“What!  You have made friends with a lord?” cried Mrs. Lashmar, her face illumined.

“Why not?—­I was going to say that Dymchurch, though he’s poor, and does nothing at all, is probably about the most distinguished man in the peerage.  He is distinguished by nature, and that’s enough for him.  You’d like Dymchurch, father.”

The vicar looked up from a fit of black brooding, and said “Ah! no doubt.”  Mrs. Lashmar, learning the circumstances of Lord Dymchurch, took less pride in him, but went on to ask questions.  Had his lordship no interest, which might serve a friend?  Could he not present Dyce to more influential people.

“I should be ashamed to hint that kind of thing to him,” answered Dyce.  “Don’t be so impatient, mother.  If I am to do anything—­in your sense of the word the opportunity will come.  If it doesn’t, well, fate has ordered it so.”

“All I know is, Dyce, that you might be the coming man, and you’re content to be nobody at all.”

Dyce laughed.

“The coming man!  Well, perhaps, I am; who knows?  At all events, it’s something to know that you believe in me.  And it may be that you are not the only one.”

Later, Dyce and his father went into the study to smoke.  The young man brought with him a large paperbacked volume which he had taken out of his travelling bag.

“Here’s a book I’m reading.  A few days ago I happened to be at Williams & Norgates’.  This caught my eyes, and a glance at a page or two interested me so much that I bought it at once.  It would please you, father.”

“I’ve no time for reading nowadays,” sighed the vicar.  “What is it?”

He took the volume, a philosophical work by a French writer, bearing recent date.  Mr. Lashmar listlessly turned a few pages, whilst Dyce was filling and lighting his pipe.

“It’s uncommonly suggestive,” said Dyce, between puffs.  The best social theory I know.  He calls his system Bio-sociology; a theory of society founded on the facts of biology—­thoroughly scientific and convincing.  Smashing socialism in the common sense that is, social democracy; but establishing a true socialism in harmony with the aristocratic principle.  I’m sure you’d enjoy it.  I fancy it’s just your view.”

“Yes—­perhaps so—­”

“Here’s the central idea.  No true sociology could be established before the facts of biology were known, as the one results from the other.  In both, the ruling principle is that of association, with the evolution of a directing power.  An animal is an association of cells.  Every association implies division of labour.  Now, progress in organic development means the slow constitution of an organ—­ the brain—­which shall direct the body.  So in society—­an association of individuals, with slow constitution of a directing organ, called the Government.  The problem of civilisation is to establish government on scientific principles—­to pick out the fit for rule—­to distinguish between the Multitude and the Select, and at the same time to balance their working.  It is nonsense to talk about Equality.  Evolution is engaged in cephalising the political aggregate—­as it did the aggregate of cells in the animal organism.  It makes for the differentiation of the Select and of the Crowd—­that is to say, towards Inequality.”