CANTELUPE. "You" meaning, for instance ... what authorities in the Church?
TREBELL. Bishops, I suppose ... and others, [CANTELUPE _permits himself to
smile._] On that point I shall be weakness itself and ... may I suggest ...
your seat in the cabinet will give you some control.
CANTELUPE. Statutes?
TREBELL. To be framed in the best interests of educational efficiency.
CANTELUPE. [_Finding an opening._] I doubt if we agree upon the meaning to
be attached to that term.
TREBELL. [_Forcing the issue._] What meaning do you attach to it?
CANTELUPE. [_Smiling again._] I have hardly a sympathetic listener.
TREBELL. You have an unprejudiced one ... the best you can hope for. I was
not educated myself. I learnt certain things that I desired to know ... from
reading my first book--Don Quixote it was--to mastering Company Law. You
see, as a man without formulas either for education or religion, I am
perhaps peculiarly fitted to settle the double question. I have no grudges
... no revenge to take.
CANTELUPE. [_Suddenly congenial._] Shelton's translation of Don Quixote I
hope ... the modern ones have no flavour. And you took all the adventures as
seriously as the Don did?
TREBELL. [_Not expecting this._] I forget.
CANTELUPE. It's the finer attitude ... the child's attitude. And it would
enable you immediately to comprehend mine towards an education consisting
merely of practical knowledge. The life of Faith is still the happy one.
What is more crushingly finite than knowledge? Moral discipline is a
nation's only safety. How much of your science tends in support of the great
spiritual doctrine of sacrifice!