Upon occasion, he is so happy, or perhaps so well pleased with himself,
that the good in him comes all to the surface."
"Would he be the better or the worse man if it did not, uncle?" I asked.
"You must not get me into a metaphysical discussion, little one," he
answered. "We have something more important on our hands. I want you to
note that, when a person is happy, he may look lovable; whereas, things
going as he does not like, another, and very unfinished phase of his
character may appear."
"Surely everybody must know that, uncle!"
"Then you can hardly expect me to be confident that your new friend would
appear as lovable if he were unhappy!"
"I have seen you, uncle, look as if nothing would ever make you smile
again; but I knew you loved me all the time."
"Did you, my darling? Then you were right. I dare not require of any man
that he should be as good-tempered in trouble as out of it--though he
must come to that at last; but a man must be _just_, whatever mood he is
in."
"That is what I always knew you to be, uncle! I never waited for a change
in your looks, to tell you anything I wanted to tell you.--I know you,
uncle!" I added, with a glow of still triumph.
"Thank you, little one!" he returned, half playfully, yet gravely. "All I
want to say comes to this," he resumed after a pause, "that when a man is
in love, you see only the best of him, or something better than he really
is.
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