ble than ever that the question should find
vent--more impossible than ever that he could hear certain things from
Sir Hugo's lips. The liberal way in which he was dealt with was the
more striking because the baronet had of late cared particularly for
money, and for making the utmost of his life-interest in the estate by
way of providing for his daughters; and as all this flashed through
Daniel's mind it was momentarily within his imagination that the
provision for him might come in some way from his mother. But such
vaporous conjecture passed away as quickly as it came.

Sir Hugo appeared not to notice anything peculiar in Daniel's manner,
and presently went on with his usual chatty liveliness.

"I am glad you have done some good reading outside your classics, and
have got a grip of French and German. The truth is, unless a man can
get the prestige and income of a Don and write donnish books, it's
hardly worth while for him to make a Greek and Latin machine of himself
and be able to spin you out pages of the Greek dramatists at any verse
you'll give him as a cue. That's all very fine, but in practical life
nobody does give you the cue for pages of Greek. In fact, it's a nicety
of conversation which I would have you attend to--much quotation of any
sort, even in English is bad. It tends to choke ordinary remark. One
couldn't carry on life comfortably without a little blindness to the
fact that everything had been said better than we can put it ourselves.
But talking of Dons, I have seen Dons make a capital figure in society;
and occasionally he can shoot you down a cart-load of learning in the
right place, which will tell in politics. Such men are wanted; and if
you have any turn for being a Don, I say nothing against it."

"I think there's not much chance of that. Quicksett and Puller are both
stronger than I am. I hope you will not be much disappointed if I don't
come out with high honors."

"No, no. I should like you to do yourself credit, but for God's sake
don't come out as a superior expensive kind of idiot, like young
Brecon, who got a Double First, and has been learning to knit braces
ever since. What I wish you to get is a passport in life. I don't go
against our university system: we want a little disinterested culture
to make head against cotton and capital, especially in the House. My
Greek has all evaporated; if I had to construe a verse on a sudden, I
should get an apoplectic fit. But it formed my taste