Mr. Haldane was a tall, broad-shouldered, powerful man of about forty years of age. His face, especially in repose, was by no means handsome. His grave, large, strongly marked features expressed decision, daring, and indomitable force. His forehead was broad, and deeply marked with the perpendicular lines of long mental labour. The poise of his head suggested a habit of boldly confronting an opponent. His short hair and closely trimmed beard were touched with gray, and gave a certain keenness and frostiness to his appearance. A grim, self-sufficing, iron-natured man, one would have said, until one had looked into his bright blue-gray eyes, which lit up his strong, rugged face with an expression of frankness and dry humour.
"My dear Nell," he said at length, in answer to the persistent persuasion of his wife, "do not be cross. There are two things in the world which I abhor beyond all others: a damp church and a dry sermon. Invite your vicar as often as you please. I will do my best to entertain him; but do not press me to sit out an interminable farrago of irritating platitudes in a chilly, straight-backed pew."
"I assure you, George, you will be charmed with him, if you will only let me prevail on you to come."
"Why cannot you Christians dispense with incense, and allow smoking instead--at least during the sermon?"
Mrs. Haldane made a little grimace of horror.
"You would then have whole burnt offerings dedicated with a devout and cheerful heart."
"George, you are shockingly profane! I see it is no use urging you any further; but I did think you would have put yourself to even some little inconvenience for my sake."
"For your sake, Nell!" replied Mr. Haldane, laughing. "Why did you not say so sooner? You know I would do anything on those terms. Have I not often told you the married philosopher has but one moral law--to do his wife's will in all things."
"You are a dear, good old bear," exclaimed Mrs. Haldane, slipping on to the terrace and caressing his head with both hands. "But you know you _are_ a bear, and you will try for once to be nice and good-natured, will you not? And you will not be cold and cynical with him because he is ideal and enthusiastic? And if you do not acknowledge that he is a delightful preacher, and that the dear little church is charming----"