" But the remarks about the etiquette of business were
certainly sound. Mr. Simpkins really believed that he had a mission to
teach manners and method to the people of Ballymoy.
"Would you mind telling me," he said at last, "who you are?"
"Not in the least," said Meldon; "I shall be quite pleased. At the
same time I think I ought to point out to you that, if you'd been on
speaking terms with Major Kent, you'd have heard all about me weeks
ago, and very likely would have been asked to dinner to meet me last
night. Why have you quarrelled with the poor Major? He's a nice
enough sort of man, and most people find him easy enough to get on
with."
"It was he who quarrelled with me. I had no intention--"
"So it was. I remember that now; something about fishing, wasn't it?
Curious how people will lose their tempers about ridiculous little
trifles. That's the worst of places like this. The people who have
never lived anywhere else become irritable and take offence about
nothing, simply because their minds are cut off from wider interests.
You and I, now, know that no fish in the world, however large, is worth
fighting about.
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