He told me at whiles that his house was not in the village, but in a
valley some few miles distant across the meadows; that he sat out
these bouts of argument and slander for the sheer delight he had in
gathering the myriad strands of that strange rope Opinion; that he
lived (heart, soul, and hope) well-nigh alone; that he deeply
mistrusted this place, and the company we were in, yet not for its
mistress's sake, who was at least faithful to her instincts, candid to
the candid, made no favourites, and, eventually, compelled order. He
told me also that if friends he had, he deemed it wiser not to name
them, since the least sibilant of the sound of the voice incites to
treachery; and in conclusion, that of all men he was acquainted with,
one at least never failed to right his humour; and that one was yonder
flabby, pallid fellow with the velvet collar to his coat, and the
rings on his fingers, and the gold hair, named Pliable, who sat beside
Mr. Stubborn on the settle by the fire.
When, then, I had finished my supper, I drew in my chair a little
closer to Mr. Reverie's and, having scribbled my wants on the
Landlady's slate, turned my attention to the talk.
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