the history of society. If we have no better mode of reading history, we should hold our tongue. This is a pleasant retreat for you in the meanwhile-an escape from temptation."

"In that light I regard it and value it. Mr. Senior has been very kind to me, and I trust I shall be able to render myself worthy of his generosity. I was going straight to ruin; but as I was acting conscientiously, I hope that for that very reason I was saved from the perdition that was right before me.

"Your faith justified you," said Benjamin, “even if it was wrong. We are all wrong. No man has a right understanding. We are learning. Faith is the learning spirit, the receptive spirit, and it travels on the high way to truth. Men take different roads to it, for they set out from different points; but all who keep their eyes to the great 'keblah' of the temple, and go on improving in wisdom, have faith and the reward that accompanies it. The pilgrims to the temple will all meet together at last."

"A beautiful illustration," said Edward, "and one which becomes still more beautiful if you particularise the details. For the pilgrims, in approaching this 'keblah' of truth from all points, will necessarily find themselves in a very different position for observation, experience, and the acquisition of knowledge. Some, coming over the mountains, see afar off; others, plodding through the valley, have their vision circumscribed within narrow limits; some, on the fertile plains, see Nature rich with produce and overflowing with bounty; others, in the desert, can see her only as a reluctant and ungenerous stepmother, who withers

up even the grass, dries up the rivers, and hides the springs of water from the sight. But if they only keep their courage up with. faith, and proceed on their pilgrimage, they all meet together in the same favoured spot, where rank and wealth are not worshipped and the persons of men are not respected."

-a doc

Well," said Morris, "I began my career of enthusiasm with one doctrine of professed charity, a very imperfect one—that man is the creature of circumstances 'trine that applies to irrational as well as rational animals, to cats as well as to men; and I have stepped forward to another, which is so far superior that man alone can illustrate its truth."

"I trust that your course is progressive, like mine,' said Edward. "When I look back upon what I was when I first met with you, I blush for shame. To Senior I am indebted for a new life, and to my kind brother here for encouragement to live the new life I have received, with abundant supplies of most digestible food from his wellfilled stores."

"Oh, don't praise me so highly," said Benjamin. “I am sure I have derived more new ideas from your letters than you could ever have received from mine. They have put a new soul into me, as I shall soon show you, for I have been studying them deeply, night and day."

"Well, as I am the reputed father of that new soul," said Edward, "I cannot fail to take a deep interest in it."

Thus conversing,. the young men walked round the gardens, occasionally stopped and chatted with the children and the mothers, looked into the wash-houses,.

accepted invitations to the interior of different dwellings, ever going back or forward to say some kind or jocular word to the ladies, and at last accompanying Mr. Morris to the school-room, where all the children of Belmore Place received an ordinary education, subject to the strict regulations of "the law," which Morris, from duty as well as inclination, enforced to the letter. The party then returned to Regent's Park.

CHAPTER LXXVI.

"HAS

A CONTROVERSY SEMI-SERIOUS.

[AS Edward not made love to either of you two girls?" said old Stuart to Eva and Minerva, as he held a hand of each in the drawing-room. "Now be candid and tell me about it."

"Not to me," said Eva, laughing. "He looks upon me rather in the light of a mother than a sweetheart."

"A mother!" said the old lawyer, raising his eyebrows and his head along with them, and lifting himself on tiptoe, moreover-" his mother! then that makes you a good deal older than I imagined.”

"Oh yes, I have long ago learnt that age does not go by the number of years. I have sometimes grown ten years older in ten minutes, and I cannot do that often without soon becoming very old.”

"And are you content to be regarded in that light by him?" said the old gentleman, looking with one eye to Minerva.

"I ought to be so," said Eva, laughing. "Mothers must just take such sons as come to them. He calls me his mother, as Minerva knows well. I suspect that you will find her to hold the more intimate relationship with him.”

"Oh!" said the old gentleman, for he seemed to love

them both equally well, and resolved to take one or both of them with him. "Then, won't you make me your father confessor ?"

"I have nothing to confess," said Minerva, "on the subject you speak of, and I suppose you do not want a general confession of my sins ?"

"Oh dear no. I forgive them all before I know

them."

"But you have no right to forgive them," said Minerva. "I cannot accept your forgiveness. I am a Papist, and I don't take forgiveness from a lawyer."

"You prefer it from the lawless? Well, I won't forgive you. I will prosecute you, pursue you, seize and arrest and habeas corpus you."

"Now, which would you rather be, wife or daughter ?" said the old man.

"Oh! you cannot expect me to give a definite answer without a formal declaration."

"I think you had better make an honourable retreat," said Minerva. "She is afraid I should say yes if you made a declaration."

"Ah! poor dear soul! and that would break her tiny little heart," said the good-natured old gentleman.

"How should you like a Papist for a daughter-inlaw?"

"Eva! ah, you'll put me out of countenance," said Minerva.

"Such a Papist as this I should accept at once, and then convert her afterwards, if I could; but I dare say the minister would object. He does not like Papists, he calls them worshippers o' the Beast."