Arnold Bennett

Hilda Lessways Arnold Bennett

Book Excerpt: ...rather wiry black hair, and her straight, prominent eyebrows, and her extraordinary expression of uncompromising aloofness."She's just enjoying it, that's what she's doing!" said Hilda to herself, of Mrs. Grant. And the fact was that Mrs. Grant, quite unconsciously, did appear to be savouring the catastrophe with pleasure. Although paralytic strokes were more prevalent at that period than now, they constituted even then a striking dramatic event. Moreover, they were considered as direct visitations of God. Also there was something mysteriously and agreeably impressive in the word 'paralytic, ' which people would repeat for the pleasure of repeating it. Mrs. Grant, over whose mighty breast flowed a black mantle suited to the occasion, used the word again and again as she narrated afresh for Hilda the history of the stroke."Yes," she said, "they came and fetched me out of my bed at three o'clock this morning; and would you believe me, though he couldn't hardly speak, the money and this here book was a..