"I can hardly say that. I used to meet him sometimes with some friends of mine, the Crespignys. But I haven't seen him for more than two years."
"He's a very good fellow."
"An excellent fellow."
"Perhaps a little bit limited in his outlook. He has been with me at St.
Joseph's exactly two years."
The rector seemed about to say more, then shut his large mouth almost with a snap. Malling made no remark. He was quite certain that snap was merely the preliminary to some further remark about Chichester. And so it proved. As they came to St. Peter's Eaton Square, the rector resumed:
"I often think that it is a man's limitations which make him critical of others. The more one knows, the wider one's outlook, the readier one is to shut one's eyes to the foibles, even to the faults, of one's neighbors. I have tried to impress that upon our friend Chichester."
"Doesn't he agree with you?"
"Well—it's difficult to say, difficult to say. Shall we go by Wilton
Place, or—?"
"Certainly."
"Professor Stepton has talked to me about you from time to time, Mr.
Malling."