“No–not every day,” answered Ronald. “But this morning I was asking her about some of the people here. She seems to know every one.”
“Yes indeed, she is immensely popular. Whom did she tell you about?”
“Oh–Mrs. Wyndham, and Mr. Wyndham, and Mr. Vancouver, and Mr. Harrington. He is immensely clever, she says,” added Ronald, with a touch of irony in his voice. “What do you think about him, Miss Brandon?”
“I cannot judge very well,” said Sybil. “He is a great friend of mine, and I do not care in the least whether my friends are clever or not.”
“Joe does,” said Ronald. “She hates stupid people. She is very clever too, you know, and so I suppose she is right about Harrington.”
“Oh yes; I was only speaking of myself,” answered Sybil. “He is probably the strongest man in this part of the world.”
“He looks strong,” said Ronald, who was a judge of athletes.
“I mean in the way of brains,” said Sybil. “But he is more than that, for he is so splendidly honest.”
“But lots of people are honest,” said Ronald, who did not want to concede too much to the man he meant to dislike.
“Perhaps, but not so much as he is. I do not believe John Harrington ever in his life said anything that could possibly convey a false impression, or ever betrayed a confidence.” Sybil looked calmly across the room at John, who was talking earnestly to Sam Wyndham.