"There's no necessity for any of your pedestrian feats," Mrs Mountstuart said, and let him go, turning to Colonel De Craye to pronounce an encomium on him: "The most open-minded man I know! Warranted to do perpetual service, and no mischief. If you were all . . . instead of catching at every prize you covet! Yes, you would have your reward for unselfishness, I assure you. Yes, and where you seek it! That is what none of you men will believe." "When you behold me in your own livery!" cried the colonel. "Do I?" said she, dallying with a half-formed design to be confidential. "How is it one is always tempted to address you in the language of innuendo? I can't guess." "Except that as a dog doesn't comprehend good English we naturally talk bad to him." The great lady was tickled. Who could help being amused by this man? And after all, if her fair Middleton chose to be a fool there could be no gainsaying her, sorry though poor Sir Willoughby's friends must feel for him. She tried not to smile. "You are too absurd. Or a baby, you might have added." "I hadn't the daring." "I'll tell you what, Colonel De Craye, I shall end by falling in love with you; and without esteeming you, I fear." "The second follows as surely as the flavour upon a draught of Bacchus, if you'll but toss off the glass, ma'am." "We women, sir, think it should be first." "'Tis to transpose the seasons, and give October the blossom and April the apple, and no sweet one! Esteem's a mellow thing that comes after bloom and fire, like an evening at home; because if it went before it would have no father and couldn't hope for progeny; for there'd be no nature in the business. So please, ma'am, keep to the original order, and you'll be nature's child, and I the most blessed of mankind." "Really, were I fifteen years younger. I am not so certain . . . I might try and make you harmless." "Draw the teeth of the lamb so long as you pet him!" "I challenged you, colonel, and I won't complain of your pitch. But now lay your wit down beside your candour, and descend to an every-day level with me for a minute." "Is it innuendo?" "No; though I daresay it would be easier for you to respond to if it were." "I'm the straightforwardest of men at a word of command." "This is a whisper. Be alert, as you were last night. Shuffle the table well. A little liveliness will do it. I don't imagine malice, but there's curiosity, which is often as bad, and not so lightly foiled. We have Lady Busshe and Lady Culmer here." "To sweep the cobwebs out of the sky!" "Well, then, can you fence with broomsticks?" "I have had a bout with them in my time." "They are terribly direct." "They 'give point', as Napoleon commanded his cavalry to do." "You must help me to ward it." "They will require variety in the conversation."