roughly understands the subject, and who is able--"

"And I don't see the slightest probability of finding a second," said
the judge.

"And who is able to make himself heard."

"What do you say, Lady Harcourt," asked the baron, "as to the
management of a school with--how many millions of them, Mr.
Stistick?"

"Five hundred and fifty-five thousand male children--"

"Suppose we say boys," said the judge.

"Boys?" asked Mr. Stistick, not quite understanding him, but rather
disconcerted by the familiarity of the word.

"Well, I suppose they must be boys;--at least the most of them."

"They are all from nine to twelve, I say," continued Mr. Stistick,
completely bewildered.

"Oh, that alters the question," said the judge.

"Not at all," said Mr. Stistick. "There is accommodation for only--"

"Well, we'll ask Lady Harcourt. What do you say, Lady Harcourt?"

Lady Harcourt felt herself by no means inclined to enter into the
joke on either side; so she said, with her gravest smile, "I'm sure
Mr. Stistick understands very well what he's talking about."

"What do you say, ma'am?" said the judge, turning round to the lady
on his left.

"Mr. Stistick is always right on such matters," said the lady.

"See what it is to have a character. It absolutely enables one to
upset the laws of human nature. But still I do say, Mr. Solicitor,
that the majority of them were probably boys."

"Boys!" exclaimed the member of Parliament. "Boys! I don't think you
can have understood a word that we have been saying."

"I don't think I have," said the baron.

"There are five hundred and fifty-five thousand male children
between--"

"Oh--h--h! male children! Ah--h--h! Now I see the difference; I beg
your pardon, Mr. Stistick, but I really was very stupid. And you mean
to explain all this to Lord John in the present session?"

"But, Stistick, who is the one man?" said Sir Henry.

"The one man is Lord Boanerges. He, I believe, is the only man living
who really understands the social wants of this kingdom."

"And everything else also," sneered the baron. The baron always
sneered at cleverness that was external to his own profession,
especially when exhibited by one who, like the noble lord named,
should have confined his efforts to that profession.

"So Boanerges is to take in hand these male children? And very
fitting, too; he was made to be a schoolmaster."

"He is the first man of the age; don't you think so, Sir Henry?"

"