taint of barbarism,
though he has not yet announced the fact. But many of his class are
looking forward to his final lecture on the subject as to a profoundly
sensational event, which is likely to set a deep mark upon all our
conceptions of literary endeavour. So that," he said with a tolerant
smile, gently rubbing his hands together, "our life here is not by any
means destitute of the elements of excitement, though we most of us, of
course, aim at the acquisition of a serene and philosophic temper. But
I must not delay you," he added; "there is much to see and to hear, and
you will be welcomed everywhere: and indeed I am myself somewhat closely
engaged, though in a subject which is not fraught with such polite
emollience. I attend the school of metaphysics, from which we have at
last, I hope, eliminated the last traces of that debasing element of
psychology, which has so long vitiated the exact study of the subject."

He took himself off with a bow, and I gazed blankly at Amroth. "The
conversation of that very polite person," I said, "is like a bad dream!
What is this extraordinarily depressing place? Shall I have to undergo a
course here?"

"No, my dear boy," said Amroth. "This is rather out of your depth. But I
am somewhat disappointed at your view of the situation. Surely these are
all very important matters? Your disposition is, I am afraid, incurably
frivolous! How could people be more worthily employed than in getting
rid of the last traces of intellectual error, and in referring
everything to its actual origin? Did not your heart burn within you at
his luminous exposition? I had always thought you a boy of intellectual
promise."

"Amroth," I said, "I will not be made fun of. This is the most dreadful
place I have ever seen or conceived of! It frightens me. The dryness of
pure science is terrifying enough, but after all that has a kind of
strange beauty, because it deals either with transcendental ideas of
mathematical relation, or with the deducing of principle from
accumulated facts. But here the object appears to be to eliminate the
human element from humanity. I insist upon knowing where you have
brought me, and what is going on here."

"Well, then," said Amroth, "I will conceal it from you no longer. This
is the paradise of thought, where meagre and spurious philosophers, and
all who have submerged life in intellect, have their reward. It _is_,
as you say, a very dreary place for children of nature like