"I wish you'd tell me why you don't like him."
Gilbert looked at his companion, and hesitated a moment before replying—
"I don't know why I should give you my reasons for disliking Hope. You may go and tell him what I say; but there, I don't care if you do! I dislike and mistrust him because he's not straight."
"Not straight? What do you mean?"
"He is untruthful; he uses bad language; and he bets. Have you seen much of him?"
"No, I have only met him a few times. I liked him—rather."
"I wouldn't have much to do with him if I were you. I don't think he's the sort of fellow your father would like. I shouldn't care for Tom to be very friendly with him. I don't call him a gentleman."
"His father is a doctor, isn't he?"
"Yes, and Reginald is his only son. Dr. Hope is very popular in Wreyford, and he's a very good sort of man, but he lets Reginald have his own way in everything."
Gerald would have liked to ask more questions about the boy whose companionship he found so fascinating, but Gilbert moved away towards the house, thus bringing the conversation to an end.