But he expressed no desire to number Jasper among his acquaintances in town, and of his own professional or private concerns he said not a word.
'Whether he could be any use to me or not, I don't exactly know,' Jasper remarked to his mother and sisters at dinner.

'I suspect it's as much as he can do to keep a footing among the younger tradesmen.

But I think he might have said he was willing to help me if he could.' 'Perhaps,' replied Maud, 'your large way of talking made him think any such offer superfluous.' 'You have still to learn,' said Jasper, 'that modesty helps a man in no department of modern life.

People take you at your own valuation.

It's the men who declare boldly that they need no help to whom practical help comes from all sides.