Then dinner was announced, and I shook myself mentally, and looked up
smiling at my Mining Engineer, who was truly a man worth knowing and a
most pleasant gentleman besides, and went to dinner with him determined
that if I must look characterless I would not be characterless, nor make
my companion long to get away.
Wistaria and the Philosopher sat exactly opposite. The Mining Engineer
on my one side, and the Judge on my other, kept me too busy to spend
much time in noting Wistaria's captivating presence or the Philosopher's
absorption. Yet, at moments when some sally of the Skeptic's, who sat
upon Wistaria's other side, brought the attention of the whole company
to bear upon that quarter of the table, I found myself unable to help
noting two things. One was that I had never seen the Philosopher so
roused and ready of speech; the other, that I had never quite
appreciated how distinguished he has, of late years, grown in
appearance. Possibly this was because I had not had the chance to
view him under just these conditions; possibly, also, it was because
he literally was growing distinguished in the world of scientific
research, and his name becoming one cited as an authority in a certain
important field.
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