Perhaps his worst fault was an affected superciliousness before the foreigner, not uncommon in those days.
'You are to know, dear Emmy, that we English are the aristocracy of Europeans.' Lady Dunstane inclined to think we were; nevertheless, in the mouth of a 'gentlemanly official' the frigid arrogance added a stroke of caricature to his deportment.

On the other hand, the reports of him gleaned by Sir Lukin sounded favourable.

He was not taken to be preternaturally stiff, nor bright, but a goodish sort of fellow; good horseman, good shot, good character.

In short, the average Englishman, excelling as a cavalier, a slayer, and an orderly subject.

That was a somewhat elevated standard to the patriotic Emma.