'Oh, Edith likes going to see him,' said Bruce to Madame Frabelle. 'So do I, if it comes to that. We're all fond of old Aylmer, you know.'
'I know. I quite understand. You're great friends. Personally, I think Mr Ross has behaved splendidly.' Madame Frabelle said this with an air of self-control and scrupulous justice.
'You don't care very much about him, I fancy,' said Bruce with the air of having made a subtle discovery.
She raised one eyebrow slightly. 'I won't say that. I see very excellent points in him. I admit there's a certain coldness, a certain hard reserve about his character that--Well, frankly, it doesn't appeal to me. But I hope I am fair to him. He's a man I respect.... Yes, I respect him.'
'But he doesn't amuse you--what?' said Bruce.
'The fact is, he has no sense of humour,' said Madame Frabelle.
'Fancy your finding that out now!' said Bruce, with a broad smile. 'Funny! Ha ha! Very funny! Do you know, it never occurred to me! But now I come to think of it--yes, perhaps that's what's the matter with him. Mind you, I call him a jolly, cheery sort of chap. Quite an optimist--a distinct optimist. You never find Aylmer depressed.'
'No, not depressed. It isn't that. But he hasn't got--You won't either of you be angry with me for what I say, will you?'
'You won't be cross with me, Edith? Perhaps I ought not to say it.'
'Well, what I consider is the defect in Aylmer Ross is that he has brains, but no temperament.'
'Excellent!' cried Bruce. 'Perfectly true. Temperament! That's what he wants!'
Edith remembered hearing that phrase used in her presence to Madame Frabelle--not about Aylmer, but about someone else. It was very characteristic of Madame Frabelle to catch up an idea or a phrase, misapply it, and then firmly regard it as her own.
Bruce shook his head. 'Brains, but no temperament! Excellent!'
'Mind you, that doesn't prevent him being an excellent soldier,' went on Madame Frabelle.
'Oh dear, no. He's done jolly well,' said Bruce. 'I think I know what she means--don't you, Edith?'
'I'm sure _she_ does,' said Edith, who had her doubts. 'I don't know that I do quite know what people mean when they say other people haven't got temperament. The question is--what _is_ temperament?'