The grass must be both chair and table, but here is a tree for your
back, and the bank for mine."
So, having dismounted and secured his horse's bridle to a convenient
branch, Barnabas sat himself down with his back to the tree, and
accepted the wandering Preacher's bounty as freely as it was offered.
And when the Preacher had spoken a short grace, they began to eat,
and while they ate, to talk, as follows:
_Barnabas_. "It is three weeks, I think, since we met?"
_The Preacher_. "A month, young sir."
_Barnabas_. "So long a time?"
_The Preacher_. "So short a time. You have been busy, I take it?"
_Barnabas_. "Yes, sir. Since last we met I have bought a house and set
up an establishment in London, and I have also had the good fortune
to be entered for the Gentleman's Steeplechase on the fifteenth."
_The Preacher_. "You are rich, young sir?"
_Barnabas_. "And I hope to be famous also."
_The Preacher_. "Then indeed do I begin to tremble for you."
_Barnabas_ (staring). "Why so?"
_The Preacher_. "Because wealth is apt to paralyze effort, and Fame is
generally harder to bear, and far more dangerous, than failure.
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