Gilbert Parker

Name: The Cipher
Author: Gilbert Parker

The Cipher (1893)

Summary

“The Cipher”, published in 1893, is a work by Gilbert Parker. It explores elements such as Talton, gesture and Pierre.

Quotes from The Cipher (Gilbert Parker)

Gilbert Parker, The Cipher (1893)

“ She saw the world naked, with a naked eye. She was utterly natural. She was the maker of exquisite, vital gesture-speech.
She glided out from among the May-apples and the long silken grass, to charm his horse with her hand. As she started to do so, he hastened to prevent her, but, utterly surprised, he saw the horse whinny to her cheek, and arch his neck under her white palm—it was very white. Then the animal's chin sought her shoulder and stayed placid. It had never done so to any one before save Talton. Once, indeed, it had kicked a stableman to death. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Parker, The Cipher (1893)

“ He taught her this gesture-tongue, which she, taking, rendered divine; and with this she learned to read and write.
Her name was Ida.
Ida was faultless. Talton was not; but no man is. To her, however, he was the best that man can be. He was unselfish and altogether honest; and that is much for a man not a saint.
When Pierre came to know of their friendship he shook his head doubtfully. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Parker, The Cipher (1893)

“ He was thinking that it was the most intelligent hand he had ever seen . . . . He determined to play a bold and surprising game. He had learned from her the alphabet of the fingers—that is, how to spell words. He knew little gesture-language. He therefore spelled slowly: "Hawley is angry because you love Talton."
The statement was so matter-of-fact, so sudden, that the girl had no chance. She flushed, and then paled. She shook her head firmly, however, and her finger slowly framed the reply; "You guess too much. Foolish things come to the idle." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Parker, The Cipher (1893)

“ Her eyes followed it. She could feel that it was singing. She smiled, and lifted a finger lightly to- wards it. Then she spelled to Pierre this; "It is singing to me. We imperfect things love each other."
"And what about loving Hawley, then?" Pierre persisted.
She did not reply; but a strange look came upon her, and in the pause Talton came from the house and stood beside them. At this Pierre lighted a cigarette, and with a good-natured nod to Talton walked away.
Talton stooped over her, pale and eager, "Ida," he gestured, "will you answer me now? Will you be my wife?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Parker, The Cipher (1893)

“ But you are wrong. Hawley is not the man. You must come with me. It is foolish to die."
The riot of her feelings, momentary despair, were gone. It was even pleasant to be mastered by Pierre's firmness. She was passive. Mechanically she went with him. Hawley approached. She looked at Pierre. Then she turned on the other. "Yours is not the best love," she signed to him; "it does not trust; it is selfish." And she moved on.
But an hour later Talton caught her to his bosom and kissed her full on the lips . ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Parker, The Cipher (1893)

“ Pierre had watched this scene intently: his chin in his hands, his elbows on his knees. Presently he drew himself up, ran a finger meditatively along his lip, and said to himself: "It is perfect. She is carved from the core of Nature. But this thing has danger for her . . . . well . . . . ah!"
A change in the scene before him caused this last expression of surprise.
Talton, rousing from the enchanting pantomime, took a step towards her; but she waved her hand pleadingly, restrainingly, and he paused. With his eyes he asked her mutely why? She did not answer ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Parker, The Cipher (1893)

“ When the daisy first peeps, when the tall young deer first stands upon its feet, when the first egg is seen in the oriole's nest, when the sap first sweats from the tree, when you first look into the eye of your friend: these you want to remember. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Gilbert Parker, The Cipher (1893)

“ The shadow follows the child, the bird comes back to its nest, the fish cannot live beyond the water. But it is sad when the child, in running, rushes into darkness and loses its shadow; when the nest falls from the tree ”

Gilbert Parker

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Quotes from The Cipher (Gilbert Parker)

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