were dwarf book-cases containing miscellaneous works very handsomely
bound; at the open window, a stand of flower-pots, the flowers in full
bloom. The Parson's flowers were famous.

The appearance of the whole room was that of a man who is tidy and
neat in his habits.

"Cousin," said Sir Peter, "I have come to consult you." And therewith
he related the marvellous precocity of Kenelm Chillingly. "You see
the name begins to work on him rather too much. He must go to school;
and now what school shall it be? Private or public?"

THE REV. JOHN STALWORTH.--"There is a great deal to be said for or
against either. At a public school the chances are that Kenelm will
no longer be overpowered by a sense of his own identity; he will more
probably lose identity altogether. The worst of a public school is
that a sort of common character is substituted for individual
character. The master, of course, can't attend to the separate
development of each boy's idiosyncrasy. All minds are thrown into one
great mould, and come out of it more or less in the same form. An
Etonian may be clever or stupid, but, as either, he remains
emphatically Etonian. A public school ripens talent, but its tendency
is to stifle genius. Then, too, a public school for an only son, heir
to a good estate, which will be entirely at his own disposal, is apt
to encourage reckless and extravagant habits; and your estate requires
careful management, and leaves no margin for an heir's notes-of-hand
and post-obits. On the whole, I am against a public school for
Kenelm."

"Well then, we will decide on a private one."