But we're all right! Only let us alone--we're all right!" Such seemed to be the voice of this queer, kindly, satiric personality.
London generally falls into the arms of those who flout her; and Mariette, with his militant Catholicism, and his contempt for our governing ideals, became the fashion.

As for Anderson, the contact with English Ministers and men of affairs had but carried on the generous process of development that Nature had designed for a strong man.
Whereas in Mariette the vigorous, self-confident English world--based on the Protestant idea--produced a bitter and profound irritation, Anderson seemed to find in that world something ripening and favouring that brought out all the powers--the intellectual powers at least--of his nature.

He did his work admirably; left the impression of a "coming man" on a great many leading persons interested in the relations between England and Canada; and when as often happened Elizabeth and he found themselves at the same dinner-table, she would watch the changes in him that a larger experience was bringing about, with a heart half proud, half miserable.

As for his story, which was very commonly known, in general society, it only added to his attractions.

Mothers who were under no anxieties lest he might want to marry their daughters, murmured the facts of his unlucky _provenance_ to each other, and then the more eagerly asked him to dinner.
Meanwhile, for Elizabeth life was one long debate, which left her often at night exhausted and spiritless.