George Gissing

Name: Great Men in Little Worlds — II.—The Justice and the Vagabond
Author: George Gissing

Great Men in Little Worlds — II.… (1896)

Summary

“Great Men in Little Worlds — II.—The Justice and the Vagabond”, published in 1896, is a work by George Gissing. It explores elements such as Goodeve, Rutland and Southampton.

Quotes from Great Men in Little Worlds — II.… (George Gissing)

George Gissing, Great Men in Little Worlds — II.… (1896)

“ Rutland, the prosperous man, the local magnate, felt his heart burn within him as he heard Goodeve tell of joys and perils which put a circle round the globe.
"Ah, you have lived!" he exclaimed at length, starting up and moving excitedly about the room. "It is you who have been the rich man; I, a miserable pauper! The Arabs have a proverb, 'Travel is conquest.' You have conquered the world, whilst I have been crouched in my petty corner, playing at life. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Gissing, Great Men in Little Worlds — II.… (1896)

“ Rutland enjoyed the coolness. He thought with some apprehension of the climate for which he was setting forth, but reassured himself with the certainty that a fortnight on shipboard would quite re-establish him in health and vigour. There was nothing really the matter with him; of course not. His mind had affected his body, that was all. Then, if Brazil proved uncomfortable, he and his friend would simply travel north or south. The world lay open before him, like the atlas over which he had so often pored. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Gissing, Great Men in Little Worlds — II.… (1896)

“ Thirty years of adventurous life had taught him to regard things with simplicity and directness: if a wealthy man chose to relieve his friend of all worldly cares, why should the friend make any difficulty? Goodeve was a bluff, plain-spoken, honest fellow, quite incapable of scheming for his own advantage. The fine points of his character appealed to Mr. Rutland as strongly as in the days gone by. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Gissing, Great Men in Little Worlds — II.… (1896)

“ After dinner—a meal of scandalous informality—they went into the library, and Goodeve began to run his eye along the shelves.
"Why, you seem to have nothing here but books of travel. I can't make you out, Rutland. If you've always thought as much of travelling as you did at school, why the deuce have you led such a stay-at-home life? Wife and family! But you 've always been a rich man. What was to prevent you going trips about the world as other men do?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Gissing, Great Men in Little Worlds — II.… (1896)

“ I go down yonder, and sit in a big chair, and look as wise as an owl, and send poor devils to prison: this is the utmost I have attained to. You have been living among men, working, suffering, enjoying like a man, and every day learning something new. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Gissing, Great Men in Little Worlds — II.… (1896)

“ One or two old friends regretted the lack of energy which frustrated his natural abilities, and wondered that a man so well read, so interesting in private talk, should be content to lead such a humdrum existence. But as to the amiability and generosity of his character opinions never differed. As a magistrate, he enjoyed a reputation for leniency, and the town scamps whom he could not but commit to jail counted on Mr. Rutland's compassion when they came out again. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Gissing, Great Men in Little Worlds — II.… (1896)

“ I will be ready to leave home on Saturday morning."
"We must look up the steam-boats."
"Yes; but whether there is a ship or not, I shall leave home on Saturday morning, and join you where you like. Stay with me one more day. I shall be busy, but I want to have you near. On Friday you shall go, and on Saturday we meet again at Liverpool, or Southampton, or wherever you appoint."
They sat talking till late in the night, and, among other things, it was arranged that Goodeve should next day change his rude clothing for a garb more suitable to Mr. Rutland's guest. ”

George Gissing

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Quotes from Great Men in Little Worlds — II.… (George Gissing)

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