‘Ah, that’s exactly what I want to warn you against. With us in England, there are none of those social vicissitudes you are used to here. The game of life is played gravely, quietly, and calmly. There are no brilliant successes of bold talkers, no coups de théâtre of amusing raconteurs: no one tries to push himself into any position of eminence.’
A half-movement of impatience, as Atlee pushed his wine-glass before him, arrested the speaker.
‘I perceive,’ said he stiffly, ‘you regard my counsels as unnecessary.’
‘Not that, sir, so much as hopeless,’ rejoined the other coldly.
‘His Excellency will ask you, probably, some questions about this country: let me warn you not to give him Irish answers.’
‘I don’t think I understand you, sir.’
‘I mean, don’t deal in any exaggerations, avoid extravagance, and never be slapdash.’
‘Oh, these are Irish, then?’
Without deigning reply to this, Walpole went on—
‘Of course you have your remedy for all the evils of Ireland. I never met an Irishman who had not. But I beg you spare his lordship your theory, whatever it is, and simply answer the questions he will ask you.’