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180 THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP
G ENTLE
CHAPTER VIII
WILL BE PRONOUNCED TO BE CYNICAL BY
THE BENEVOLENT
readers will not, I trust, think the worse of their
most obedient humble servant for the confession that I
talked to my wife on my return home regarding Philip and
his affairs. When I choose to be frank, I hope no man can be
more open than myself; when I have a mind to be quiet, no fish
can be more mute. I have kept secrets so ineffably, that I have
utterly forgotten them, until my memory was refreshed by people
who also knew them. But what was the use of hiding this one
from the being to whom I open all, or almost all—say all, excepting
just one or two of the closets of this heart 1 So I say to her, " My
love ; it is as I suspected. Philip and his cousin Agnes are carrying
on together."
" Is Agnes the pale one, or the very pale one ?" asks the joy of
my existence.
"No, the elder is Blanche. They are both older than Mr.
Firmin : but Blanche is the elder of the two."
" Well, I am not saying anything malicious, or contrary to the
fact, am I, sir ?"
No. Only I know by her looks, when another lady's name is
mentioned, whether my wife likes her or not. And I am bound to
say, though this statement may meet with a denial, that her countenance
does not vouchsafe smiles at the mention of all ladies' names.
"You don't go to the house ? You and Mrs. Twysden have
called on each other, and there the matter has stopped? Oh, I
know! It is because poor Talbot brags so about his wine, and
gives such abominable stuff, that you have such an un-Christian
feeling for him !"
" That is the reason, I daresay," says the lady.
" No. It is no such thing. Though you do know sherry from
port, I believe upon my conscience you do not avoid the Twysdens
because they give bad wine. Many others sin in that way, and you
forgive them. You like your fellow-creatures better than wine—
some fellow-creatures—and you dislike some fellow-creatures worse