Ad. And if I fulfilled all these conditions, so far as a thorough philosophical and political sympathy was concerned, would that avail me nothing to produce this hidden affinity?
El. Absolutely nothing. In the first place,
you could not pretend to believe and feel what you did not believe and feel; and in the second, if you could, I should instantly sense the absence of that internal attraction towards each other which would be irresistible in both. You were right, Mr Gresham, when you said the heart and not the head should be the guide; and I trust it absolutely—so give up a hope which must be vain. Believe me, I feel deeply pained at having to speak so decidedly, but it is better that you should be under no delusion. Still, do not let me lose you as a friend whom I shall always esteem. You will soon get over it, and will have no difficulty in finding a wife who will suit you far better than I should ever have done.
Ad. There, believe me, you are mistaken; but it is a point impossible to discuss. Good-bye, Lady Elaine. Thanks for your frankness and patience with me. Perhaps I shall get over it, as you say. I shall take refuge in my yacht, and try the curative effect of a cruise round the world. It will be a year at least before we meet again. [Exit Adolphus.
El. Poor Adolphus! how absolutely impossible is love, where the hidden sympathy of
soul is wanting!—and yet how nice he is [sighs], and how manfully he accepted his fate! What philosophy can really explain the mystery of that magnetic affinity called love, which so unaccountably exercises its attracting influences over the whole animal creation, and most probably over plants? If it is a latent potentiality of matter, how did it get there? Now for a scene with mamma.
[Exit Elaine.
Scene III.—The Countess of Gules’s Boudoir. Lady Gules and Lady Elaine reading. Enter Charles with card and letter.
El. [reading card]. Mr Adolphus Plumper! Is the gentleman coming up-stairs, Charles?
Charles. No, my lady; he only left the card and this letter, and said he would call again. [Exit Charles.