"He has always been most thoughtful and kind to me; and as for gratitude!--why, the poor old dear makes too much of it altogether--one would think I had given him a fortune instead of just taking common human care of him.

I expect he must have worked in some very superior house of business, for though he's so poor, he has all the ways of a gentleman." "What are the ways of a gentleman, my Mary ?" demanded Angus, gaily.

"Do you know?
I mean, do you know what they are nowadays?
To stick a cigar in one's mouth and smoke it all the time a woman is present--to keep one's hat on before her, and to talk to her in such a loose, free and easy fashion as might bring one's grandmother out of her grave and make her venerable hair curl! Those are the 'ways' of certain present-time 'gentlemen' who keep all the restaurants and music-halls of London going--and I don't rank good old David with these.

I know what _you_ mean--you mean that he has all the fine feeling, delicacy and courtesy of a gentleman, as 'gentlemen' used to be before our press was degraded to its present level by certain clowns and jesters who make it their business to jeer at every "gentlemanly" feeling that ever inspired humanity--yes, I understand! He is a gentleman of the old school,--well,--I think he is--and I think he would always be that, if he tramped the road till he died.

He must have seen better days." "Oh yes, I'm sure of that!" said Mary.