What a comfort that we have tongues
that we can hold! It wouldn't be possible to live, if we knew that
all the absurdities we pride ourselves on concealing were all
perfectly well known and canvassed by all our friends. However, as
long as we only enjoy each other's faults, and don't go in for
correcting them, we can get on. I hope you don't DISAPPROVE of
people, Jack! That's the hopeless attitude."
"Well, I hate some people," said Jack, "but I hate them so much
that it is quite a pleasure to meet them and to think how infernal
they are; and when it's like that, I should be sorry if they
improved."
"I won't go as far as that," said Howard. "The most I do is to be
thankful that their lack of improvement can still entertain me. One
can never be thankful enough for really grotesque people. But I
confess I don't enjoy seeing people spiteful and mean and vicious.
I want to obliterate all that."
"I want it to be obliterated," said Mrs. Graves; "but I don't feel
equal to doing it. Oh, well, we mustn't get solemn over it; that's
the mischief! But I mustn't keep you gentlemen from more serious
pursuits--'real things,' I believe, Jack?"
"Mr. Kennedy has been sneaking on me," said Jack. "I don't like to
see people mean and spiteful. It gives me pain. I want all that
obliterated."
"This is what happens to my pupils," said Howard. "Come on, Jack,
you shall not expose my methods like this."
They went off with the old keeper, who carried a bag of writhing
ferrets, and was accompanied by a boy with a spade and a line and a
bag of cartridges.
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