The conversation now became lively at the upper end of the table.  The subject on which it turned was education.  Aalbom held forth on his hobby, which was, that it was quite impossible for young people to get a proper insight into learning without the use of corporal punishment, and maintained that there would be an end of all intellectual cultivation if a limit were not placed to modern humanitarianism, which he preferred to call indulgence.  His wife took the same side from conviction, and Richard Garman from mischief, while the Consul was impartial.  He set the greatest store by the good old times, but still he could not help thinking that they might get on with a little less of the stick than he had experienced.  Johnsen was very strong on the importance of religious instruction and home influence.

“As to home influence,” broke in Mrs. Aalbom, “school and home ought to go hand-in-hand.”

“Of course they ought,” rejoined her husband.  “If a boy is punished at school, he ought to be punished also at home.”

“But then, homes are so different,” said Johnsen.  This was the first time he had made a remark that Rachel found rather feeble.

“Well, I don’t know,” cried Mrs. Aalbom, putting her head on one side and looking up to the ceiling.  “It is possible to have too much of natural affection, mother’s influence, home feeling, and that sort of thing.”

“It entirely depends what sort of home it is, Mrs. Aalbom,” broke in Jacob Worse, suddenly.

Every eye was turned upon him.  He had drawn himself up, and his face was red and his eyes gleaming.

There came a slight pause in the conversation, of which the Consul availed himself, and, taking up his glass, he said, with a smile, “Now we must mind what we are about.  This is not the first time I have seen Jacob Worse join in a conversation like this; and if we do not want him to make it too warm for us, we had better change the scene of action to another room, where we can carry on the conflict in the shade.  So if the ladies and gentlemen are of the same opinion as myself, we had better retire.”

The company broke up.  Uncle Richard laughed heartily as he thanked Worse, while they were going downstairs, for having joined in so opportunely.  Worse himself could not help a laugh, in which all joined, except Aalbom and his wife, who were too much annoyed to do so.

Rachel was quite astonished at the anxiety displayed by her father when Worse began to speak.  She had herself once or twice heard him take part in a discussion, and had been surprised at the way in which his feelings suddenly seemed to get the better of him.  There was, it is true, an originality in his views; but for all that there was no reason why he should be silent, and she thought it mean of Jacob Worse to allow himself to be put down so easily.

During dinner Pastor Martens had made several attempts to state his views on the subject, but hitherto without success.  The others were too much taken up with their new and interesting guest, and besides, his neighbour fully engrossed his attention.  After dinner was over, he had again to take his place beside Mrs. Garman on the sofa, while the young people went down to the croquet lawn, which was shaded by the dense avenue of limes.