"But if you asked him whether he'd sacrifice all the sport he's ever likely to enjoy, for one chance to distinguish himself in action--why, you're a soldier, and you know best what he'd say." Peter's brow cleared.

"You've got a knack," he said, almost graciously, "of putting a fellow in a good humour with himself, Cousin John." "I generally find it easier to be in a good humour with myself than with other people," said John, whimsically.

"One expects so little from one's self, that one is scarcely ever disappointed; and so much from other people, that nothing they can do comes up to one's expectations." "I don't know about that," said Peter, bluntly.

"Old Crawley says _you_ take it out of yourself like anything.

Since I came back this time, he's been holding forth to me about all you've done for me and the estate, and all that.