perhaps you'll be good enough to--er--hearken further to my tale of
woe?"

Mr. Brimberly choked again and recovering, smoothed his writhing
whiskers and murmured: "It would be a honour!"

"First, then, Brimberly, have you ever hated yourself--I mean, despised
yourself so utterly and thoroughly that the bare idea of your existence
makes you angry and indignant?"

"Why--no, sir," answered Mr. Brimberly, staring, "I can't say as I 'ave,
sir."

"No," said his master with another keen glance, "and I don't suppose you
ever will!" Now here again, perhaps because of the look or something in
Young R.'s tone, Mr. Brimberly took occasion to emit a small, apologetic
cough.

"You have never felt yourself to be a--cumberer of the earth, Brimberly?"

Mr. Brimberly, having thought the matter over, decided that he had not.

"You are not given to introspection, Brimberly?"

"Intro--ahem! No, sir, not precisely--'ardly that, sir, and then only
very occasional, sir!"

"Then you've never got on to yourself--got wise to yourself--seen
yourself as you really are?"