He delighted in this subject, and had an inexpressible pleasure in listening continuously to the speech of a cultivated man.
Had the note-books of the class been examined (Egremont had strongly advised their use), Gilbert's jottings would probably have alone been found of substantial value, seeing that he alone possessed the mental habit necessary for the practice.

Bunce's would doubtless have come next, though at a long distance; a Carlylean editor might have disengaged from them many a rudely forcible scrap of comment.

Bower's pages would have smelt of the day-book.

It was to Grail that Egremont mentally directed the best things he had to say; not seldom he was repaid by the quick gleam of sympathy on that grave interesting face.
The remaining five hearers were average artisans of the inquiring type; they followed with perseverance, though at times one or the other would furtively regard his watch or allow his eyes to stray about the room.
They had made a bargain, and were bent on honourably carrying out their share in it.

But Egremont already began to doubt whether he was really fixing anything in their thoughts.