Page:Henry Northcote (IA henrynorthcote00snairich).pdf/122

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"Well, you are a mass of instincts, Miss Pussy. And you counsel me to stick to your advocate?"

"I do, Witty; closer than a brother. I think he is perfectly amazing. I think he will make the fortunes of all who are connected with him."

"Another Michael Tobin, would you say?"

"What a dunce it is," said the lady, with an indulgent sigh. "Michael and this man don't inhabit the same hemisphere. Michael is a dear fellow, brilliant, clever, but only surface deep; this is an ogre of a creature, a monster, deep as the sea, of the proportions of the universe."

"Come, I say, Mrs. Noodle; they don't call that sort to the bar. They might find the purlieus of the law too confining."

"If you have not yet learned to scorn my advice, Witty, take care never to have this man against you. If you have him on your side every time you go into court, you will not have many lost causes to record."

"He is clever, I grant you, but the worst of it is he knows it."

"He is arrogant with power, Witty, which is somewhat different, although it sounds the same. I think he is a perfectly terrible man, and he looks so big and great and deadly. Did you notice his enormous hands? Did you observe his chest? And that voice as soft as a flute yet as deep as an organ?"

"You are completely conquered, Featherhead. Yet you would not call this phenomenon precisely beautiful?"

"Strength is more beautiful than symmetry, I think; although I grant you that huge square jowl