Cashel Byron's Profession

"Yes," said Lydia, seriously. "Though I have no real knowledge of

physics, I can appreciate the truth of that. Perhaps all the science

that is not at bottom physical science is only pretentious

nescience. I have read much of physics, and have often been tempted

to learn something of them--to make the experiments with my own

hands--to furnish a laboratory--to wield the scalpel even. For, to

master science thoroughly, I believe one must take one's gloves off.

Is that your opinion?"

Cashel looked hard at her. "You never spoke a truer word," he said.

"But you can become a very respectable amateur by working with the

gloves."

"I never should. The many who believe they are the wiser for reading

accounts of experiments deceive themselves. It is as impossible to

learn science from theory as to gain wisdom from proverbs. Ah, it is

so easy to follow a line of argument, and so difficult to grasp the

facts that underlie it! Our popular lecturers on physics present us

with chains of deductions so highly polished that it is a luxury to

let them slip from end to end through our fingers. But they leave

nothing behind but a vague memory of the sensation they afforded.

Excuse me for talking figuratively. I perceive that you affect the

opposite--a reaction on your part, I suppose, against tall talk and

fine writing. Pray, should I ever carry out my intention of setting

to work in earnest at science, will you give me some lessons?"

"Well," said Cashel, with a covert grin, "I would rather you came to

me than to another professor; but I don't think it would suit you. I

should like to try my hand on your friend there. She's stronger and

straighter than nine out of ten men."

"You set a high value on physical qualifications then. So do I."

"Only from a practical point of view, mind you," said Cashel,

earnestly. "It isn't right to be always looking at men and women as

you would at horses. If you want to back them in a race or in a

fight, that's one thing; but if you want a friend or a sweetheart,

that's another."

"Quite so," said Lydia, smiling. "You do not wish to commit yourself

to any warmer feeling towards Miss Goff than a critical appreciation

of her form and condition."

"Just that," said Cashel, satisfied. "YOU understand me, Miss Carew.

There are some people that you might talk to all day, and they'd be

no wiser at the end of it than they were at the beginning. You're

not one of that sort."