“Yes, but we also entered into argument.”
“Dangerous ground that, to be sure. And your fight, of course, ended in a drawn battle?”
“You pay me more than a merited compliment, in concluding that to be a thing of course.”
“Nay, your pardon! I pay you any thing but a compliment. It is not that I conclude your rhetoric and your logic equal, but your obstinacy and your vanity.”
“Do you know, I don’t think myself either obstinate or vain,” said Theon, smiling.
“Had I supposed you did, I might not have seen occasion to give you the information.”
“But on what grounds do you think me obstinate and vain?”
“Your years; your years. And do you think there is a man under twenty that is not both?”
“Why, I should think an old man, at least, more obstinate than a young one.”
“I grant you when he is obstinate, which is pretty often, but not quite always; and when he is vain, the same. But whilst many old men have vanity and obstinacy in the superlative degree, all young men have those qualities in the positive. I believe your share to be tolerably moderate, but do not suppose that you have no share at all. Well, and now tell me, was it not a drawn battle?”