"I am so glad, Uncle John; your ideas are always pleasant ones, especially when they make your eyes twinkle. Is this about more dogs?"
"No, no, child. Do you think I have no soul except for dogs? I was thinking—why, you see,—this is a delightful fellow, this nephew of mine."
"Isn't he, Uncle? I never saw a more interesting person, I think. How well he talks, and how much he knows!"
"Yes, and right-minded, too; singularly right-minded. Jim has done well, certainly, by his children, and is very fortunate in them. H'm! yes. Who would have thought, thirty years ago, that things would have turned out in this way? Old Jim!"
Here Mr. Montfort fell into a brown study, and only roused himself after some time, to ask Margaret what were her orders for the day.
"Why, Uncle John! And you have never told me your idea."
"Bless me! so I haven't. Age, my dear child, age! Such a fine idea as it is, too. Listen, then! as I was saying, Hugh Montfort is a charming fellow."
"Yes, Uncle John."
"And Peggy Montfort is a charming girl."
"Certainly she is. Dear Peggy!"