"One can have broad ideas without all the petty work of flower
botanists and butterfly naturalists."

"Don't you think the broad ideas would be rather of the hearsay
order, at least to most people, unless their application were worked
out in the trifle that came first to hand?"

"Experimental philosophy," said Rachel, in rather a considering tone,
as if the notion, when presented to her in plain English, required
translation into the language of her thoughts.

"If you like to call it so," said Miss Williams, with a look of arch
fun. "For instance, the great art of mud pie taught us the porous
nature of clay, the expansive power of steam, etc. etc."

"You had some one to improve it to you?"

"Oh dear no. Only afterwards, when we read of such things we
remembered how our clay manufactures always burst in the baking
unless they were well dried first."

"Then you had the rare power of elucidating a principle?"

"No, not I. My brother had; but I could only perceive the
confirmation."

"This reminds me of an interesting article on the Edgeworth system of
education in the 'Traveller's Review.' I will send it down to you."

"Thank you, but I have it here."