Archibald T. Bute,
F.R.I.B.A. Practically speaking, all this was unnecessary. Through
the open door I had, of course, heard every word; and old Spreight
had told me of his intention to send me one of his most promising
assistants, who would be able to devote himself entirely to my work.
I put matters right by introducing him formally to Robina. They
bowed to one another rather stiffly. Robina said that if he would
excuse her she would return to her work; and he answered "Charmed,"
and also that he didn't mean it. As I have tried to get it into
Robina's head, the young fellow was confused. He had meant--it was
self-evident--that he was charmed at being introduced to her, not at
her desire to return to the kitchen. But Robina appears to have
taken a dislike to him.
I gave him a cigar, and we started for the house. It lies just a
mile from this cottage, the other side of the wood. One excellent
trait in him I soon discovered--he is intelligent without knowing
everything.
I confess it to my shame, but the young man who knows everything has
come to pall upon me. According to Emerson, this is a proof of my
own intellectual feebleness. The strong man, intellectually,
cultivates the society of his superiors. He wants to get on, he
wants to learn things. If I loved knowledge as one should, I would
have no one but young men about me. There was a friend of Dick's, a
gentleman from Rugby.
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