hadledhimintoourkitchen，withanapologyateverystep，andgivenhimhotschnappsandwater，andacigarroofbraveTomFaggus：’younevercansaymuch，sir，inthewayofreasoninghowevergentlymeantandputbutwhatthesewomenwillflyout。Itiswisertoputawildbirdinacage，andexpecthimtositandlookatyou，andchirpwithoutafeatherrumpled，thanitistoexpectawomantoanswerreasonreasonably。’
Sayingthis，helookedathispuffofsmokeasifitcontainedmorereason。
’IamsureIdonotknow，sir，’Iansweredaccordingtoaphrasewhichhasalwaysbeenmyfavourite，onaccountofitsgeneraltruth：moreover，hewasnowourguest，andhadrighttobetreatedaccordingly：’Iam，asyousee，notacquaintedwiththewaysofwomen，exceptmymotherandsisters。’
’Exceptnoteventhem，myson，saidtheCounsellor，nowhavingfinishedhisglass，withoutmuchconsultationaboutit；’ifyouonceunderstandyourmotherandsisters——whyyouunderstandthelotofthem。’
Hemadeatwistinhiscloudofsmoke，anddashedhisfingerthroughit，sothatIcouldnotfollowhismeaning，andinmannerslikednottopresshim。