"Well—aw—but cannot he keep his good qualities to their proper sphere? He is not an addition of much value to our society."
"Take care, Mr. St. Leger! He is an American; he cannot be set down with the servants."
"Why not, if his education and habits make that his place?"
"Oh, but they do not."
"It seems to me they do, if you will pardon me. This fellow has never been in any gentleman's society, except your father's."
"He will be a gentleman himself, in all essentials, one day, Mr. St. Leger. There is the difference. The capability is in him, and the ambition, and the independent and generous feeling. The foundations are all there."
"I'll confess the house when I see it."
"Ay, but you must in the meantime do nothing to hinder its building."
"Why must not I?" said Lawrence, laughing. "It is not my part to lay hold on a trowel and be a social mason. Still less is it yours."
"Oh, there you are wrong. I think it is everybody's part."