“Then their agreeableness must be all fancy.”
“But it is better to be agreeable in fancy than dull in reality.”
“That depends upon whose fancy it is. To be agreeable in your own fancy is compatible with being dull in reality as—”
“How you play with words! I see you won't leave me a shred either of fancy or agreeableness to stand on.”
“Then I shall do you good service. I shall destroy your illusions; you cannot stand on illusions.”
“But remember what my illusions were—fancy and agreeableness.”
“But your agreeableness stood on fancy, and your fancy on nothing. You had better settle down at once on the solid basis of dullness like the dons.”
“Then I am to found myself on fact, and try to be dull? What a conclusion! But perhaps dullness is no more a fact than fancy; what is dullness?”
“Oh, I do not undertake to define; you are the best judge.”
“How severe you are! Now, see how generous I am. Dullness in society is the absence of ladies.”