Snake-Bite; And Other Stories

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1919. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... TWO: THE LOST FAITH When Lord Sandring returned from America he was in high spirits. His visit had been more interesting, more delightful, even than he had anticipated. He had been warmly welcomed in various centres of culture, had met many fascinating personalities, and to crown his satisfaction, which, indeed, almost amounted to complacency, had brought off a coup; yes, really a coup. He had persuaded, induced, got--he finally settled on that strong, virile little word got--Olivia Traill, the most remarkable woman in New York (if he knew anything of women), to promise that she would cross the ocean in February and pay a visit to London to show them all how well-founded his theories were. His peers might call him a crank, a fellow with a bee in his bonnet, a victim of charlatans, even a bit of a charlatan himself. Pioneers, the hewers of new paths through the forest of ignorance towards the clear light of true understanding, were always girded at, sneered at . Olivia--it had already come to that, merely Olivia-- Olivia would show them! Lord Sandring went about almost chuckling under his bristling brown moustache, as he repeated to himself again and again that Olivia would show them! Lord Sandring was unmarried, rich, and just at the right age. He was thirty-eight; old enough to know, young enough to exult . The follies of youth lay behind him, the dreary regrets of old age perhaps before, 80 but far ahead in the distance. Meanwhile, there he was --mature, like an excellent bottle of wine. And he had got Olivia to do it. He was indeed a happy man when he walked into the Bureau of Psyhic Healing, which he had established at his own expense in a quiet street not far from Piccadilly. He was going to make Harley Street sit up, by Jove, he was. The doctors laughed ...