"Good-looking women are not always the best sort, in my opinion." "That's very true, sir," assented his companion thoughtfully.

"There's my wife, for instance.

She's as good a woman as you'd find anywhere, but her best friend couldn't call her handsome, nor even plain." And Merefleet laughed again.

The man's talk had diverted his thoughts.
The intolerable sense of desolation had been lifted from his spirit.

He began to feel he had been somewhat unnecessarily irritated by a very small matter.
He lighted a cigar and presented one to his new friend.