XVI.
A change came at last, when Dolly was ten years old. Among the men
of whom Herminia saw most in these later days, were the little
group of advanced London socialists who call themselves the
Fabians. And among her Fabian friends one of the most active, the
most eager, the most individual, was Harvey Kynaston.
He was a younger man by many years than poor Alan had been; about
Herminia's own age; a brilliant economist with a future before him.
He aimed at the Cabinet. When first he met Herminia he was charmed
at one glance by her chastened beauty, her breadth and depth of
soul, her transparent sincerity of purpose and action. Those
wistful eyes captured him. Before many days passed he had fallen
in love with her. But he knew her history; and, taking it for
granted she must still be immersed in regret for Alan's loss, he
hardly even reckoned the chances of her caring for him.
'Tis a common case. Have you ever noticed that if you meet a
woman, famous for her connection with some absorbing grief, some
historic tragedy, you are half appalled at first sight to find that
at times she can laugh, and make merry, and look gay with the rest
of us.
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