Part 20 (1/2)
”And there's one rare, strange virtue in his speeches, The secret of their mastery--they are short.”
HALLECK.
This is a talker of a very accommodating kind. He is pliable as an elastic bow. He takes any shape in sentiment or opinion you please to give him, with most obliging disposition. As you think, so he thinks; as you say, so he says. If you deny, he denies; if you affirm, he affirms.
He is no wrangler or disputant, no dogmatist or snubber. You may always rely upon having a hearing from him, whatever you say. And observe this, what he is to you, so he is to others, however averse they may be in sentiment to yourself. He is very much of a weatherc.o.c.k-make in his intellect. It seems to be fixed on a pivot, and from whichever point of the compa.s.s the wind blows in the talking world he veers round to that quarter. His pet expressions are, ”Yes, truly;” ”Just so;” ”I believe that;” ”Nothing is truer;” ”That is what I have said many a time,” etc.
I am not, however, disposed to think that this vacillation is owing to moral weakness so much as to want of mental calibre in independent and manly exercise.
In some it is a habit formed as the result of a desire to stand on friendly terms with everybody they hold conversation.
”It is a very fine morning, Mr. Long,” said Mr. Oakes, as he met him one day in Bond Street.
”Very fine, indeed,” said Mr. Long.
”I think we are going to have settled weather now after such a succession of storms.”
”O, yes, I think so, Mr. Oakes.”
”Did you mind that picture of Wellington as you came by Brown's shop. Is it not fine? Did you ever see a better likeness of the glorious hero of Waterloo than that? Is it not grand?”
”It is indeed grand. I never saw anything like it. I think with you, Mr.
Oakes.”
”That is a magnificent building, Mr. Long, which is in course of erection in Adelaide Street. It will be an honour to the architect, the proprietor, and the city.”
”It is indeed a magnificent building, and it will do honour to the architect, the proprietor, and the city,” replied Mr. Long.
”Did you hear Mr. Bowles lecture the other night? Was it not a grand piece of eloquence, of originality, and of literary power? I think that it was super-excellent.”
”Just so, Mr. Oakes. It was, as you say, super-excellent; that is the exact idea. It was everything you describe. I fully concur in your remarks.”
”But I did not think much of the man that supplied our pulpit on Sunday morning. He was too long, too loose, and too loud; a very poor subst.i.tute for our beloved pastor.”
”Those are exactly my views upon that subject,” responded Long.
”My opinion is that the probability of the restoration of Popery in this country was never so strong as now, and unless something be done to interpose, it will become more probable still.”
”Just so, Mr. Oates. My opinion is precisely the same as yours upon that point. We agree exactly.”
”I think Mr. Gladstone's pamphlet on the Vatican Decrees is likely to produce a reactionary effect upon the patronage of the Romanists in his future support as the Liberal leader.”
”That is what I think too, Mr. Oakes. It is very likely, as you say, to be so. Your mind and mine agree upon that particular also.”
”I have a strong impression that the Public Wors.h.i.+p Act will have little effect in arresting the progress of Ritualism, because of the apathy of the Bishops.”
”That is just my impression, Mr. Oakes.”
”Do you not think, Mr. Long, that the scepticism of the age is very subtle, powerful, and dangerous?”
”Yes, truly, Mr. Oakes, I do indeed think that the scepticism of the age is all you say it is.”
”I did not say it was so; you mistook my question for a statement, Mr.