"I don't dislike him in the least as a friend, as a companion. He
seems to me a charming fellow, and I should think he would be
excellent company. I dislike him, exclusively, as a son-in-law. If
the only office of a son-in-law were to dine at the paternal table, I
should set a high value upon your brother. He dines capitally. But
that is a small part of his function, which, in general, is to be a
protector and caretaker of my child, who is singularly ill-adapted to
take care of herself. It is there that he doesn't satisfy me. I
confess I have nothing but my impression to go by; but I am in the
habit of trusting my impression. Of course you are at liberty to
contradict it flat. He strikes me as selfish and shallow."
Mrs. Montgomery's eyes expanded a little, and the Doctor fancied he
saw the light of admiration in them. "I wonder you have discovered
he is selfish!" she exclaimed.
"Do you think he hides it so well?"
"Very well indeed," said Mrs. Montgomery. "And I think we are all
rather selfish," she added quickly.
"I think so too; but I have seen people hide it better than he. You
see I am helped by a habit I have of dividing people into classes,
into types. I may easily be mistaken about your brother as an
individual, but his type is written on his whole person."
"He is very good-looking," said Mrs. Montgomery.
The Doctor eyed her a moment. "You women are all the same! But the
type to which your brother belongs was made to be the ruin of you,
and you were made to be its handmaids and victims.
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