Mr. Bennet

“ During dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady Catherine de Bourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, appeared very remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen better. Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. ”

“ Entire place seems deserted."
"Quite true," agreed Lord James. "Ah, but out on the bridge—great crowd of men working out there. Seems to be fairly swarming with men."
"So there are—so there are. Yet why so many out there, and none in the yards?"
"Can't say, I'm sure. I daresay we'll learn at the office."
"Learn what, Mr. Scarbridge?" asked Dolores, who had popped out into the car vestibule. Without waiting for an answer or for his assistance, she sprang down the steps, waving her muff. "Come on, Vievie. Don't wait for mamma."
"What are you going to do?" demanded Mr. Leslie. ”

“ There was something so tremendously good about Bennet, so overpoweringly human and great, that I felt the same as I would have felt if a woman had offered to help me. On the other hand, I was desperately in love with Hamilton. I wanted to impress him. I wanted his good opinion. I unconsciously assumed a pose—perhaps that is it—and I had to live up to it. Then I have often thought that almost any woman would have confidently accepted help from Bennet, but might have hesitated to take anything from Mr. Hamilton.
Some men inspire us with instant confidence; we are "on guard" with others. ”

“ "You judge very properly," said Mr. Bennet, "and it is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study?"
"They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible."
Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. ”

“ You’re not going to a dance,” he growled.
He thrust the empty whiskey flask into his hip pocket, and went back to pass a sling of reeds through the gills of the coryphene.
“All ready now,” he called. “Let’s get a move on. Keep my coat closer about your shoulders, Miss Jenny, and keep your shade up, if you don’t want a sunstroke.”
“Thank you, Blake, I’ll see to that,” said Winthrope. “I’m going to help Miss Leslie along. I’ve fastened our two shades together, so that they will answer for both of us.”
“How about yourself, Mr. Blake?” inquired the girl. “Do you not find the sun fearfully hot?” ”

“ He had saved the bridge; he had found strength to do the square thing by Mr. Leslie and even Ashton. And now they were all gone, even Jimmy, and he was alone—alone! She had come with the party. He was certain that some one had told him that. Yet she had not spoken to him. She had not even let him see her!
He went heavily across the room to the desk, and dropping into a chair, began methodically to gather up and fold the torn and rumpled blueprints upon the floor. But even an almost automatic habit has its limitations. A drawing slipped, half-folded, from his listless fingers. ”

“ If it was not for the entail I should not mind it.
Mr. Bennet.
What should not you mind?
Mrs. Bennet.
I should not mind anything at all.
Mr. Bennet.
Let us be thankful that you are preserved from a state of such insensibility. ”

“ Such queer noises, and I see something alive!”
“Only the vultures, if you must know. Nothing else, I assure you.”
“Oh!”
“It is all out of sight from the spring. You are 131 not to go around the bamboos until the–that is, not to-day.”
“Did Mr. Blake say that?”
“Why, yes–to be sure. He also said to tell you that the cutlets were on the top shelf.”
“You mean –?”
“His way of ordering you to cook our dinner. Really, Miss Genevieve, I should be pleased to take your place, but I have been told to keep to this. It is hard to take orders from a low fellow,–very hard for a gentleman, you know.” ”

“ "They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he; "they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters."
"Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves."
"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least." ”

“ The cost would be prohibitive.”
“You see, Daddy!” exclaimed Isobel. “Lafe knows. He’s an engineer himself.”
“How’s that?” growled her father, frowning heavily at Ashton. “You never told me you’re an engineer.” 123
“I told Miss Chuckie the first day I met her,” explained Ashton. “Ever since then I’ve been so busy trying to be something else––”
“Shore you have!” jeered Gowan.
“But about Mr. Blake, Daddy?” interposed Isobel. “I’m certain he’ll find that no irrigation project is possible; and if he says so, you will be able to give up worrying about it.” ”

“ That is why I suggested to Miss Knowles that she call off the agreement under which I came on this visit. We shall gladly pay board, and I’ll merely knock around; or, if you prefer, we’ll leave you and go back tomorrow morning.”
“No, Daddy, no! we can’t allow our guests to leave, when they’ve only just come!” protested Isobel.
“As for any talk about board,” added her father, “you ought to know better, Mr. Blake.”
“My apology!” admitted Blake. “I’ve been living in the East.”
“That explains,” agreed the cowman. “Even as far east as Denver––I’ve got a sister there; lives up beyond the Capitol. ”

“ "Well, my dear," said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, "if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness—if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders." ”

“ They tell me Bennet's a nerve specialist, and I believe it."
She smiled wanly, but there was an eager championship in her response. "Oh, but he's wonderful! When he once begins to talk to you, you forget all about bein' mad at him. Seems like he sees right through your head to tell what's the matter with you."
The white uniform appeared and pronounced a name: "Mr. Kenwick." He rose and followed her through the door. ”

“ She looked off towards High Mesa, her face glowing with suppressed excitement. “No doubt you are right––as to his ability. But––don’t you see?––if it can be done, it is bound to be done sooner or later. All the time Daddy and I––and Kid, too––are living under this constant dread that it may be possible. But if such an engineer as––as Mr. Blake came and looked 78 over the situation and told us we needn’t fear––don’t you see how––?”
“You don’t mean that you––?” Ashton, in turn, left his question unfinished and averted his face. ”

“ The cowman stretched out on the rim shelf and peered over.
“Um-m-m,” he muttered. “Can’t see anything down there. Too dark yet.”
“Look straight below you,” said Genevieve.
“Hey?––Uh! By––James! Well, if that ain’t a picture now! These sure are mighty fine little glasses, ma’am. I can see ’em plain as day.”
“Them?––you say ‘them,’ Daddy?” cried Isobel.
“Sure. Come and look for yourself. Guess Lafe is fixing Mr. Blake’s leg.––Which reminds me, honey, that before we left the ranch, Mrs. Blake had me send for that lunger sawbones that’s come to live at Stockchute. ”

“ When he was gone, they were certain at least of receiving constant information of what was going on, and their uncle promised, at parting, to prevail on Mr. Bennet to return to Longbourn, as soon as he could, to the great consolation of his sister, who considered it as the only security for her husband's not being killed in a duel. ”

“ One is fortunate when one has the honor score in one's favor."
"H'm! h'm!" he rallied. "I'll admit you women can score honor, but the question is, do you know what honor is?"
"Most certainly—when the score is in our favor. One would fancy you'd been reading Ibsen. Of all the bad taste—" Mrs. Gantry stopped short, to raise her lorgnette and stare at the flaccid form of Blake. "Hoity-toity! What have we here?"
"Hey?" queried Mr. Leslie, peering around her shoulder. "Asleep? Who is he?"
Mrs. Gantry turned to him and answered in a lowered voice: "It's that fellow, Blake. ”

“ Oh, I’m so thirsty! Do you think it would help if we ate something?”
“Make it all the worse. Besides, how could we cook anything? All these reeds are green, or at least water-soaked.”
“But Mr, Blake said to gather some fish. Had you not best–”
“He can pick up all he wants. I shall not touch the beastly things.”
“Then I suppose there is nothing to do but wait for him.”
“Yes, if the sharks do not get him.”
Miss Leslie uttered a little moan, and Winthrope, seeing that she was on the verge of tears, hastened to reassure her. “Don’t worry about him, Miss Genevieve! ”

“ She eyed him uncertainly. “But––We get all the reports––There is an Ashton connected with that wonderful Zariba Dam, just being finished in Arizona.”
“That is my father. He is interested in it with a Mr. Leslie. They are financing the project. But I have nothing to do with it, nothing whatever, I assure you. The engineer is another man, a fellow named––”
He paused as if unable to remember. The girl looked at him with a shade of disappointment in her clear eyes.
“A Mr. Blake––Thomas Blake,” she supplied the name. “I thought you might have known him.”
“Ah––Blake?” ”

“ Genevieve smiled trustfully. “Oh, if you say it is safe, Tom!”
“We shall take down the rope and all the spikes we can carry,” he explained in further reassurance. “At the worst places a spike and a piece of the rope will not only let us down safely, but can be left for our ascent.”
“Then it will be all right!” sighed Isobel.
“For him––yes!” broke in Ashton, his voice harsh and strained. He was cringing back, white-faced, from the edge of the gulch.
“Why, Lafe!” exclaimed the girl. “If Tom––Mr. Blake goes down, surely you can’t mean that you––”
“He’s used to climbing––I’m not!” ”

“ All the past called out loudly not to venture on any road where Pole Bennet's feet had left a track, but three days later—hoping [146] that old Mr. Hill would hold on to life until his return—the troubled undertaker locked the door of his little coffin shop and fared forth to claim his heritage.
It is not often that a dying man leaves his earthly affairs so thoroughly provided for as did Napoleon Bennet, yet that astute showman reckoned without an important element of his problem when he thought to put the armless dwarf in his old playfellow's care. ”

“ The next she knew, Blake was splashing her head and face with brackish water out of the whiskey flask. She raised her hand to shield her face, and sat up, sick and dizzy.
“That’s it!” said Blake. He spoke in a kindly tone, though his voice was harsh and broken with thirst. “You’re all right now. Pull yourself together, and we’ll get to the trees in a jiffy.”
“Mr. Winthrope–?”
“I’m here, Miss Genevieve. It was only a wrenched ankle. If I had a stick, Blake, I fancy I could make a go of it over this drier ground.”
“And lay yourself up for a month. Come, 47 Miss Jenny, brace up for another try. ”

“ Bennet, who as housekeeper for Gerald Douglass and his young sister Jacqueline, had good reason to value her reputation, Tessie (now Stacia) was engaged. Her especial duties were to be with Jacqueline, and Mrs. Bennet deplored to Mr. Gerald the fact that this young girl brought no reference.
"But she is so young, Margaret," he had replied. "I am sure we can supervise. And you know, Jack has been taking a lot of my time lately. Yet the doctor says her ultimate cure depends on her cheerful frame of mind, and she is getting along so beautifully. ”

“ Knowles puts in the reservoir site in exchange for water on his other land, a tenth share in the company, and a royalty of half the gold we placer out of the reservoir bed. As Jenny is to put up all the capital, she and I will take the lion’s share. That will leave a tenth for you and a tenth for Belle.” 397
Ashton sought to draw his hand away. “It is very good of you, Mr. Blake. But I cannot accept––”
“Yes, you can. You can’t help yourself. Besides, I’ve an idea a man always does better by his work when he has a stake in the undertaking. You’re to be our Resident Engineer, you know.” ”

“ We followed them all the way ’round to the lower waterhole and up the lower creek to the ranch, and there they took us right to Rocket’s heels. 377 The Jap said Kid had his saddle in the wagon when he came back from town, and he had a new hat. Mr. Blake did some hot shooting at that assassin on the hill. So, putting two and two together––”
“Oh, Daddy, I know––I knew when I saw him look at Lafe!”
“The––” Knowles choked back the epithet. “Yes, Mrs. Blake told us about that––and about her husband! Jumping Jehosaphat! Think of his being your brother! ”

“ Bennett's lower portions were imprisoned in the sack in a manner which was hardly dignified. He might have been about to engage in a sack-race, only he did not appear to be in a sack-racing frame of mind. Miss Welsh seemed to feel that she was hardly treating him in the way in which one would wish to treat one's best young man. It was evident that Mr. Bennett had not the slightest doubt but that he was being used very badly indeed.
"Take the bottle and sponge, which you will find in his right-hand pocket, and the revolver, which you will find in his left, and place them on the bed." ”