"But nothing could interest me more.

You don't feel at all inclined for public life ?" Their dialogue was interrupted by the hostess, who came forward with a gentleman she wished to present to Miss Tomalin.

Hearing the name--Mr.
Langtoft--Dymchurch regarded him with curiosity, and, moving aside with Lady Honeybourne as she withdrew, he inquired whether this was _the_ Mr.Langtoft.
"It is," the hostess answered.

"Do you take an interest in his work?
Would you like to know him ?" Dymchurch declined the introduction for the present, but he was glad to have seen the man, just now frequently spoken of in newspapers, much lauded, and vehemently attacked.

A wealthy manufacturer, practically lord of a swarming township in Lancashire, Mr.Langtoft was trying to get into his own hands the education of all the lower-class children growing up around his mill chimneys.