girl. Tell me how, Miss Keeldar.‹
    ›Advertise; and be sure you add, when you describe the qualifications, she must be a good plain cook.‹
    ›I must find her; and when I do find her, I shall marry her.‹
    ›Not you!‹ and her voice took a sudden accent of peculiar scorn.
    I liked this: I had roused her from the pensive mood in which I had first found her: I would stir her further.
    ›Why doubt it?‹
    ›
You
marry!‹
    ›Yes, – of course; nothing more evident than that I can, and shall.‹
    ›The contrary is evident, Mr. Moore.‹
    She charmed me in this mood: waxing disdainful, half insulting, pride, temper, derision, blent in her large fine eye, that had, just now, the look of a merlin's.
    ›Favour me with your reasons for such an opinion, Miss Keeldar.‹
    ›How will
you
manage to marry, I wonder?‹
    ›I shall manage it with ease and speed when I find the proper person.‹
    ›Accept celibacy!‹ (and she made a gesture with her hand as if she gave me something) ›take it as your doom!‹
    ›No: you cannot give what I already have. Celibacy has been mine for thirty years. If you wish to offer me a gift, a parting present, a keepsake, you must change the boon.‹
    ›Take worse, then!‹
    ›How? What?‹
    I now felt, and looked, and spoke eagerly. I was unwise to quit my sheet-anchor of calm even for an instant: it deprived me of an advantage and transferred it to her. The little spark of temper dissolved in sarcasm, and eddied over her countenance in the ripples of a mocking smile.
    ›Take a wife that has paid you court to save your modesty, and thrust herself upon you to spare your scruples.‹
    ›Only show me where.‹
    ›Any stout widow that has had a few husbands already, and can manage these things.‹
    ›She must not be rich then. Oh these riches!‹
    ›Never would you have gathered the produce of the gold-bearing garden. You have not courage to confront the sleepless dragon: you have not craft to borrow the aid of Atlas!‹
    ›You look hot and haughty.‹
    ›And you far haughtier. Yours is the monstrous pride which counterfeits humility.‹
    ›I am a dependant: I know my place.‹
    ›I am a woman: I know mine.‹
    ›I am poor: I must be proud.‹
    ›I have received ordinances, and own obligations stringent as yours.‹
    We had reached a critical point now, and we halted and looked at each other.
She
would not give in, I felt. Beyond this, I neither felt nor saw. A few moments yet were mine: the end was coming – I heard its rush – but not come; I would dally, wait, talk, and when impulse urged, I would act. I am never in a hurry: I never was in a hurry in my whole life. Hasty people drink the nectar of existence scalding hot: I taste it cool as dew. I proceeded: –
    ›Apparently, Miss Keeldar, you are as little likely to marry as myself: I know you have refused three, nay, four advantageous offers, and, I believe, a fifth.