116 CHRONICLES OF A CLAY FARM. 



expression of self-confidence on the face of the 

 speaker contrasting curiously with the somewhat 

 puzzled and painful thoughtfulness expressed by the 

 other party to this brisk dialogue. This expression 

 however suddenly changed, and getting up and 

 going to the book-case, he pulled out as if in 

 reference to the discussion just pending a thick 

 quarto volume ; and having blown a little cloud of 

 dust from it into the fire-place, and rapping it 

 together once or twice, apparently to complete the 

 purgation, he walked up and quietly laid it down 

 open before his visitor. 



' Would you oblige me by reading me a page of 

 this?' 



The other stared * Read this ! Why, gracious 

 me, Sir ; I can't ! Why, it's Greek or Latin or 

 somethin' ! ' 



* Three lines will do.' 



' I can't Sir, really ! I couldn't read a word of 

 it if you'd give me the world !' 

 ' One single line.' 



* I can't indeed ! I never learnt a word o' this 

 stuff.' 



' An agricultural author too ! His name is 

 Theophrastus. It's all about Wheat, Beans 



