Fishpingle shook his head. Lionel assumed a more cheerful manner and deportment.
“This talk has cleared the air. I haven’t wasted my time this morning. I shall tackle my father next.”
“Not to-day, Master Lionel.”
“Why not?” the young man asked impatiently. “Does he think I’m going to waste all my leave playing tennis and fishing?”
“Go slow!” counselled the sage. “You can’t rush the Squire. Mr. Moxon, if he is an expert, would tell you to read up the subject, to—to see the thing as a whole, to find out what is ahead of you, Master Lionel.”
Lionel’s face darkened again. He said moodily:
“I’m such a mug that I don’t even know the title of one book dealing with land in an up-to-date way.”
“I could lend you some books and pamphlets.”
“You?”
Fishpingle rose and went to his bureau. Out of a drawer he selected two books and half a dozen pamphlets.