Miss Niphet.. I suppose Lord Curryfin is in the vein for amusing his company, and he generally succeeds in his social purposes.
Mr. Falconer. You lay stress on social, as if you thought him not successful in all his purposes.
Miss Niphet. Not in all his inventions, for example. But in the promotion of social enjoyment he has few equals. Of course, it must be in congenial society. There is a power of being pleased, as well as a power of pleasing. With Miss Gryll and Lord Curryfin, both meet in both. No wonder that they amuse those around them.
Mr. Falconer. In whom there must also be a power of being pleased.
Miss Niphet.. Most of the guests here have it. If they had not they would scarcely be here. I have seen some dismal persons, any one of whom would be a kill-joy to a whole company. There are none such in this party. I have also seen a whole company all willing to be pleased, but all mute from not knowing what to say to each other: not knowing how to begin. Lord Curryfin would be a blessing to such a party. He would be the steel to their flint.
Mr. Falconer. Have you known him long?
Miss Niphet.. Only since I met him here.
Mr. Falconer. Have you heard that he is a suitor to Miss Gryll?
Miss Niphet.. I have heard so.
Mr. Falconer. Should you include the probability of his being accepted in your estimate of his social successes?