Explore "The Long Portage" by Harold Bindloss on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Dinner was over, and Millicent's elderly companion had discreetly left them alone, when the girl led Nasmyth into her drawing-room. It was brightly lighted and was tastefully decorated in delicate colors, and a wood fire was burning on the hearth; but, for the first time that he could remember, Nasmyth felt ill at ease in it. He was fresh from the snow-covered rocks and shadowy woods and the refinement and artistic luxury of his surroundings rather jarred on him. The story he had to relate dealt with elemental things -- hunger, toil, and death -- it would sound harsher and more ugly amid the evidences of civilization.
"You have a good deal to tell me," Millicent suggested at length.