The earlier proofs of the Mouse-trap were brought by Lance, who had spent more time in getting them into shape than his wife approved, and they were hailed with rapture by the young ladies on seeing themselves for the first time in print. As to Gerald, he had so long been bred--as it were--to journalism that, young as he was, he had caught the trick, and ‘The Inspector’s Tour’ had not only been welcomed by the ‘Censor’, but portions had been copied into other papers, and there was a proposal of publishing it in a separate brochure. It would have made the fortune of the Mouse-trap, if it had not been so contrary to its principles, and it had really been sent to them in mischief, together with The ‘Girton Girl’, of which some were proud, though when she saw it in print, with a lyre and wreath on the page, sober Mysie looked grave. “Do you think it profane to parody Jane Taylor?” said Gerald. “No, but I thought it might hurt some people’s feelings, and discourage them, if we laugh at the High School.” “Why, Dolores goes to give lectures there,” exclaimed Valetta. “Nobody is discouraged by a little good-humoured banter,” said Gillian. “Nobody with any stuff in them.” “There must be some training in chaff though,” said Gerald, “or they don’t know how to take it.” “And in point of fact,” said Dolores, “the upper tradesmen’s daughters come off with greater honours in the High School than do the young gentlewomen.” “Very wholesome for the young Philistines,” said Gerald. “The daughters of self-made men may well surpass in energy those settled on their lees.” Gerald and Dolores were standing with their backs to the wall of Anscombe Church, which Jasper Merrifield and Mysie were zealously photographing, the others helping--or hindering. “I thought upper tradesfolk were the essence of Philistines,” returned Dolores. “The elder generation--especially if he is the son of the energetic man. The younger are more open to ideas.” “The stolid Conservative is the one who has grown up while his father was making his fortune, the third generation used to be the gentleman, now he is the man who is tired of it.” “Tired of it, aye!” with a sigh. “Why you are a man with a pedigree!” she returned. “Pedigrees don’t hinder--what shall I call it?--the sense of being fettered.” “One lives in fetters,” she exclaimed. “And the better one likes one’s home, the harder it is to shake them off.” He turned and looked full at her, then exclaimed, “Exactly,” and paused, adding, “I wonder what you want. Has it a form?” “Oh yes, I mean to give lectures. I should like to see the world, and study physical science in every place, then tell the next about it. I read all I can, and I think I shall get consent to give some elementary lectures at the High School, though Uncle Jasper does not half like it, but I must get some more training to do the thing rightly. I thought of University College. Could you get me any information about it?”