Mears Mercia, the Astronomer Royal A Romance

1. Auflage 2023
ISBN: 978-3-98826-101-4
Verlag: OTB eBook publishing
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 0 - No protection

E-Book, Englisch, 182 Seiten

Reihe: Classics To Go

Mercia, the Astronomer Royal is a romance novel by A. Garland Mears. The book revolves around a young and brilliant astronomer named Mercia, who has been appointed as the Astronomer Royal, the highest scientific post in the kingdom. Mercia's life and work are thrown into turmoil when they fall in love with a mysterious and beautiful stranger who enters their life. The two must navigate the complexities of their relationship while also dealing with the challenges of their respective careers and the pressures of society. The book is a love story that is set against the backdrop of the world of science and astronomy, exploring themes of love, passion, and the pursuit of knowledge. The author uses vivid and descriptive language to create an atmosphere of mystery and romance, and builds tension and conflict through the twists and turns of the plot. The book is a character-driven story that explores the intersection of love, science, and adventure, as well as the power of imagination and the role of love in shaping our perceptions of the world.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Mears, A. Garland

Leseproben

CHAPTER I
Long before this period the women of England had become celebrated for their mental attainments, splendid physique, and exceeding beauty; but chiefest of all was the lovely and accomplished Mercia. Owing to her superior attainments in natural science, but especially that branch dealing with astronomy she was appointed the position of Astronomer Royal to the Emperor, Albert Felicitas, Supreme Ruler of the Teutonic Empire. Mercia was acknowledged by all to be as beautiful as she was talented; and the fame of her learning and genius was known throughout the Empire. She was now thirty years of age, being still in the first bloom of womanhood; for woman was not fully developed until she attained the age of twenty-five, as the term of human life was augmented. Man commonly reached his anticipated century of years; and it was no extraordinary occurrence to see a hoary-haired veteran of one hundred and twenty-five years surrounded by five or six generations of descendants who had assembled to do him honour on his birthday. In former times Mercia would have been considered too tall for the ideal of womanly beauty, for she was five feet, ten inches, in height. Indeed, many women attained six feet in these days, but as they were perfectly proportioned, and graceful in movement, their great height gave no idea of awkwardness. Mercia’s form was perfectly moulded, her limbs reminding the beholder of some chaste sculpture of the ancient Greeks, for her flowing robes partially disclosed their contour. Beneath the close-fitting sleeves of her tunic might be seen the fully developed muscles of her arms, which were exquisitely shaped; the firm wrist was small and round, the fore arm tapering upwards until the well-developed muscle of the upper arm was reached. This was not unduly prominent, but was softened and rounded beneath the clear skin, which, creamy white on the inner side, disclosed a faint pink shade on the outer, denoting the presence of perfect health. Her hands were moderately small, but perfect in shape; the fingers were long and tapered, with deep, filbert-shaped nails; indicating the intellectual cast of mind. The palm was tinged with a shell pink, while the back was of transparent, pearly whiteness, and fine as softest satin. She was not brilliantly fair in complexion, but her skin was beautifully clear; and the soft roses that tinted her oval cheeks paled, or deepened with her varying emotions. Her beautiful star-like eyes were of an indefinable shade, being neither deep blue, nor brown decidedly. In the sunlight they beamed with a tint borrowed from the deep azure of the heavens just before sunset, in the shade they appeared a lovely, unfathomable brown. Her nut-brown hair was long, fine, and silky, showing the mental temperament by its delicate texture. The head was fairly large, but well-shaped. The forehead, the seat of intellect, was high, broad, and full. Her eyebrows were well-arched, and curved in fair proportion; but the space between the eyes was great, indicating very considerable development of the perceptive faculties. It needed no brain specialist to discover at the first glance that Mercia was born to her profession, for her powers of observation and reflection were mapped upon her brow. Her long brown hair was arranged in glossy coils at the back of the head, in ancient classic style, showing its perfect contour; while the curls near the forehead fluttering like flossy silk, and shimmering in the sun with a golden tint, softened the height of her broad and lofty brow. Her breadth of chest indicated also that the physical part of her training had reached the fullest perfection. The open collar of her tunic partially disclosed her neck, Juno-shaped, and fine as cream-white satin. In working hours she dressed in tunic, and trousers, made of dark, fine cloth, while her evening, or reception toilette was composed of flowing robes of bright, soft silk, which hung in graceful folds from her shapely bust, and down her well-formed limbs. In her was seen personified modesty itself—not that of mere ignorance and shyness—but the modesty born of nobility of mind, wisdom, and purity. Mercia was devoted to her profession; and so great was her enthusiasm that for fully six months in each year she made her observations of the heavens all night long, snatching only an hour or two in the daytime for sleep. She had discovered with the aid of the powerful instrument that Geometrus, her chief assistant astronomer had invented, the existence of a number of new planets which revolved around one of the principal suns, hitherto unknown. The largest of these planets she named Mercia, after herself; to its sun she gave the title of Geometrus, in honour of the man she secretly loved, but dared not own it, not even to herself. It was a law, or rather, a regulation which was strictly enforced that no Astronomer to the Emperor might marry. When a candidate for the post, which was deemed as honourable as that of prime minister, was successful, he was aware of the conditions his acceptance entailed. He was required to take a solemn oath to give up all thought of love, or matrimony, and devote the whole of his time, thought, and talent to the fulfilment of his duties, and the furtherance of the science of Astronomy, generally. Astronomy, and Meteorology were considered by the nation such important branches of natural science, requiring in their pursuit so much self-denial that it was deemed an absolute necessity that whoever filled this important post should not be trammelled by the entanglements of love, nor ties of wedlock. For it was considered the uxoriousness of an affectionate husband, or wife, would while away the hours which otherwise would have been devoted to his, or her duties, these entailing long and severe rounds of night watchings. It is true Mercia possessed the power to give up her post and marry; but to break the solemn oath she had given her Sovereign and country, to her pure and honourable mind appeared monstrous. Besides, such a course would have been attended with serious consequences, for to a certainty almost, Geometrus would be requested to resign his position, and thus both would lose, not only lucrative and honourable appointments, but employment which each enthusiastically loved for its own sake. Geometrus was a tall, well-formed man of about thirty-five years; he stood in his soft leather shoes, which were formed exactly to the shape of the foot, at least six feet, two inches. His complexion was somewhat similar to that of Mercia, for his hair and whiskers were of a bright brown; his eyes were dark and deep set: his nose was large and straight, but that was the prevailing characteristic of this time; for the nose being indicative of character, developed greatly, keeping pace with the growth of brain-power of which it is the sign, and outward index. The mouth was firm, the lips being compressed, while the chin was prominent and broad. In his face the brain specialist could easily read his character, and judge correctly his special turn of mind. Although he possessed, to some extent, the same powers of observation, reflection, and calculation as Mercia, still, his most prominent faculty was mechanics. In consequence of the excellent training he had received at the public schools of Astronomy, the bent of his genius was turned in this direction. For this reason he made an admirable assistant to the Chief Astronomer, in so much, that he was always constructing wonderful instruments set with peculiarly formed lenses of his own invention, by means of which Mercia prosecuted with greater success her astronomical observations. In truth, the two were made for each other; not only as co-workers, but also in disposition; for where there was a tendency towards an excess of fiery energy on the one side, it was met with the calm serenity of strict discipline on the other. Mercia was of calm and even temperament, being wonderfully patient and enduring: the sweetness of her disposition was seldom ruffled, even under the most trying circumstances. Although mild in manner, and in speech, nevertheless she was by no means apathetic or easy going, for her life was one constant round of industry. This rare combination of calmness and energy had been transmitted to her by her mother, a lady of great learning and talent, who filled the appointment of Chief Inspector of Public Schools under Government. This lady realising fully the immense responsibility she was about to undertake when becoming a mother, took all the precautions, both physical and mental, to ensure having for her offspring as perfect a human being as was possible to obtain. The effect of this régime on the part of the mother, benefited herself equally as her offspring; for when the hour of accouchement arrived the pains of child-birth were so light, and every muscle and organ of her body in such perfect condition, that in the space of a week she was fully restored and able to resume her social, household, or professional duties, as if nothing had happened. There was no suckling of infants in these days, except by the very lowest orders; women having by degrees lost that property for some considerable time. As far back as the close of the nineteenth century this power had commenced to fail them. Either through weakness engendered by much child-bearing, or the demands of society upon the time of the women belonging to the upper and middle classes, the habit of artificial suckling was resorted to, and eventually adopted...