Mrs. General Talboys

Excerpt

Why Mrs. General Talboys first made up her mind to pass the winter of 1859 at Rome I never clearly understood.  To myself she explained her purposes, soon after her arrival at the Eternal City, by declaring, in her own enthusiastic manner, that she was inspired by a burning desire to drink fresh at the still living fountains of classical poetry and sentiment.  But I always thought that there was something more than this in it.  Classical poetry and sentiment were doubtless very dear to her; but so also, I imagine, were the substantial comforts of Hardover Lodge, the General’s house in Berkshire; and I do not think that she would have emigrated for the winter had there not been some slight domestic misunderstanding.  Let this, however, be fully made clear,—­that such misunderstanding, if it existed, must have been simply an affair of temper.  No impropriety of conduct has, I am very sure, ever been imputed to the lady.  The General, as all the world knows, is hot; and Mrs. Talboys, when the sweet rivers of her enthusiasm are unfed by congenial waters, can, I believe, make herself disagreeable.