I was staying the other day in the house of an old friend, a public
man, who is a deeply interesting character, energetic, able,
vigorous, with very definite limitations. The only male guest in
the house, it so happened, was also an old friend of mine, a
serious man. One night, when we were all three in the smoking-room,
our host rose, and excused himself, saying that he had some letters
to write. When he was gone, I said to my serious friend: "What an
interesting fellow our host is! He is almost more interesting
because of the qualities that he does not possess, than because of
the qualities that he does possess." My companion, who is
remarkable for his power of blunt statement, looked at me gravely,
and said: "If you propose to discuss our host, you must find some
one else to conduct the argument; he is my friend, whom I esteem
and love, and I am not in a position to criticise him." I laughed,
and said: "Well, he is my friend, too, and _I_ esteem and love him;
and that is the very reason why I should like to discuss him.
Nothing that either you or I could say would make me love him less;
but I wish to understand him. I have a very clear impression of
him, and I have no doubt you have a very clear impression too; yet
we should probably differ about him in many points, and I should
like to see what light you could throw upon his character." My
companion said: "No; it is inconsistent with my idea of loyalty to
criticise my friends. Besides, you know I am an old-fashioned
person, and I disapprove of criticising people altogether. I think
it is a violation of the ninth commandment; I do not think we are