He still remained very popular in society, and perhaps his general reputation for ability made him fearful to hazard it by any great undertaking.

He was not, like Mivers, a despiser of all men and all things; but he regarded men and things as an indifferent though good-natured spectator regards the thronging streets from a drawing-room window.

He could not be called _blase_, but he was thoroughly _desillusionne_.

Once over-romantic, his character now was so entirely imbued with the neutral tints of life that romance offended his taste as an obtrusion of violent colour into a sober woof.

He was become a thorough Realist in his code of criticism, and in his worldly mode of action and thought.