her sex, she
conceived her separateness high aloof, and actually supposed she was a
contemplative, simply speculative political spirit, impersonal albeit a woman.
This, as Emma, smiling at the lines, had not to learn, was always her secret
pride of fancy - the belief in her possession of a disengaged intellect.
    The strange illusion, so clearly exposed to her correspondent, was
maintained through a series of letters very slightly descriptive, dated from the
Piræus, the Bosphorus, the coasts of the Crimea, all more or less relating to
the latest news of the journals received on board the yacht, and of English
visitors fresh from the country she now seemed fond of calling home. Politics,
and gentle allusions to the curious exhibition of love in marriage shown by her
amiable host and hostess: - »these dear Esquarts, who are never tired of one
another, but courtly courting, tempting me to think it possible that a fortunate
selection and a mutual deference may subscribe to human happiness«: - filled the
paragraphs. Reviews of her first literary venture were mentioned once: »I was
well advised by Mr. Redworth in putting ANTONIA for authoress. She is a buff
jerkin to the stripes, and I suspect that the signature of D. A. M., written in
full, would have cawed woefully to hear that her style is affected, her
characters nullities, her cleverness forced, etc., etc. As it is, I have much
the same contempt for poor Antonia's performance. Cease penning, little fool!
She writes, with some comprehension of the passion of love. I know her to be a
stranger to the earliest cry. So you see, dear, that utter ignorance is the
mother of the Art. Dialogues occasionally pointed. She has a sister who may do
better. - But why was I not apprenticed to a serviceable profession or a trade?
I perceive now that a hanger-on of the market had no right to expect a happier
fate than mine has been.«
    On the Nile, in the winter of the year, Diana met the Hon. Percy Dacier. He
was introduced to her at Cairo by Redworth. The two gentlemen had struck up a
House of Commons acquaintanceship, and finding themselves bound for the same
destination, had grown friendly. Redworth's arrival had been pleasantly
expected. She remarked on Dacier's presence to Emma, without sketch or note of
him as other than much esteemed by Lord and Lady Esquart. These, with Diana,
Redworth, Dacier, the German Eastern traveller Schweizerbarth, and the French
Consul and Egyptologist