Alaric, with his happy prospects, was soon dismissed; but Mrs.Woodward continued to sing the praises of him who, had she been potent with the magi of the Civil Service, would now be the lion of the Weights and Measures.
'I must say I think it was weak of him to retire,' said Gertrude.
'Alaric says in his letter to Uncle Bat, that had he persevered he would in all probability have been successful.' 'I should rather say that it was generous,' said her mother.
'Well, I don't know, mamma; that of course depends on his motives; but wouldn't generosity of that sort between two young men in such a position be absurd ?' 'You mean that such regard for his friend would be Quixotic.' 'Yes, mamma.' 'Perhaps it would.

All true generosity, all noble feeling, is now called Quixotic.

But surely, Gertrude, you and I should not quarrel with Harry on that account.' 'I think he got frightened, mamma, and had not nerve to go through with it.' Mrs.Woodward looked vexed; but she made no immediate reply, and for some time the mother and daughter went on working without further conversation.

At last Gertrude said:-- 'I think every man is bound to do the best he can for himself--that is, honestly; there is something spoony in one man allowing another to get before him, as long as he can manage to be first himself.' Mrs.Woodward did not like the tone in which her daughter spoke.
She felt that it boded ill for Harry's welfare; and she tried, but tried in vain, to elicit from her daughter the expression of a kinder feeling.
'Well, my dear, I must say I think you are hard on him.

But, probably, just at present you have the spirit of contradiction in you.