I'll take another
glass of that sherry; it's the best I've tasted for a year."
And Dr. Hillhouse held out his glass to be filled by the flattered
host, Mr. Elliott doing the same, and physician and clergyman
touched their brimming glasses and smiled and bowed "a good health."
Before the hour for going home arrived both were freer of tongue and
a little wilder in manner than when they came.
"The doctor is unusually brilliant to-night," said one, with just a
slight lifting of the eyebrow.
"And so is Mr. Elliott," returned the person addressed, glancing at
the clergyman, who, standing in the midst of a group of young men,
glass in hand, was telling a story and laughing at his own
witticisms.
"Nothing strait-laced about Mr. Elliott," remarked the other. "I
like him for that. He doesn't think because he's a clergyman that he
must always wear a solemn face and act as if he were conducting a
funeral service. Just hear him laugh! It makes you feel good. You
can get near to such a man. All the young people in his congregation
like him because he doesn't expect them to come up to his official
level, but is ever ready to come down to them and enter into their
feelings and tastes."
"He likes a good glass of wine," said the first speaker.
"Of course he does. Have you any objection?"
"Shall I tell you what came into my thought just now?"
"Yes."
"What St. Paul said about eating meat.
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