"It seems the most natural thing in the world to have you here.

Doesn't it Elizabeth!" It was rather embarrassing to be asked such a question in Mr.
Porter's presence, but I managed to murmur a weak "Yes, indeed!" Inside, though, I felt just as Dad did, and I was fearfully interested in Mr.Porter's account of himself.

I could see, too, that he belittled the real things, and magnified the unimportant.
According to his narrative, the unimportant things were that he was a civil engineer, that he had been in Peru building a railroad for an English; syndicate, and that the railroad was now practically completed; he seemed, however, to attach great importance to the cable that had called him to London to appear before a board of directors, for that had been the indirect means of his taking passage on the same ship with me.

Then there was the wonderful fact that he was to see us in California.

He had been in harness now for four years, he said, and he felt as if he'd earned a vacation.