"Never says a kindly thing
And never does a harsh one."


Then he drew Sir Peter on to talk of the country and agricultural
prospects. Learned that among his objects in visiting town was the
wish to inspect a patented hydraulic ram that might be very useful for
his farm-yard, which was ill supplied with water. Startled the
Baronet by evincing some practical knowledge of mechanics; insisted on
accompanying him to the city to inspect the ram; did so, and approved
the purchase; took him next to see a new American reaping-machine, and
did not part with him till he had obtained Sir Peter's promise to dine
with him at the Garrick; an invitation peculiarly agreeable to Sir
Peter, who had a natural curiosity to see some of the more recently
distinguished frequenters of that social club. As, on quitting
Gordon, Sir Peter took his way to the house of Leopold Travers, his
thoughts turned with much kindliness towards his young kinsman.
"Mivers and Kenelm," quoth he to himself, "gave me an unfavourable
impression of this lad; they represent him as worldly, self-seeking,
and so forth. But Mivers takes such cynical views of character, and
Kenelm is too eccentric to judge fairly of a sensible man of the
world. At all events, it is not like an egotist to put himself out of
his way to be so civil to an old fellow like me. A young man about
town must have pleasanter modes of passing his day than inspecting
hydraulic rams and reaping-machines. Clever they allow him to be.
Yes, decidedly clever, and not offensively clever,--practical."

Sir Peter found Travers in the dining-room with his daughter, Mrs.