A skilful flatterer is a most delightful companion

"Neither does Miss Nickleby look the worse," said Sir Mulberry, bending his bold gaze upon her. "She was always handsome, but, upon my soul, ma'am, you seem to have imparted some of your own good looks to her besides."

... Mrs. Wititterly admitted, though not with the best grace in the world, that Kate did look pretty. She began to think too, that Sir Mulberry was not quite so agreeable a creature as she had at first supposed him; for, although a skilful flatterer is a most delightful companion if you can keep him all to yourself, his taste becomes very doubtful when he takes to complimenting other people.

Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby

I'm rereading this as I make my way slowly through Charles Dickens' novels in sequential order. Poor Kate is being stalked by two of the most horrible men, with the help of her avaricious uncle, and without any help from her vain employer or her bird-witted mother. Her plight was truly disturbing, though made much more tolerable from the keen and humorous observations like the one above.