_David_: "The real Dragons, the Dragons of the prime, that swarmed over England and Wales and Scotland, and Europe, Asia, and North America--and I dare say Africa too. One of the most stupendous facts of what you call 'creation,' though perhaps only one amongst many skin diseases that have afflicted the planet--Well the Dinosaurs went on developing and evolving and perfecting--so Rossiter says--for three million years or so--Then they were scrap-heaped. What a waste of creative energy!..." _Father_: "Ah it's Rossiter who puts all these ideas into your head, is it?" _David_ (flushing); "Oh dear no! I used to think about them at (is about to say 'Newnham,' but substitutes 'Malvern')--at Malvern--" _Father_ (drily): "I'm glad to hear you thought about something--serious--at any rate--then, in the midst of your scrapes and truancies--but go on, dear boy. It's a delight to me to hear you speak. It reminds me--I mean your voice does--of your poor mother. You know I loved her very tenderly, David, and though it is all past and done with I believe I should forgive her _now_, if she only came back to me. I'm sometimes _so_ lonely, boy. I wish you'd marry and settle down here--there's lots of room for you--some nice girl--and give me grandchildren before I die. But I suppose I must be patient and wait first for your call to the Bar. What a dreary long time it all takes! Why can't they, with one so clever, shorten the term of probation? Or why wait for that to marry? I could give you an allowance. As soon as you were called you could then follow the South Wales circuit--well, go on about your Dinosaurs. I seem to remember Professor Owen invented them--but _he_ never wavered in his faith and was the great opponent of that rash man, Darwin. Oh, _I_ remember now the old controversies--what a stalwart was the Bishop of Winchester! They couldn't bear him at their Scientific meetings--there was one at Bath, if I recollect right, and he put them all to the right-about. What about your Dinosaurs? I'm not denying their existence; it's only the estimates of time that are so ridiculous. God made them and destroyed them in the great Flood, of which their fossil remains are the evidence--"