He was conscious that in his own groomed figure, in the undemonstrative assurance of his walk, he bore resemblance to the couple he apostrophised.

"Ah!" he thought, "how vulgar our refinement is!" But he hardly believed in his own outburst.

These people were so well mannered, so well conducted, and so healthy, he could not really understand what irritated him.

What was the matter with them?
They fulfilled their duties, had good appetites, clear consciences, all the furniture of perfect citizens; they merely lacked-feelers, a loss that, he had read, was suffered by plants and animals which no longer had a need for using them.

Some rare national faculty of seeing only the obvious and materially useful had destroyed their power of catching gleams or scents to right or left.
The lady looked up at her husband.