“Ganius!” broke in old Hayes, with an accent of the profoundest contempt,--“Ganius! I never knew a 'Ganius' yet that was n't the ruin of all belonging to him! And whenever I see a young fellow that knows no trade, nor has any livelihood, who's always borrowing here and begging there, a torment to his family and a burden to his friends, I set him down at once for a 'Ganius.'” “It's not _that_ I was alluding to, Mr. Hayes,” said the priest, in some irritation. “I spoke of real ability, sterling powers of mind and thought, and I hope that they are not to be despised.” “Like my 'august leader's'!” said Magennis, proudly. “Ay, or like that young gentleman's there,” said Father Neal, with the tone of a man pronouncing upon what he understood. “I watched him to-day at dinner, and I saw that every remark he made was shrewd and acute, and that whenever the subject was new to him, he fell into it as he went on talking, picking up his facts while he seemed to be discussing them! Take my word for it, gentlemen, he 'll do!” “He does n't know much about flax, anyhow,” muttered old Hayes. “He took his punch like a man,” said Brierley, bearing testimony on a point where his evidence was sure to have weight. “He'll do!” said Father Neal once more, and still more authoritatively than before. “Joe carried away every premium from him,” said old Nelligan, with a degree of irritation that proclaimed how little he enjoyed the priest's eulogy of his guest. “I know he did, sir; and no man has a higher respect for your son's great abilities than myself; but here 's how it is, Mr. Nelligan,”--and he drew himself up like a man about to deliver a profound opinion,--“here 's how it is. The mind that can master abstract science is one thing; the faculties that can deal with fellow-mortals is another. This world is not a University!” “The Lord be praised for that same!” cried old Hayes, “or I 'm afraid I 'd fare badly in it.” “To unite both descriptions of talent,” resumed the priest, oratorically, “is the gift of but few.” “My 'august leader' has them,” broke in Magennis. “Show me the man that can deal with men!” said Father Neal, dictatorially. “Women is twice as hard to deal with!” cried old Hayes. “I 'll back Nancy Drake against any man in the barony.” “Faith, and I remember her a pretty woman,” said Brierley, who would gladly have enticed the conversation out of its graver character. “A prettier girl than Mary Martin herself!” continued the inexorable Brierley, for the company did not appear to approve of his diversion. “We are now discussing politics,--grave questions of state, sir,” said Father Neal,--“for we have come to times when even the most indifferent and insignificant amongst us cannot refrain feeling an interest in the progress of our country. And when I see a fine young man like that there, as one may say going a-begging for a party, I tell you that we are fools--worse than fools--if we don't secure him.”