"Wrong, Charles, wrong. That is not the question; in fact, that has nothing whatever to do with the question," said Mr Robert, resuming his hasty march up and down the room. "Stokes is a fool, and, as he never was anything else, I suppose he can't help himself. I don't complain of that. What I complain of is, that he should attempt to be more than a fool. Haven't I told you fifty times," he continued, stopping suddenly before the delinquent, "that your business is to mind my orders, and not to think that or think this, as if you were setting up for having a head on your shoulders? Haven't I told you that, eh?--answer me, sir." "'Tain't no fault of mine," rejoined the gardener, slowly and doggedly. "If this here Gehesnear had had a quiet time and no worriting of charcoal and korkynit and such itemy nonsense, you wouldn't ha' seen a mossel of dry-rot in the bulb. That's what I says, and what Mr Anthony says, too." "Confound your impudence, and Mr Anthony's with it. So you have been taking him into consultation? No wonder my Gesnera has come to a bad end between your two wise heads. Charles, do you hear?" "Mr Anthony has mastered horticulture, has he?" said Mr Mannering, turning his back upon the combatants, whose wrath was rapidly subsiding. "If the boy goes on in this fashion there must be a new science created for his benefit ere long. Well, Robert, science has always had its martyrs, and you should submit with a good grace to your Gesnera being among them. When did Mr Anthony come back?" "Tuesday night, sir. He comed up here yesterday, but you was to Under'am." "I forbid his going within ten yards of the stove plants," cried Mr Robert, hastily. "If I find him trying experiments in my hot-houses, you shall be packed off, Stokes, as surely as I have put up with your inconceivable ignorance for seven years. I've not forgotten what Anthony Miles's experiments are like. Didn't he nearly blow up Underham with the chemicals he got hold of when that idiot Salter's back was turned? Didn't he bribe the doctor's assistant, and half poison poor old Miss Philippa with learning how to mix medicines, forsooth? Didn't he upset his mother, and frighten her out of the few wits she possesses, by trying a new fashion of harnessing? And now, as if all this were not enough, my poor plants are to be the victims. I forbid his coming within the great gate,--I forbid your speaking to him while he is possessed with this mania,--I forbid his looking at my Farleyense--" "He've a seen that, sir," said Stokes, with his stolid features relaxing into a grin. "O, he has seen that, has he?" said Mr Robert, struggling between indignation and gratified pride. "Do you hear that, Charles? Actually, before I've had time to give my orders. And, pray, what had Mr Anthony to say of my Farleyense?"