“She, the sister of my soul?” cried Shelley. “She’s a crawling and contemptible worm. . . . We call her the Brown Demon.”
But they had now reached the street. Hogg gently pushed his friend out of the house and closed the door behind him.
⁂
Next day at six o’clock, Hogg sent in his name to Harriet. She received him with enthusiasm. She looked younger, more blooming, and lovelier than ever.
“What a separation this has been!” she said. “But it will not happen again. We are now going to live in London for ever!”
Eliza sat apart in haughty silence. She gave Hogg a limp hand, without condescending to speak to him.
“You’re looking delightfully well, Harriet.”
“She? Oh, no, poor dear thing!” said Eliza in a lackadaisical voice. “Her nerves are in a fearful state. Most dreadfully shattered!”
Hogg thought, “Nothing is changed in this house, one must take care what one says.”
Shelley at this moment burst into the room like a cannon ball, and dinner was brought up.