I
admire your way of going on: you make everyone think that you value
their opinion, and yet you know exactly what you want and get it."
Howard laughed. "I really am not such a diplomatist as that, Jack!
I am not a humbug; but I will tell you frankly what happens. What
people say and think, and even how they look, does affect me very
much at the time; but I have a theory that most people get what
they really want. One has to be very careful what one wants in this
world, not because one is disappointed, but because Providence
hands it one with a smile; and then it often turns out to be an
ironical gift--a punishment in disguise."
"Maud shall hear that," said Jack; "a punishment in disguise--that
will do her good, and take her down a peg or two. So you have found
it out already?"
"My dear Jack," said Howard, "if you say anything of the kind, you
will repent it. I am not going to have Maud bothered just now with
any nonsense. Do you hear that? The frankness of your family is one
of its greatest charms--but you don't quite know how much the
frankness of babes and sucklings can hurt--and you are not to
experiment on Maud."
Jack looked at Howard with a smile. "Here's the real man at last--
the tyrant's vein! Of course, I obey. I didn't really mean it; and
I like to hear you speak like that; it's rather fine."
Presently Jack said, "Now, about the Governor--rather a douche, I
expect? But I see you can take care of yourself; he's hugely
delighted--the intellectual temperature rises in every letter I get
from him.
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