Octave Thanet

Name: A Spectre of Folly
Author: Octave Thanet

Summary

“A Spectre of Folly”, published in 1891, is a work by Octave Thanet. It explores elements such as Cedric, Rick and Thorold.

Quotes from A Spectre of Folly (Octave Thanet)

Octave Thanet, A Spectre of Folly (1891)

“ The man is furious because his heart is torn: if he loved the worthless youngster less he could be more forbearing. No one on earth, young sir, except the woman who bore you in torment and joy, will work for you and yearn over you and forgive you like that frowning man, who sends the chills down your spine when he opens the door on you, slinking down a dim hall at midnight, on your stocking soles!
Sir Cedric wished that he had been gentler with Rick. All those anxieties were over now. Rick was steadying himself, getting down to his work in the world. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Octave Thanet, A Spectre of Folly (1891)

“ Now, how would Rick take it? What kind of a figure would he cut in his son's fancy? How does it affect a son to be able to despise his father? One ignominious vision after another surged over his mind like waves of acid that corrode as they pass.
Nevertheless, so accustomed was the politician to carry on his mental processes under cover, that all this while he was opening his telegrams with the same placid mask of a face that Sir Cedric's world knew. There he sat, to all appearance, a handsome, scrupulously dressed, elderly man, the least bit in the world stern of aspect ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Octave Thanet, A Spectre of Folly (1891)

“ It is a pleasant path, the road from the hotel to the church; descending the hillside, past rolling fields and hills that are all shades of green, with oat-fields and turnip-leaves and dark woods of fir; until the hills climb into mountains and fade into blue with distance; thence, down through the wide streets, always bordered with a grassy strip, on either side, that the highway spares. The old houses have a gentle and self-respecting air of decay, scorning new paint, and, therefore, mellowed by summers and winters into grays soft as the hidden side of a dove's wing. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Octave Thanet, A Spectre of Folly (1891)

“ The town being a long peninsula, its ruined wharves and abandoned vessels are in view from any part of the hills. Those crooked masts with their ragged cordage, never to know danger again—they, too, have a pathetic side, mute reminders of the vanished glory of the port. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Octave Thanet, A Spectre of Folly (1891)

“ Once he had fancied himself able to despise men who yielded their public ideals to any stress of self-interest. Here, to save his own affections, he was meditating how to introduce this social scourge into pure, honest homes. He made short work of her plea to him that she meant to live a decent life; he knew the woman was callous as an alligator.
"It is not our business," said the preacher's mild, solemn tones, "to foresee consequences. They rest with God. Our business is to do His will."
Sir Cedric bowed his head. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Octave Thanet, A Spectre of Folly (1891)

“ The hour was early, yet; the towns people and the Canadian gentry who have summer cottages in St. Andrews, came singly, or in families, down the aisle, to settle themselves in their pews. Scattered among them were the summer visitors from the States, easily distinguishable by their sallower faces and more vivid toilets.
The Governor of the Province and his wife walked down the middle aisle, up to the official pew in front; both (for they were old friends of his) giving Sir Cedric little friendly half-glances of congratulation. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Octave Thanet, A Spectre of Folly (1891)

“ THE head waiter of the Algonquin placed half a dozen telegrams and a note before him, while he sat at breakfast.
"They have just come, Sir Cedric," said the waiter. There was a suppressed, respectful smile of congratulation on his face. ”

[↩︎]

Source: Wikisource

Octave Thanet, A Spectre of Folly (1891)

“ Andrews a very promising place for her début as a middle-aged widow of wealth and position. And when she found out that the Honorable Cedric Long Hamilton was the same Rick Long she stripped clean in San Francisco, she thought she had the game in her hands. ”

Octave Thanet

Summary

Quotes from A Spectre of Folly (Octave Thanet)

Common terms

Similar works

Get perspective with Kwize: daily news enlightened by great literature