"—From his infancy to his glorious youth and his established manhood."
"—He was ever the soul of chivalry."
"—Duty: duty first. The happiness of his family. The well-being of his dependants."
"—If proud of his name it was not an overweening pride; it was founded in the conscious possession of exalted qualities. He could be humble when occasion called for it."
Dr Middleton bowed to the litany, feeling that occasion called for humbleness from him.
"Let us hope . . . !" he said, with unassumed penitence on behalf of his inscrutable daughter.
The ladies resumed:—
"—Vernon Whitford, not of his blood, is his brother!"
"—A thousand instances! Laetitia Dale remembers them better than we."
"—That any blow should strike him!"