I believe-- far-sighted man that he is, and with his marvellous apprehension of the English character--" "'Tis a Scotchman's first aptitude," murmured Brother Copas, nodding assent.
"-- I believe Mr.Balfour looked beyond the immediate effect of the Act and saw that, after the Municipalities' and County Councils' first success in setting up secondary schools of their own, each with its quota of poor, non-paying children, our sturdy British independence would rise against the--er--contact.
The self-respecting parent is bound to say in time, 'No, I will _not_ have my son, still less my daughter, sitting with Tom, Dick and Harry.' Indeed, I see signs of this already--most encouraging signs.
I have two more pupils this term than last, both children of respectable station." "I congratulate you, ma'am, and I feel sure that Mr.Balfour would congratulate himself, could he hear.

But meantime the private-venture schools have been hit, especially those not fortunate enough to be 'recognised' by the Board of Education." "I seek no such recognition, sir," said Miss Dickinson stiffly.
Brother Copas bowed.
"Forgive, ma'am, the intrusive ghost of a professional interest.
I myself once kept a private school for boys.

A precarious venture always, and it required no Education Act to wreck mine." "Indeed ?" Miss Dickinson raised her eyebrows in faint surprise, and anon contracted them.

"Had I known that you belonged to the scholastic profession--" she began, but leaving the sentence unfinished, appeared to relapse into thought.
"Believe me, ma'am," put in Brother Copas, "I mentioned it casually, not as hinting at any remission of your fees." "No, no.

But I was thinking that it might considerably soften the--er--objection.