It was quite out of the question that he should speak of that, as Mr.Crawley would, he was well aware, immediately turn upon him.
At last he thought of a subject, and spoke with a voice intended to be pleasant.

"That was the school-house I passed, probably, just as I came here ?" Mrs.Crawley told him that it was the school-house.

"Ah, yes, I thought so.

Have you a certified teacher here ?" Mrs.Crawley explained that no Government aid had ever reached Hogglestock.
Besides themselves, they had only a young woman whom they themselves had instructed.

"Ah, that is a pity," said Mr.Thumble.
"I,--I am the certified teacher," said Mr.Crawley, turning round upon him from his chair.
"Oh, ah, yes," said Mr.Thumble; and after that Mr.Thumble asked no more questions about the Hogglestock school.