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long retirement in company with Mrs。 Talboys。
We none of us quite understood what were her exact ideas on the
subject of revealed religion。 Somebody； I think； had told her that there
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were among us one or two whose opinions were not exactly orthodox
according to the doctrines of the established English church。 If so she was
determined to show us that she also was advanced beyond the prejudices
of an old and dry school of theology。 〃I have thrown down all the barriers
of religion；〃 she said to poor Mrs。 Mackinnon； 〃and am looking for the
sentiments of a pure Christianity。〃
〃Thrown down all the barriers of religion！〃 said Mrs。 Mackinnon； in a
tone of horror which was not appreciated。
〃Indeed； yes；〃 said Mrs。 Talboys； with an exulting voice。 〃Are not the
days for such trammels gone by？〃
〃But yet you hold by Christianity？〃
〃A pure Christianity； unstained by blood and perjury； by hypocrisy and
verbose genuflection。 Can I not worship and say my prayers among the
clouds？〃 And she pointed to the lofty ceiling and the handsome chandelier。
〃But Ida goes to church；〃 said Mrs。 Mackinnon。 Ida Talboys was her
daughter。 Now it may be observed that many who throw down the barriers
of religion； so far as those barriers may affect themselves； still maintain
them on behalf of their children。 〃Yes；〃 said Mrs。 Talboys； 〃dear Ida！ her
soft spirit is not yet adapted to receive the perfect truth。 We are obliged to
govern children by the strength of their prejudices。〃 And then she moved
away； for it was seldom that Mrs。 Talboys remained long in conversation
with any lady。
Mackinnon； I believe； soon became tired of her。 He liked her flattery；
and at first declared that she was clever and nice； but her niceness was too
purely celestial to satisfy his mundane tastes。 Mackinnon himself can revel
among the clouds in his own writings； and can leave us sometimes in
doubt whether he ever means to come back to earth； but when his foot is
on terra firma he loves to feel the earthy substratum which supports his
weight。 With women he likes a hand that can remain an unnecessary
moment within his own； an eye that can glisten with the sparkle of
champagne； a heart weak enough to make its owner's arm tremble within
his own beneath the moonlight gloom of the Colosseum arches。 A dash of
sentiment the while makes all these things the sweeter； but the sentiment
alone will not suffice for him。 Mrs。 Talboys did； I believe； drink her glass
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of champagne； as do other ladies； but with her it had no such pleasing
effect。 It loosened only her tongue； but never her eyes。 Her arm； I think；
never trembled and her hand never lingered。 The general was always safe；
and happy perhaps in his solitary safety。
It so happened that we had unfortunately among us two artists who
had quarrelled with their wives。 O'Brien； whom I have before mentioned；
was one of them。 In his case I believe him to have been almost as free
from blame as a man can be whose marriage was in itself a fault。 However；
he had a wife in Ireland some ten years older than himself； and though he
might sometimes almost forget the fact； his friends and neighbours were
well aware of it。 In the other case the whole fault probably was with the
husband。 He was an ill…tempered； bad…hearted man； clever enough； but
without principle； and he was continually guilty of the great sin of
speaking evil of the woman whose name he should have been anxious to
protect。 In both cases our friend； Mrs。 Talboys； took a warm interest； and
in each of them she sympathised with the present husband against the
absent wife。
Of the consolation which she offered in the latter instance we used to
hear something from Mackinnon。 He would repeat to his wife and to me
and my wife the conversations which she had with him。 〃Poor Brown！〃
she would say； 〃I pity him with my very heart's blood。〃
〃You are aware that he has comforted himself in his desolation；〃
Mackinnon replied。
〃I know very well to what you allude。 I think I may say that I am
conversant with all the circumstances of this heart…blighting sacrifice。〃
Mrs。 Talboys was apt to boast of the thorough confidence reposed in her
by all those in whom she took an interest。 〃Yes； he has sought such
comfort in another love as the hard cruel world would allow him。〃
〃Or perhaps something more than that；〃 said Mackinnon。 〃He has a
family here in Rome； you know； two little babies。〃
〃I know it； I know it；〃 she said； 〃cherub angels！〃 And as she spoke she
looked up into the ugly face of Marcus Aurelius； for they were standing at
the moment under the figure of the great horseman on the Campidoglio。 〃I
have seen them； and they are children of innocence。 If all the blood of all
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the Howards ran in their veins it could not make their birth more noble！〃
〃Not if the father and mother of all the Howards had never been
married；〃 said Mackinnon。
〃What！ that from you； Mr。 Mackinnon！〃 said Mrs。 Talboys； turning her
back with energy upon the equestrian statue and looking up into the faces
first of Pollux and then of Castor； as though from them she might gain
some inspiration on the subject； which Marcus Aurelius in his coldness
had denied to her。 〃From you； who have so nobly claimed for mankind the
divine attributes of free action！ From you； who have taught my mind to
soar above the petty bonds which one man in his littleness contrives for
the subjection of his brother。 Mackinnonyou who are so great！〃 And she
now looked up into his face。 〃Mackinnon； unsay those words。〃
〃They /are/ illegitimate；〃 said he； 〃and if there was any landed
property〃
〃Landed property！ and that from an American！〃
〃The children are English； you know。〃 〃Landed property！ The time
will shortly comeay； and I see it coming when that hateful word shall
be expunged from the calendar； when landed property shall be no more。
What！ shall the free soul of a God… born man submit itself for ever to such
trammels as that？ Shall we never escape from the clay which so long has
manacled the subtler particles of the divine spirit？ Ay； yes； Mackinnon！〃
and then she took him by the arm； and led him to the top of the huge steps
which lead down from the Campidoglio into the streets of modern Rome。
〃Look down upon that countless multitude。〃 Mackinnon looked down； and
saw three groups of French soldiers； with three or four little men in each
group； he saw also a couple of dirty friars； and three priests very slowly
beginning the side ascent to the church of the Ara Coeli。 〃Look down upon
that countless multitude；〃 said Mrs。 Talboys； and she stretched her arms
out over the half…deserted city。 〃They are escaping now from those
trammelsnow； nownow that I am speaking。〃
〃They have escaped long ago from all such trammels as that of landed
property；〃 said Mackinnon。
〃Ay； and from all terrestrial bonds；〃 she continued； not exactly
remarking the pith of his last observation； 〃from bonds quasi… terrestrial
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and quasi…celestial。 The full…formed limbs of the present age； running with
quick streams of generous blood； will no longer bear the ligatures which
past time have woven for the decrepit。 Look down upon that multitude；
Mackinnon； they shall all be free。〃 And then； still clutching him by the
arm and still standing at the top of those stairs； she gave forth her
prophecy with the fury of a sibyl。
〃They shall all be free。 O Rome； thou eternal one！ thou who hast
bowed thy neck to imperial pride and priestly craft； thou who has suffered
sorely even to this hour； from Nero down to Pio Nono； the d