Incurious unobservance is the true attitude of cordiality, and Somerset blamed himself for having fallen into an act of inspection even briefly.

He would wait for his host's conversation, which would doubtless be of the essence of historical romance.
'The favourable Bank-returns have made the money-market much easier to-day, as I learn ?' said Sir William.
'O, have they ?' said Somerset.

'Yes, I suppose they have.' 'And something is meant by this unusual quietness in Foreign stocks since the late remarkable fluctuations,' insisted the old man.

'Is the current of speculation quite arrested, or is it but a temporary lull ?' Somerset said he was afraid he could not give an opinion, and entered very lamely into the subject; but Sir William seemed to find sufficient interest in his own thoughts to do away with the necessity of acquiring fresh impressions from other people's replies; for often after putting a question he looked on the floor, as if the subject were at an end.

Lunch was now ready, and when they were in the dining-room Miss De Stancy, to introduce a topic of more general interest, asked Somerset if he had noticed the myrtle on the lawn?
Somerset had noticed it, and thought he had never seen such a full-blown one in the open air before.