An officer would be complimented on his rank or public service, a scientist on his last book or essay, a leading politician on his statesmanship.

At Mr.Birtwell's you always found yourself among men with more in them than you had suspected, and felt half ashamed of your ignorance in regard to their great achievements.
General Abercrombie, like many others that evening, felt unusually well satisfied with himself.

Mr.Birtwell complimented him whenever they happened to meet, sometimes on his public services and sometimes on the "sensation" that elegant woman Mrs.Abercrombie was making.

He grew in his own estimation under the flattering attentions of his host, and felt a manlier pride swelling in his heart than he had for some time known.

His bearing became more self-poised, his innate sense of strength more apparent.