come if you really want me to, but it's awful rot.'

One of the many things Mike could never understand in Psmith was his
fondness for getting into atmospheres that were not his own. He would
go out of his way to do this. Mike, like most boys of his age, was
never really happy and at his ease except in the presence of those of
his own years and class. Psmith, on the contrary, seemed to be bored by
them, and infinitely preferred talking to somebody who lived in quite
another world. Mike was not a snob. He simply had not the ability to be
at his ease with people in another class from his own. He did not know
what to talk to them about, unless they were cricket professionals.
With them he was never at a loss.

But Psmith was different. He could get on with anyone. He seemed to
have the gift of entering into their minds and seeing things from their
point of view.

As regarded Mr Waller, Mike liked him personally, and was prepared, as
we have seen, to undertake considerable risks in his defence; but he
loathed with all his heart and soul the idea of supper at his house. He
knew that he would have nothing to say. Whereas Psmith gave him the
impression of looking forward to the thing as a treat.

* * * * *

The house where Mr Waller lived was one of a row of semi-detached
villas on the north side of the Common. The door was opened to them by
their host himself. So far from looking battered and emitting last
breaths, he appeared particularly spruce. He had just returned from
Church, and was still wearing his gloves and tall hat. He squeaked with