"Not at all;—only vague. But he's the last man in the world to have nasty vulgar ideas of his own importance as distinguished from yours."
"Lopez says—"
"I wouldn't quite trust Lopez."
"He isn't a bad fellow in his way, Arthur. Of course he is not what I would have liked for a son-in-law. I needn't tell you that. But he is kind and gentle-mannered, and has always been attached to Everett. You know he saved Everett's life at the risk of his own." Arthur could not but smile as he perceived how the old man was being won round by the son-in-law, whom he had treated so violently before the man had become his son-in-law. "By-the-way, what was all that about a letter you wrote to him?"
"Emily,—I mean Mrs. Lopez,—will tell you if you ask her."
"I don't want to ask her. I don't want to appear to set the wife against the husband. I am sure, my boy, you would write nothing that could affront her."
"I think not, Mr. Wharton. If I know myself at all, or my own nature, it is not probable that I should affront your daughter."
"No; no; no. I know that, my dear boy. I was always sure of that. Take some more wine."
"No more, thank you. I must be off because I'm so anxious about this Bill."
"I couldn't ask Emily about this letter. Now that they are married I have to make the best of it,—for her sake. I couldn't bring myself to say anything to her which might seem to accuse him."