"Angry! no, not angry. Who would be angry with the poor child?"
"Indeed, I am somewhat proud of her. It seems to me that she prefers mind to matter, which is a great deal to say for a young lady."
"Matter!" exclaimed Lady Staveley, who could not but feel that the term, as applied to such a young man as Peregrine Orme, was very opprobrious.
"Wit and intellect and power of expression have gone further with her than good looks and rank and worldly prosperity. If that be so, and I believe it is, I cannot but love her the better for it."
"So do I love her, as much as any mother can love her daughter."
"Of course you do." And the judge kissed his wife.
"And I like wit and genius and all that sort of thing."
"Otherwise you would have not taken me, my dear."
"You were the handsomest man of your day. That's why I fell in love with you."
"The compliment is a very poor one," said the judge.