Part 93 (2/2)

”No.”

”Nor heard of him?”

”No; have you?”

”Strange to say, not for a long time. But I have reason to believe that he must be doing well.”

”You surprise me! Why?”

”Because two years ago he sent for his mother. She went to him.”

”Is that all?”

”It is enough; for he would not have sent for her if he could not maintain her.”

Here the Hazeldeans entered, arm-in-arm, and the fat butler announced dinner.

The squire was unusually taciturn, Mrs. Hazeldean thoughtful, Mrs.

Dale languid and headachy. The parson, who seldom enjoyed the luxury of converse with a scholar, save when he quarrelled with Dr. Riccaboeca, was animated by Randal's repute for ability into a great desire for argument.

”A gla.s.s of wine, Mr. Leslie. You were saying, before dinner, that burlesque Greek is not a knowledge very much in power at present. Pray, Sir, what knowledge is in power?”

RANDAL (laconically).--”Practical knowledge.”

PARSON.--”What of?”

RANDAL.--”Men.”

PARSON (candidly).--”Well, I suppose that is the most available sort of knowledge, in a worldly point of view. How does one learn it? Do books help?”

RANDAL.--”According as they are read, they help or injure.”

PARSON.--”How should they be read in order to help?”

RANDAL.--”Read specially to apply to purposes that lead to power.”

PARSON (very much struck with Randal's pithy and Spartan logic).--”Upon my word, Sir, you express yourself very well. I must own that I began these questions in the hope of differing from you; for I like an argument.”

”That he does,” growled the squire; ”the most contradictory creature!”

PARSON.--”Argument is the salt of talk. But now I am afraid I must agree with you, which I was not at all prepared for.”

Randal bowed and answered, ”No two men of our education can dispute upon the application of knowledge.”

PARSON (p.r.i.c.king up his ears).--”Eh?--what to?”

RANDAL.--”Power, of course.”

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