The result was that Howard hardly got a word with Maud; she did
indeed say to him that she had made a beginning, and he was aware
of a pleasant sense of trustfulness about her; but the party had
been involved in vague and general talk, with a disturbing element
somewhere. Howard found himself talking aimlessly and flatly, and
the net result was a feeling of dissatisfaction.
When they were gone, Mrs. Graves said to Howard, "Jack is rather a
masterful young man, I think. He has no sense of respect in his
composition. Were you aware of the fact that he had us all under
his thumb this evening?"
"Yes," said Howard, "it was just what I was thinking!"
"He wants work," said Mrs. Graves; "he ought not to dangle about at
home and at Cambridge; he wants tougher material to deal with; it's
no use snubbing him, because he is on the right tack; but he must
not be allowed to interfere too much. He wants a touch of
misfortune to bring him to himself; he has a real influence over
people--the influence that all definite, good-humoured, outspoken
people have; it is easier for others to do what he likes than to
resist him; he is not irritable, and he is pertinacious. He is the
sort of man who may get very much spoilt if he doesn't marry the
right woman, because he is the sort of person women will tell lies
to rather than risk displeasing him. If he does not take care he
will be a man of the world, because he will not see the world as it
is; it will behave to him as he wishes it to behave.
Pages:
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131