"But if nobody were to tell you, how would you find out what you think? Oh," he added, "I admit that it was presumption on my part. I was presuming that you think."
"I do think, and if some one must tell me what I think, let him be a thinking man."
"John, you cry out for thought, and are the first to strike at it with your dogmatism. You don't think—you dogmatize."
McGlenn turned to Henry. "I had two delightful days last week. John Richmond was out of town."
"Yes," said Richmond, putting his feet on a chair. "Falsehood gallops in riotous pleasure when Truth is absent. Hold on! I can stand one wrinkle between your eyes, but I am afraid of two."
"A man of many accomplishments, but wholly lacking in humor," said McGlenn, seeming to study Richmond for the purpose of placing an appraisement on him. "A man who worships Ouida and decries Sir Richard Steele."
"No, I don't worship Ouida, but I read her sometimes because she is interesting. As for Steele, he is decried by your praise. Say, John, you advised me to change grocers every month, and I don't know but it would be a good plan. An old fellow that I have been trading with has sent me a bill for eighty-three dollars."
"John, he probably takes you for a great man and wants to compliment you."
"I don't object to a compliment, but that was flattery," Richmond, replied, taking his feet off one chair and putting them on another. "Let's ride home, John; it's 'most too slippery to walk."
"All right. You have ruined my health already by making me walk with you. Come on; we'll go now."