"
"Oh, you wish to use your lately acquired scientific knowledge in
order to pass the examinations; but, you see, I have had no tutor to
school me in the mysteries of lime-burning and the mixing of cement.
Now, you have scorned my side of the river, and I have objected to
your side of the river. That is the bad beginning which, let us hope,
makes the good ending. Who is to arbitrate on our dispute?"
"Why, we'll split the difference, of course."
"How can we do that? Live in a house-boat on the river like Frank
Stockton's 'Budder Grange'?"
"No, settle in the city of New York, which is practically an island in
the Hudson."
"Would you like to live in New York?"
"Wouldn't I! Imagine any one, having the chance, living anywhere
else!"
"In a hotel, I suppose-- the Holldorf for choice."
"Yes, we could live in a hotel until we found the ideal flat, high up
in a nice apartment house, with a view like that from the top of Mount
Washington, or from the top of the Washington Monument."
"But you forget I made one proviso in the beginning, and that is that
I am going to build a church, and the church is to be situated, not in
the city of New York, but in the village of Haverstock."
"New York is just the place from which to construct such an edifice.
Haverstock will be somewhere near the West Shore Railway. Very well.
We can take a trip up there once a week or oftener, if you like, and
see how the work is progressing, then the people of Haverstock will
respect us.
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