THE PLAIN 'ENGLISH' OF IT. 175 



which was an admirable type of a class still little un- 

 derstood, and caring little to be so. I knew that he 

 would be 'asleep' during my sermon f on cultivation :' 

 and he knew that I knew it ; and would not have 

 been awake under the affliction of so many long words 

 for his life and character's sake. But to sleep with- 

 out an eye or an ear left for sentry-duty that was 

 far from Benjamin Greening. And I; for my part, 

 was satisfied with my audience ; the more so, because 

 I knew that I should find in him an objector, who 

 would not fail to start every difficulty which feigned 

 ignorance, or practical knowledge, was likely to sug- 

 gest. 



Mr. Greening, however, was taken with a long fit 

 of silence. Luncheon came and went, and that pre- 

 occupying subject he discussed amply and seriatim in 

 all its branches : but I could see that my dose was 

 not inoperative. The vindication of his old friend the 

 Plough was hot within him, the while ; struggling 

 only with a curiosity to hear the translation into 

 plain english that I had promised him ; and which, 

 he knew, would open plenty of points of attack more 

 assailable than the compact and synthetical phalanx 

 of long words he had interrupted so opportunely at 

 ' the stones.' 



