Arnold Bennett

The Price of Love Arnold Bennett

Book Excerpt: gifted he must have been!""Yes, the best judges say he showed very remarkable promise. It'sfading, I fear. I ought to cover it up, but somehow I can't fancycovering it up--"The hand that had so remarkably promised had lain mouldering for aquarter of a century. Mrs. Maldon sometimes saw it, fleshless, on acage-like skeleton in the dark grave. The next moment she would seeherself tending its chilblains. And if she was not peculiar, neither was she waning. No!Seventy-two--but not truly old! How could she be truly old when shecould see, hear, walk a mile without stopping, eat anything whatever, and dress herself unaided? And that hair of hers! Often she was stilla young wife, or a young widow. She was not preparing for death; shehad prepared for death in the seventies. She expected to live onin calm satisfaction through indefinite decades. She savoured lifepleasantly, for its daily security was impregnable. She had forgottengrief. When she looked up at Rachel and benevolently nodded to hRead Mor