His mouth would close, his eyes disappear, all light and colour would die from his face, and it was as though he said: "Well, if you are stupid enough to persist in this thing you can compel me, of course--you are physically stronger than I--but you will only get me like this quite dead and useless, and a lot of good may it do you!" There were times, of course, when he could be most engagingly pleasant.
He was courteous, on occasion, with all the beautiful manners that, we are told, are yielding so sadly before the spread of education and the speed of motor-cars--you never could foretell the guest that he would prefer, and it was nothing to him that here was an aunt, an uncle, or a grandfather who must be placated, and there an uninvited, undesired caller who mattered nothing at all.

Mr.Scarlett's father he offended mortally by expressing, in front of him, dislike for hair that grew in bushy profusion out of that old gentleman's ears.
"But you could cut it off," he argued, in a voice thick with surprised disgust.

His grandfather, who was a baronet, and very wealthy, predicted a dismal career for his grandchild.
All the family realised quite definitely that nothing could be done with John.

It was fortunate, indeed, that he was, on the whole, of a happy and friendly disposition.

He liked the world and things that he found in it.