'Well, what I consider is the defect in Aylmer Ross is that he has brains, but no temperament.'
'Excellent!' cried Bruce. 'Perfectly true. Temperament! That's what he wants!'
Edith remembered hearing that phrase used in her presence to Madame Frabelle—not about Aylmer, but about someone else. It was very characteristic of Madame Frabelle to catch up an idea or a phrase, misapply it, and then firmly regard it as her own.
Bruce shook his head. 'Brains, but no temperament! Excellent!'
'Mind you, that doesn't prevent him being an excellent soldier,' went on
Madame Frabelle.
'Oh dear, no. He's done jolly well,' said Bruce. 'I think I know what she means—don't you, Edith?'
'I'm sure she does,' said Edith, who had her doubts. 'I don't know that I do quite know what people mean when they say other people haven't got temperament. The question is—what is temperament?'
'Oh, my dear, it's a sort of—a something—an atmosphere—a sympathy.
What I might call the magnetism of personality!'
'That's right!' said Bruce, passing his cup for another cup of tea.
'Aylmer's hard, hard as nails.'
'Hasn't he got the name of being rather warm-hearted and impulsive, though?' suggested Edith.