At one point Jasper made a pause to speak of the pleasant wooded prospect that lay before them; his companion regarded it absently, and in a moment or two asked: 'Did you ever come across Cottle's poem on the Malvern Hills?
No?
It contains a couple of the richest lines ever put into print: It needs the evidence of close deduction To know that I shall ever reach the top.
Perfectly serious poetry, mind you!' He barked in laughter.

Impossible to interest him in anything apart from literature; yet one saw him to be a man of solid understanding, and not without perception of humour.

He had read vastly; his memory was a literary cyclopaedia.

His failings, obvious enough, were the results of a strong and somewhat pedantic individuality ceaselessly at conflict with unpropitious circumstances.
Towards the young man his demeanour varied between a shy cordiality and a dignified reserve which was in danger of seeming pretentious.

On the homeward part of the walk he made a few discreet inquiries regarding Milvain's literary achievements and prospects, and the frank self-confidence of the replies appeared to interest him.