‘Mr. Weyburn,’ said the countess, after a short delay—­and Aminta broke through—­’it pleases me to hear of them, and think they have not forgotten you, or, at least, they follow the lead you gave.  I should like to know whether an idea I have is true:  Is much, I mean constant, looking down on young people likely to pull one’s mind down to their level?’

’Likely enough to betray our level, if there ‘s danger,’ he murmured.  ’Society offers an example that your conjecture is not unfounded, Lady Ormont.  But if we have great literature and an interest in the world’s affairs, can there be any fear of it?  The schoolmaster ploughs to make a richer world, I hope.  He must live with them, join with them in their games, accustom them to have their heads knocked with what he wants to get into them, leading them all the while, as the bigger schoolfellow does, if he is a good fellow.  He has to be careful not to smell of his office.  Doing positive good is the business of his every day—­on a small scale, but it ’s positive, if he likes his boys.  ‘Avaunt favouritism!’ he must like all boys.  And it ’s human nature not so far removed from the dog; only it’s a supple human nature:  there ’s the beauty of it.  We train it.  Nothing is more certain than that it will grow upward.  I have the belief that I shall succeed, because I like boys, and they like me.  It always was the case.’

‘I know,’ said Aminta.

Their eyes met.  She looked moved at heart behind that deep forest of her chestnut eyes.

‘And I think I can inspire confidence in fathers and mothers,’ he resumed.’  I have my boys already waiting for me to found the school.  I was pleased the other day:  an English friend brought an Italian gentleman to see me and discuss my system, up at Norwood, at my mother’s—­a Signor Calliani.  He has a nephew; the parents dote on him.  The uncle confesses that the boy wants—­he has got hold of our word—­“pluck.”  We had a talk.  He has promised to send me the lad when I am established in Switzerland.’

‘When?’ said Aminta.

’A relative from whom a Reversion comes is near the end.  It won’t be later than September that I shall go.  My Swiss friend has the school, and would take me at once before he retires.’

‘You make friends wherever you go,’ said Aminta.

’Why shouldn’t everybody?  I’m convinced it’s because I show people I mean well, and I never nurse an injury, great or small.  And besides, they see I look forward.  I do hope good for the world.  If at my school we have all nationalities—­French boys and German, Italian, Russian, Spaniard—­without distinction of race and religion and station, and with English intermixing—­English games, English sense of honour and conception of gentleman—­we shall help to nationalize Europe.  Emile Grenat, Adolf Fleischer, and an Italian, Vincentino Chiuse, are prepared to start with me:  and they are men of attainments; they will throw up their positions; they will do me the honour to trust to my leadership.  It’s not scaling Alps or commanding armies, true.’