architect. By and
bye, David would distinguish himself at the Bar, marry and settle
down, and resume the orthodox outlook of the English--or as he liked
to call it--the British Church.)

"The Dinosaurs, my boy? No. What were they?"

_David_: "The real Dragons, the Dragons of the prime, that swarmed
over England and Wales and Scotland, and Europe, Asia, and North
America--and I dare say Africa too. One of the most stupendous facts
of what you call 'creation,' though perhaps only one amongst many
skin diseases that have afflicted the planet--Well the Dinosaurs
went on developing and evolving and perfecting--so Rossiter
says--for three million years or so--Then they were scrap-heaped.
What a waste of creative energy!..."

_Father_: "Ah it's Rossiter who puts all these ideas into your head,
is it?"

_David_ (flushing); "Oh dear no! I used to think about them at (is
about to say 'Newnham,' but substitutes 'Malvern')--at Malvern--"

_Father_ (drily): "I'm glad to hear you thought about
something--serious--at any rate--then, in the midst of your scrapes
and truancies--but go on, dear boy. It's a delight to me to hear you
speak. It reminds me--I mean your voice does--of your poor mother.
You know I loved her very tenderly, David, and though it is all past
and done with I believe I should forgive her _now_, if she only came
back to me. I'm sometimes _so_ lonely, boy. I wish you'd marry and
settle down here--there's lots of room for you--some nice girl--and
give me grandchildren before I die. But I suppose I must be patient
and wait first for your call to the Bar. What a dreary long time it
all takes! Why can't they, with one so clever, shorten the term of
probation? Or why wait for that to marry? I could give you an
allowance. As soon as you were called you could then follow the
South Wales circuit--well, go on about your Dinosaurs. I seem to
remember Professor Owen invented them--but _he_ never wavered in his
faith and was the great opponent of that rash man, Darwin. Oh, _I_
remember now the old controversies--what a stalwart was the Bishop
of Winchester! They couldn't bear him at their Scientific
meetings--there was one at Bath, if I recollect right, and he put
them all to the right-about. What about your Dinosaurs? I'm not
denying their existence; it's only the estimates of time that are so
ridiculous. God made them and destroyed them in the great Flood, of
which their fossil remains are the evidence--"

David howeve