‘You are going into a new country, Atlee,’ said he at last, ‘and I am sure you will not be sorry to learn something of the geography.’ ‘Though it may mar a little of the adventure,’ said the other, smiling. ‘Ah, that’s exactly what I want to warn you against. With us in England, there are none of those social vicissitudes you are used to here. The game of life is played gravely, quietly, and calmly. There are no brilliant successes of bold talkers, no _coups de théâtre_ of amusing _raconteurs_: no one tries to push himself into any position of eminence.’ A half-movement of impatience, as Atlee pushed his wine-glass before him, arrested the speaker. ‘I perceive,’ said he stiffly, ‘you regard my counsels as unnecessary.’ ‘Not that, sir, so much as hopeless,’ rejoined the other coldly. ‘His Excellency will ask you, probably, some questions about this country: let me warn you not to give him Irish answers.’ ‘I don’t think I understand you, sir.’ ‘I mean, don’t deal in any exaggerations, avoid extravagance, and never be slapdash.’ ‘Oh, these are Irish, then?’ Without deigning reply to this, Walpole went on-- ‘Of course you have your remedy for all the evils of Ireland. I never met an Irishman who had not. But I beg you spare his lordship your theory, whatever it is, and simply answer the questions he will ask you.’ ‘I will try, sir,’ was the meek reply. ‘Above all things, let me warn you against a favourite blunder of your countrymen. Don’t endeavour to explain peculiarities of action in this country by singularities of race or origin; don’t try to make out that there are special points of view held that are unknown on the other side of the Channel, or that there are other differences between the two peoples, except such as more rags and greater wretchedness produce. We have got over that very venerable and time-honoured blunder, and do not endeavour to revive it.’ ‘Indeed!’ ‘Fact, I assure you. It is possible in some remote country-house to chance upon some antiquated Tory who still cherishes these notions; but you’ll not find them amongst men of mind or intelligence, nor amongst any class of our people.’ It was on Atlee’s lip to ask, ‘Who were our people?’ but he forbore by a mighty effort, and was silent. ‘I don’t know if I have any other cautions to give you. Do you?’ ‘No, sir. I could not even have reminded you of these, if you had not yourself remembered them.’ ‘Oh, I had almost forgotten it. If his Excellency should give you anything to write out, or to copy, don’t smoke while you are over it: he abhors tobacco. I should have given you a warning to be equally careful as regards Lady Maude’s sensibilities; but, on the whole, I suspect you’ll scarcely see her.’ ‘Is that all, sir?’ said the other, rising. ‘Well, I think so. I shall be curious to hear how you acquit yourself--how you get on with his Excellency, and how he takes you; and you must write it all to me. Ain’t you much too early? it’s scarcely ten o’clock.’