“What an immense gain to a young girl—of course, I mean one whose education and tastes have fitted her for it—to be the companion of such a mind as his! Who is this Mr. Haire?”
“A very old friend. I believe he was a schoolfellow of grandpapa's.”
“Not his equal, I suspect, in ability or knowledge.”
“Oh, nothing like it; a most worthy man, respected by every one, and devotedly attached to grandpapa, but not clever.”
“The Chief, I remarked, called him witty,” said Sewell with a faint twinkle in his eye.
“It was done in jest. He is fond of fathering on him the smart sayings of the day, and watching his attempts to disown them.”
“And Haire likes that?”
“I believe he likes grandpapa in every mood he has.”
“What an invaluable friend! I wish to Heaven he could find such another for me. I want—there 's nothing I want more than some one who would always approve of me.”
“Perhaps you might push this fidelity further than grandpapa does,” said she, with a smile.