He probably did not realise this, for though
he liked settled ways, he was sensitively averse to feeling that
his own convenience was in any way superseding or overriding the
convenience of others. It used to be a great delight and
refreshment to stay there. He was fond of rambling about the
country, and was an enchanting companion in a tete-a-tete. In the
evening he used to expand very much into a genial humour which was
very attractive; he had, too, the art of making swift and subtle
transitions into an emotional mood; and here his poetical gift of
seeing unexpected analogies and delicate characteristics gave his
talk a fragrant charm which I have seldom heard equalled.
It was indeed a picture of wonderful prosperity, happiness, and
delight. The children were engaging, clever, and devotedly
affectionate, and indeed the atmosphere of mutual affection seemed
to float over the circle like a fresh and scented summer air. One
used to feel, as one drove away, that though one's visit had been a
pleasure, there would be none of the flatness which sometimes
follows the departure of a guest, but that one was leaving them to
a home life that was better than sociability, a life that was both
sacred and beautiful, full to the brim of affection, yet without
any softness or sentimentality.
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