A good-humoured person expects to be liked, and almost always
is. You expect not to be understood, and that's dreadfully cross. You
think your father doesn't understand you; no more he does, but don't go
on thinking about it. You think it is a great bore to be your father's
only son, and wish Francis was instead. That's cross; you may think it's
fine, but it isn't, and it is also ungrateful. You can have great fun if
you will only be good-tempered!"
"How did you know that--about Francis, I mean?" asked Michael.
"Does it happen to be true? Of course it does. Every cross young man
wishes he was somebody else."
"No, not quite that," began Michael.
"Don't interrupt. It is sufficiently accurate. And you think about
your appearance, my dear. It will do quite well. You might have had two
noses, or only one eye, whereas you have two rather jolly ones. And do
try to see the joke in other people, Michael. You didn't see the joke
in your interview last night with your father. It must have been
excruciatingly funny. I don't say it wasn't sad and serious as well. But
it was funny too; there were points."
Michael shook his head.
"I didn't see them," he said.
"But I should have, and I should have been right.
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