The next words did not tend to calm him.
"Do you know, Uncle Denis, I believe that if my father had been a politician he would have been a Radical?
His profound feeling for Christianity, his adherence to the creed of its Founder, Whose whole life was a glorification of toil----" "Spare me, spare me!" cried the General, restraining himself with difficulty.

"So a man can't be a Christian and a gentleman! And you think your father would have been a Radical! I can tell you, young gentleman----" At this moment Nelly came into the room, charming in her short-waisted frock of white satin, with a little cap of pearls on her hair.

Both men turned and stared at her, pleasure and affection in their eyes.
"So you've been heckling poor Robin as usual," she said, stroking her father's cheek.

"Heckling poor Robin and getting your hair on end like a fretful porcupine.

I'll never be able to make you into a nice, sweet, quiet old gentleman." "Turn your attention to him," said the General, indicating his nephew by an unfriendly nod.