"It is certainly more blessed to abuse than to be abused," returned Julius, "and, if one has the choice, it is as well to be the hammer and not the anvil. I am an excessively good-natured person, and if I had friends, they would make an anvil of me and beat my brains out,—and then I should starve."
"Good-natured people are always made to suffer," said Leonora thoughtfully. "I am not in the least good-natured."
"I remember," said Diana, "that Mr. Batiscombe used to say good-nature was a mixture of laziness and vulgarity."
"Yes," answered Julius. "You have a good memory, madame. Good-nature is a compound of the laziness that cannot say 'no,' and of the vulgarity which desires to please every one indiscriminately. I suppose I possess both those faults very finely developed."
"Fortunately," remarked Leonora, "goodness and good-nature are not the same."
"Fortunately for you, Marchesa,—unfortunately for me," said Julius.
"It is too complicated—please explain," she answered.
"As you are so fortunate as to possess goodness without good-nature," said he, "you should be glad that the two are not one and the same, since good-nature is not a desirable quality. I am good-natured, but not good—I wish I were!"
"Ah, I see!" exclaimed Diana. "It was a compliment."
"Of course," said Julius.