Unfortunately, Louis felt that, to own Oliver's generosity, it was necessary to be out of sight of him; and finding that there was silence and constraint in the drawing-room, he asked Isabel to walk with him to meet James.
'One breathes freely!' said she, as they left the house. 'Was there ever a more intolerable man?'
'Never was a man who made a more unlucky error in judgment.'
'And that is all you call it?'
'The spurious object warped the mind aside,' said Louis. 'The grand idea was too exclusive, and now he suffers for the exclusiveness. It is melancholy to see the cinder of a burnt-offering to Mammon, especially when the offering was meant for better things.'
In this strain he chose to talk, without coming to particulars, till, near the corner of the old square, they met the shouting throng of boys, and presently James himself, descending the steps of the grim old grey building.
'I thought you would forgive me for coming to meet you under such an escort,' said Isabel, 'especially as it was to escape from our Peruvian relative.'
'Poor man! it was a great pity he did not come last year!' said Louis.
'I am glad I have no temptation to bend to his will,' returned James.
'Ha! I like the true core of the quarrel to display itself.'