“My dear child, their self-esteem is so powerful they never feel them; and even when they do, the chances are that they store them up in their memories, to retail afterwards as their own. I have detected my own stolen property more than once; but always so damaged by wear, and disfigured by ill-usage, that I never thought of reclaiming it.” “The affluent need never fret for a little robbery,” said Mary, smiling. “Ay, but they may like to be the dispensers of their own riches,” rejoined Repton, who never was happier than when able to carry out another's illustration. “Is Lord Reckington agreeable?” asked Mary, trying to lead him on to any other theme than that of herself. “He is eminently so. Like all men of his class, he makes more of a small stock in trade than we with our heads full can ever pretend to. Such men talk well, for they think fluently. Their tact teaches them the popular tone on every subject, and they have the good sense never to rise above it.” “And Massingbred, the secretary, what of him?” “A very well-bred gentleman, strongly cased in the triple armor of official dulness. Such men converse as stupid whist-players play cards; they are always asking to 'let them see the last trick;' and the consequence is they are ever half an hour behind the rest of the world. Ay, Miss Mary, and this is an age where one must never be half a second in arrear. This is really delicious Port; and now that the Burgundy is finished, I think I prefer it. Tell Martin I said so when you write to him. I hope the cellar is well stocked with it.” “It was so when my uncle went away, but I fear I have made great inroads upon it. It was my chief remedy with the poor.” “With the poor! such wine as this,--the richest grape that ever purpled over the Douro! Do you tell me that you gave this to these--Heaven forgive me, what am I saying? Of course you gave it; you gave them what was fifty times more precious,--the kind ministerings of your own angelic nature, the soft words and soft looks and smiles that a prince might have knelt for. I 'm not worthy to drink another glass of it,” added he, as he pushed the decanter from him towards the centre of the table. “But you shall, though,” said Mary, filling his glass, “and it shall be a bumper to my health.”