“Hypocritical?”
“I’m diplomatic and calculating—I don’t show him how bad I am; whereas with you he knows the worst.”
Of this observation Mrs. Brook, whose eyes attached themselves again to Mr. Longdon, took at first no further notice than might have been indicated by the way it set her musing.
“‘Calculating’?”—she at last took him up. “On what is there to calculate?”
“Why,” said Vanderbank, “if, as you just hinted, he’s a blessing in disguise—! I perfectly admit,” he resumed, “that I’m capable of sacrifices to keep on good terms with him.”
“You’re not afraid he’ll bore you?”
“Oh yes—distinctly.”
“But he’ll be worth it? Then,” Mrs. Brook said as he appeared to assent, “he’ll be worth a great deal.” She continued to watch Mr. Longdon, who, without his glasses, stared straight at the floor while Mr. Cashmore talked to him. She pursued, however, dispassionately enough: “He must be of a narrowness—!”
“Oh beautiful!”
She was silent again. “I shall broaden him. YOU won’t.”