"
"Then you have been speaking good words?"
"When Sir James began to inquire about the Hydriots, Mr. Alison was
called on to answer him, and you are aware that, except to certain
constitutions of intellect, as my uncle would say, certain animals
cannot open their mouths without proclaiming themselves. The most
sensible thing he said was the invite to come and see. Really, he
made such mulls with the details that even I had to set him right,
and that led to Sir James talking it out with me, when I had the
opportunity of mentioning that a certain person, not the smallest of
mankind, had been entirely overlooked. Yes I did, Lucy. I up and
told him how our friend came over as heir; and when he was done out
of it, set to work as agent and manager and improver-general, without
a notion of jealousy or anything but being a backbone to this cousin
of his, and I could not say what besides to all that came in his way;
but I flatter myself there's one man in the room who has some notion
of the difference there is between the greater and the less."
"Harold would not thank you," I said.
"Not he. So much the more reason that you should take care he comes
to the front."
Dermot did Eustace a little injustice in fancying he wanted to
suppress Harold. He never did. He was far too well satisfied with
his own great personality to think that anyone could interfere with
it; and having asked everyone in the room, ladies and all, to the
inspection and the luncheon, discoursed to me about it all the way
home, and would almost have made me and all the servants stay up all
night to prepare.
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