A Listener in Babel; Being a Series of Imaginary Conversations Held at the Close of the Last Century and Reported

by Vida Dutton Scudder

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XV NEW DEPARTURES There were signs of a flitting in Hilda's quarters. Pictures were taken down, burnished copper pots gleamed from the packing-boxes, and the tenement house was again in clear evidence. Suddenly struck with dreariness, Hilda turned her back on the confusion and ran downstairs, to join the group of friends gathered for a last chat around the steaming samovar. The settlement, which had seemed so daring a finality two years ago, had long since become to her thought only a halfway house. Her loyalty was deep toward this friendly shelter that awaited the social pilgrim in his bleak journey across civilizar tion. She knew how many were encouraged to undertake that journey through the knowledge that the amenities of life need not be left behind by the traveller in the city wilderness; to be hostess in such a hostelry seemed to her one of the posts of clearest value in this bewildered world. Nor did she ignore the significance of the settlement as a meetingground for the forces of reform. But for herself, -- she was wayfarer ever and the time of her sojourning was ended. Father Phillips had spoken truly, however, when he told her that return to her past was impossible. Her mother, after over twenty years of widowhood, had surprised her circle of friends by marrying that kindly, wealthy, and Philistine gentleman, her cousin, Mr. Howard Brown. Delicately pathetic as ever in aspect, she still bore herself with the air of one who mingled with the world by compulsion; and the world in consequence adored her. Toward her direct and forceful daughter, Mrs. Howard Brown carried herself in a manner half tender, half reproachful; the affection between them was unbroken; but her marriage snapped the last tie of duty that bound Hilda...

72 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

About the author

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