But he took a far more serious view of my case than you do." "Did he ?" said Blundell, turning away his head.
"The operation you suggested as a possible necessity must be immediate.

He spoke of it quite frankly as the only possible chance of saving my life, which is further endangered by every hour of delay." "Fortunately," said Blundell, cheerfully, "you have a fine constitution, and you have lived a healthy abstemious life.

That is all in your favour." "I am over sixty years of age," said Sir Timothy, coldly, "and the ordeal before me is a very severe one, as you must be well aware.

I must take the risk of course, but the less said about the matter the better." Dr.Blundell had always regarded Sir Timothy Crewys as a commonplace contradictory gentleman, beset by prejudices which belonged properly to an earlier generation, and of singularly narrow sympathies and interests.

He believed him to be an upright man according to his lights, which were not perhaps very brilliant lights after all; but he knew him to be one whom few people found it possible to like, partly on account of his arrogance, which was excessive; and partly on account of his want of consideration for the feelings of others, which arose from lack of perception.
People are disliked more often for a bad manner than for a bad heart.
The one is their private possession--the other they obtrude on their acquaintance.
Sir Timothy's heart was not bad, and he cared less for being liked than for being respected.