He was inclined to think, however, that we were levelling up rather than levelling down.

The world grew too clever, and leadership was more difficult every day.
Meanwhile Wharton found his progress through these stately rooms extremely pleasant.

He was astonished at the multitude of people he knew, at the numbers of faces that smiled upon him.

Presently, after half an hour of hard small talk, he found himself for a moment without an acquaintance, leaning against an archway between two rooms, and free to watch the throng.

Self-love, "that froward presence, like a chattering child within us," was all alert and happy.