"You always were a restless character, Thurston."
"Nature designed me for an explorer."
"You'll never be satisfied until you undertake that expedition to the pole—"
"Never—unless—"
"Unless what?"
"A new interest should arise in my life—necessarily something very absorbing."
"I know of nothing, except—perhaps—a woman. And as for that, every mamma in England has despaired of you."
Lord Canning laughed heartily, and his uncle yawned and closed his eyes, considering he had satisfactorily disposed of the subject.
"We are strangers to our host," recommenced Lord Canning, after a short survey of the vanishing prospect. "The invitation was necessarily off-hand, but very hearty."
"They do everything in an off-hand way, over here," said Lord Stafford, "at least, so it seems to me."