he retorted. 'I don't think
anything would make you uncomfortable, Goody! You go serenely on your
way, wrapped in a cloak of supreme self-content and satisfaction.
Except for bringing a little extra pink colour into your cheeks, which
I like to see, no words of mine can ever stir you.'

'I have feelings,' I said, 'though I do try not to show them. I am not
a piece of stone. And if I did show them, you would be the first to
blame me for it.'

'I dare say I should, for it would be highly inconsistent with the
profession that you make to lose your temper like ordinary mortals.'

'So that I cannot act rightly in any case in your eyes,' I said, half
laughing, half vexed. 'I am just good as a kind of target that you can
fire off volleys of ridicule at: if I resent it, it will be showing
anger; if I bear it, it will be because I am "wrapped in a cloak of
supreme self-content and satisfaction."'

'Upon my word, Goody, I think you are showing too much feeling now,'
was the laughing rejoinder; 'I think I must make myself scarce till you
are calmer.' And he walked away and left me. He was the only one of
the Forsyths that I did not quite understand. No one said unkinder
things to my face than he did, and yet behind my back I knew that many
a time he had made things smoother for me with his parents. He laughed
and scoffed openly at the weaknesses and insincerity of society, yet
mingled freely in it, and was a favourite wherever he went. I felt no
eye in the household was so keen as his on my words and actions; he was
always wanting me to do things for him and go to places with him; yet
when I was with him he would be unsparing in his scoffing remarks on
any subject that would touch me most deeply. I found it best to take
all he said as quietly as possible, only now and then protesting, as I
had done upon this afternoon.

Hugh's friend, a Mr. Stanton, arrived a week after my return. He was
rather a grave-looking man, tall and broad-shouldered, with dark eyes
which seemed quick to take in every one and everything, and yet which
had a kindly gleam in them.

We did not see much of him, for Hugh and he spent most of their days in
the study together; but he proved very entertaining in the evening, for
he had travelled a great deal and could talk well, and somehow or other
would raise the conversation to a higher level than usual. General
Forsyth would discuss questions of the day with him, with a keener
interest than