Albert Kinross

“ The child within him, the instinct that had first prompted him to intrude at Stoke House, that had so disarmed the Countess and then irresistibly attracted her, this joyous ingenuousness of his remained almost intact, winning for him even more friends than his evident means and handsome presence. Women were especially delighted with him; he had individuality and that without aggressive advertisement. Several of them said as much, with more to follow; but Lady Grasmere apart, Harvey was in no mood to seek alliances. ”

“ It was Lady Grasmere who had drawn Merceron to Bayreuth—his second visit, by-the-by. Both she and Lady Horace were more than ordinarily devoted to music, displayed even a technical understanding of harmony and orchestration that caused Harvey considerable surprise. More often than not they sat beside him in the long intervals between act and act, discussing an open score and following with apparent ease intricate combinations, subtle manipulations of themes and counter-themes. Harvey surmised a deal of unsuspected earnestness behind such facility. ”

“ And now eight months had closed upon her, had passed, lightning-like, varied, in an increasing succession of new scenes, new faces, and new experiences; more filled with the Life for which he had thirsted than all foregoing years.
The old quiet of his aloofness in Down Street, with Sopwith for sole distraction, music as sole topic, had ceased. Of Down Street he had caught but fugitive glimpses, of Sopwith he had heard nothing save that his opera was making progress. ”