He was indeed just praising himself, his wife, his child, and everything that belonged to him.

He was planning, planning, as he talked, the new things to do--the cheese-factory, the purchase of a steam-plough and a steam-thresher which he could hire out to his neighbours.

Only once during the drive did he turn round to Carmen, and then it was to ask her if she had seen her father of late.
"Not for ten months," was her reply.

"Why do you ask ?" "Wouldn't he like to be nearer you and Zoe?
It's twelve miles to Beauharnais," he replied.
"Are you thinking of offering him another place at the Manor ?" she asked sharply.
"Well, there is the new cheese-factory--not to manage, but to keep the books! He's doing them all right for the lumber-firm.

I hear that he--" "I don't want it.