put him down to the former age. But when you come to know him so as to
be able to measure his consummate knowledge of the world, and to
have the opportunity of reflecting upon the good-natured but profound
cynicism which pleasantly pervades his talk as absolutely as the flavour
of lemon pervades rum punch, you would be inclined to assign his natal
day to a much earlier date. In reality he was forty, neither more nor
less, and had both preserved his youthful appearance and gained the
mellowness of his experience by a judicious use of the opportunities of
life.

"Well, my dear George," said Sir Eustace, addressing his
brother--determined to take this occasion of meeting after so long a
time to be rid of the nickname "Bottles," which he hated--"I haven't had
such a pleasure for years."

"As--as what?"

"As meeting you again, of course. When I saw you on the vessel I knew
you at once. You have not changed at all, unless expansion can be called
a change."

"Nor have you, Eustace, unless contraction can be called a change. Your
waist used to be bigger, you know."

"Ah, George, I drank beer in those days; it is one of things of which I
have lived to see the folly. In fact, there are not many things of which
I have not lived to see the folly."

"Except living itself, I suppose?"