"But what is he? And why do people want to have him so much, that they put up with his disappointing them nine times out of ten?" "As to what he is--well, he was in the Guards, and he gave that up. Then they got him a place somewhere--in Africa, or South America, or somewhere--and he gave that up. Then he got the notion that he would be a farmer in Canada, and went out with an axe to cut down the trees, and a plough to plough the ground afterwards, and he gave that up. Now he does nothing particular." "And has he found his vocation at last?" "I don't know, I'm sure," said Miss Kilfinane, languidly. Her power of perceiving a joke was very limited. "Thanks. Now I know all about Mr. Price; except--except why everybody wants to invite him." "That I really cannot tell you." "Then you don't share the general enthusiasm about him?" "I don't know that there is any general enthusiasm. Only, of course--don't you know how it is?--people have got into the way of putting up with him, and letting him do as he likes." "He's a very fortunate young man, I should say." "Young man!" Miss Kilfinane laughed a hard little laugh. "Why Jack Price is ever so old!" "Ever so old, is he?" echoed Algernon, genuinely surprised. "He must be turned forty," said the fair Castalia, rising in obedience to a look from Lady Seely. And if she had been but fifteen herself, she could not have said it with a more infantine air. After the ladies had withdrawn, Algernon had to sit for about twenty minutes in the shade, as it were, silent, and listening with modesty and discretion to the conversation of his seniors. Had they talked politics, Algernon would have been able to throw in a word or two; but Lord Seely and his guest talked, not of principles or party, but of persons. The persons talked of were such as Lord Seely conceived to be useful or hostile to his party, and he discussed their conduct, and criticised the tactics of ministers in regard to them, with much warmth. But, unfortunately, Algernon neither knew, nor could pretend to know, anything about these individuals, so he sipped his wine, and looked at the family portraits which hung round the room, in silence. My lord made a kind of apology to him, as they were going upstairs to the drawing-room. "I'm afraid you were bored, Mr. Errington. I am sorry, for your sake, that Mr. Price did not honour us with his company. You would have found him much more amusing than us old fogies." Algernon knew, when Lord Seely talked of Mr. Price not having honoured them with his company, that my lord was indignant against that gentleman. "I have no doubt Mr. Price is a very agreeable person," said he, "but I did not regret him, my lord. I thought it a great privilege to be allowed to listen to you." Later in the evening Algy overheard Lord Seely say to General Dormer, "He's a remarkably intelligent young fellow, I assure you."