H. B. Marriott Watson

“ Derived from a savage and honourable blood, your hot instincts have been refined and chastened by the years; but they are still lively within you. Yours is no craven heart, nor have you given yourself over to undue sentiment. Pity you can feel, and affection, but yet upon occasion you can be fierce and passionate. Your smooth benevolence comes from no lack of spirit. ”

“ From day to day there is no great change in your life; your round is surely as dull and immemorable as ours. Never a pleasure presses itself upon you uninvited; evils make their board with you. You have the fear of death, and yet you are merry withal. ”

“ Was there never a whimsey in your head, that you should quit your servitude and go yourself set up for a gentleman of leisure? You have your wits—they are of the sharpest—and yet you will live in an humble obedience, pleased with your master's pleasure, sad in his sorrow, hungry when he is anhungered, mad with him, too ”

“ There is, in truth, no decadence in you; you have preserved your vital faculties unbroken, but only tempered. You can fly out in rage when it is needful; and there is no wrath more merciless than yours, as there is no judgment more discreet. ”

“ You are upon your legs all day; you revel in action; to be up and about is your one delight. But you will sit for hours at the pinch of duty; you will keep guard as no human sentinel is able. No restlessness irks you. You will look into the fire and be still, if it be your master's wish. You may be bored an hundredfold, and will never declare it. You are a miracle of courteous tolerance.'
The creature wagged its tail.
'Whence,' I asked, 'have you that sweet cheerfulness which seems to sit so at ease upon you? Your wistful eyes proclaim you an inheritor of evil ”