Set
him to work, and he had plenty of intelligence and energy, perhaps
more absolute force and power than his cousin Lucas; but he would
never devise things for himself, and was not discursive, pausing at
novelties, because his nature was so thorough that he could not take
up anything without spending his very utmost force upon it.
His University training made him an excellent aid to Armine, who went
up for his examination at King's College and acquitted himself so
well as to be admitted to begin his terms after the long vacation.
Indeed he and Barbara had drawn together again more. She had her
home tasks and her classes at King's College, and did not fret as at
St. Cradocke's for want of work; she enjoyed the full tide of life,
and had plenty of sympathy for whatever did not come before her in a
"goody" aspect, and, though there might be little depth of serious
reflection in her, she was a very charming member of the household.
Then her enjoyment of society was gratified, for society of her own
kind had by no means forgotten one so agreeable as Mrs. Brownlow, and
whereas, in her prosperity, she had never dropped old friends, they
welcomed her back as one of themselves, resuming the homely
inexpensive gatherings where the brains were more consulted than the
palate, aesthetics more than fashion.
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