"No, though by your smiling you would seem to say so!"

"Nay, I believe you, and am vastly relieved in the believing. Take
advice from ten years of superior age, and fifty of experience, and have
naught to do with them. Dost hear?"

"I do."

"And will heed?"

"Which?--the words or the acts of my counsellor? who, of a surety,
preaches wisely and does foolishly, or who does wisely and preaches
foolishly; for preaching and practice do not agree."

"Nay, man, thou art unreasonable; to perform either well is beyond the
capacity of most humans, and I desire not to be blessed above my
betters. Then let my rash deeds and my prudent words both be teachers
unto thee. But if it be true that no woman is responsible for your grave
countenance this morning, then am I wasting words, and will return to
our muttons. What ails you?"

"I am belligerent."

"I see,--that means quarrelsome."

"And hopeless."

"Bad,--very! belligerent and hopeless! When you go into a fight always
expect to win; the thought is half the victory."