begin at the wrong end. Let us
raise our voices, if we feel impelled to do so at all, for the old
simple Christian rules, and do our best to get the educated by the ears.
I have my opinion about the clergy; I will leave you to guess it.'

'Have you any belief in the possibility of this revolution they
threaten?'

'None whatever. Changes will come about, but not of these men's making
or devising. And for the simple reason that they are not sincere. I
put aside an educated enthusiast such as Westlake. The proletarian
Socialists do not believe what they say, and therefore they are so
violent in saying it. They are not themselves of pure and exalted
character; they cannot ennoble others. If the movement continue we
shall see miserable examples of weakness led astray by popularity, of
despicable qualities aping greatness.'

He paused somewhat abruptly, for he was thinking of Mutimer, and did not
wish to make the application too obvious. Hubert restrained a smile.

They parted shortly after, but not till Hubert had put one more
question.

'Do you, or do you not, approve of what I am doing down in the valley?'

Mr. Wyvern thought a moment, and replied gravely:

'You being yourself, I approve it heartily. It will gladden my eyes to
see the grass growing when spring comes round.'

He shook Hubert's hand affectionately and left him.

CHAPTER XXX

We must concern ourselves for a little with the affairs of our old
acquaintance, Daniel Dabbs.

Daniel's disillusionment with regard to Richard Mutimer did not affect
his regularity of attendance at the Socialist lectures, in most things
a typical English mechanic, he was especially so in his relation to the
extreme politics of which he declared himself a supporter. He became
a Socialist because his friend Dick was one; when that was no longer
a reason, he numbered himself among the followers of Comrade
Roodhouse--first as a sort of angry protest, against Mutimer's private
treachery, then again because he had got into the habit of listening to
inflammatory discourses every Sunday night, and on the whole found it a
pleasant way of passing the evening. He enjoyed the oratory of Messrs.
Cowes and Cullen; he liked to shout 'Hear, hear!' and to stamp when
there was general applause; it affected him with an agreeable sensation,
much like that which follows upon a good meal, to hear himself pitied as
a hard-working, ill-used fellow, and the frequent allusion to his noble
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