His niece's parting look dwelt painfully on his mind when he was up in his room, with the faithful Duncan getting him ready for his bed.
"This is a bad business, Duncan.

I don't like to say so to Miss Lundie; but I greatly fear the governess has baffled us." "It seems likely, Sir Patrick.

The poor young lady looks quite heart-broken about it." "You noticed that too, did you?
She has lived all her life, you see, with Miss Silvester; and there is a very strong attachment between them.
I am uneasy about my niece, Duncan.

I am afraid this disappointment will have a serious effect on her." "She's young, Sir Patrick." "Yes, my friend, she's young; but the young (when they are good for any thing) have warm hearts.

Winter hasn't stolen on _them,_ Duncan! And they feel keenly." "I think there's reason to hope, Sir, that Miss Lundie may get over it more easily than you suppose." "What reason, pray ?" "A person in my position can hardly venture to speak freely, Sir, on a delicate matter of this kind." Sir Patrick's temper flashed out, half-seriously, half-whimsically, as usual.
"Is that a snap at Me, you old dog?
If I am not your friend, as well as your master, who is?
Am _I_ in the habit of keeping any of my harmless fellow-creatures at a distance?
I despise the cant of modern Liberalism; but it's not the less true that I have, all my life, protested against the inhuman separation of classes in England.