Once, Corliss, listening to an
extravagant panegyric bursting from the lips of Mrs. Schoville,
permitted himself the luxury of an incredulous smile; but the quick
wave of color in Frona's face, and the gathering of the brows, warned
him.
At another time he was unwise enough and angry enough to refer to the
Opera House broil. He was carried away, and what he might have said of
that night's happening would have redounded neither to St. Vincent's
credit nor to his own, had not Frona innocently put a seal upon his
lips ere he had properly begun.
"Yes," she said. "Mr. St. Vincent told me about it. He met you for
the first time that night, I believe. You all fought royally on his
side,--you and Colonel Trethaway. He spoke his admiration unreservedly
and, to tell the truth, with enthusiasm."
Corliss made a gesture of depreciation.
"No! no! From what he said you must have behaved splendidly. And I
was most pleased to hear. It must be great to give the brute the rein
now and again, and healthy, too. Great for us who have wandered from
the natural and softened to sickly ripeness. Just to shake off
artificiality and rage up and down! and yet, the inmost mentor, serene
and passionless, viewing all and saying: 'This is my other self.
Behold! I, who am now powerless, am the power behind and ruleth still!
This other self, mine ancient, violent, elder self, rages blindly as
the beast, but 'tis I, sitting apart, who discern the merit of the
cause and bid him rage or bid him cease!' Oh, to be a man!"
Corliss could not help a humoring smile, which put Frona upon defence
at once.
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