' She went on very amusingly to say that he reminded her of
a wagtail, tripping along with very short steps, and only saved by
adroitness from overbalancing. It was a clever description of poor
Gibbs--but I felt it somehow to be indiscreet. Well, you know, poor
Gibbs came to me a few days later--you realise how gossip spreads
in these places--and said that he was hurt in his mind to think
that Miss Maud should call him a water-wagtail. Servants' tattle, I
suppose. I was considerably annoyed at this, and Maud insisted on
going to apologise to Gibbs, which was a matter of some delicacy,
because she could not deny that she had applied the soubriquet--or
is it sobriquet?--to him. That is just a minute instance of the
sort of thing I mean."
"I confess," said Howard, "that I do recognise Maud's touch--she
has a strong sense of humour."
"A somewhat dangerous thing," said Mr. Sandys. "I have a very
strong sense of humour myself, or rather what might be called
risibility. No one enjoys a witty story or a laughable incident
more than I do. But I keep it in check. The indulgence of humour is
a risky thing; not very consistent with the pastoral office. But
that is a small point; and what I am leading up to is this, that
dear Maud's restlessness, and even morbidity, has entirely
disappeared; and this, my dear Howard, I attribute entirely to your
kind influence and discretion, of which we are all so conscious,
and to the consciousness of which it is so pleasant to be able to
give leisurely expression.
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