“No, very little, surprisingly little. You’re going to be like your father. How is he?”
“Well, and fiercely combating socialism and all the other revolutionary ‘isms.’ You can imagine how much he likes the democratic tendency of the times. He gets grimmer over them every time we meet.”
Image smiled. “Yes, politically I find a great change in England since I left it. But it’s interesting—very.... Your friend Paton is very charming. What does he do?”
“That’s a difficult question to answer. I can’t reply “nothing,” because he is always doing something. Much more energetic than he looks. His father is urging him to go into Parliament, and I think he will later on. But at present he says he is ‘informing himself,’ whatever that may mean. He is helping Sir John Tollins with his Prison Reform Crusade at the moment, and he is visiting various institutions all over the country.”
“Ah! yes, a sociologist. Such men do very useful work. And what is Mr. Jack Iverson?”
“A rich young ass,” laughed Gilbert.
“Sir,” said Carey with a twinkle; “that is not information. I can see into shop windows as well as you.”
“Well, he’s in the Blues; but I always think of him as Claudia’s brother.” He said it without the slightest embarrassment, just as he might have referred to his own uncle.
“Claudia! A pretty name. Is she as pretty as her name?”
“Prettier. But they are a wonderfully handsome family. Looks on both sides.”