"Much better than that."
"And he is not one of the most touch-me-not pieces of English birth and wealth that ever stood upon their own dignity?"
"Not at all," said Fleda, "How people may be misunderstood!
he is one of the most gentle and kind persons I ever saw."
"To you!"
"To everybody that deserves it."
"Humph! And not proud?"
"No, not as you understand it," and she felt it was very difficult to make him understand it, as the discovery involved a very offensive implication; "he is too fine a character to be proud."
"That is arguing in a circle with a vengeance!" said Charlton.
"I know what you are thinking of," said Fleda, "and I suppose it passes for pride with a great many people who cannot comprehend it he has a singular power of quietly rebuking wrong, and keeping impertinence at a distance where, Captain Rossitur, for instance, I suppose, would throw his cap in a man's face, Mr. Carleton's mere silence would make the offender doff his and ask pardon."
The manner in which this was said precluded all taking offence.