The young man was mightily interested, although to be sure this was the first he had heard of John Peter Kendall; but happily he had a useful sort of working knowledge that Lady Macbeth was the name of a thrilling drama by the author of Money.
Miss Mary was quite unscathed by this damaging piece of criticism.
"Yes, Granny dear, but then you had genius—and that's a thing that doesn't often occur in any family, does it?"
"Mary child"—the natural grandeur showed a little—"it is a mere façon de parler to speak of ambition, respect for one's calling, determination to live up to the highest that is within oneself, as genius. Moreover, the absence of genius is a poor excuse for lowering the traditions of a distinguished family. Mr. Shelmerdine, I hope you agree with me."
Appealed to at point-blank range, the young man was fain to agree with Grandmamma. But if his note of conviction was not very robust, it must be remembered that his present ambition was to run with the hare and to hunt with the hounds.
"By taking pains," said Grandmamma, "and showing a proper reverence for its calling, even a modest talent may add a cubit to its stature. That at least was the opinion of John Peter Kendall and Mr. Macready."
