nplace regions, to which we are compelled to accustom ourselves, in
times such as these; man, under any circumstances, or in any
place--whether he were bending beneath the withering blasts of the frigid
zone, or scorching under the rays of a vertical sun--man, without woman,
would be--alone.'

'I am very happy to find you entertain such honourable opinions, Mr.
Sparkins,' said Mrs. Malderton.

'And I,' added Miss Teresa. Horatio looked his delight, and the young
lady blushed.

'Now, it's my opinion--' said Mr. Barton.

'I know what you're going to say,' interposed Malderton, determined not
to give his relation another opportunity, 'and I don't agree with you.'

'What!' inquired the astonished grocer.

'I am sorry to differ from you, Barton,' said the host, in as positive a
manner as if he really were contradicting a position which the other had
laid down, 'but I cannot give my assent to what I consider a very
monstrous proposition.'

'But I meant to say--'

'You never can convince me,' said Malderton, with an air of obstinate
determination. 'Never.'

'And I,' said Mr. Frederick, following up his father's attack, 'cannot
entirely agree in Mr. Sparkins's argument.'

'What!' said Horatio, who became more metaphysical, and more
argumentative, as he saw the female part of the family listening in
wondering delight--'what! Is effect the consequence of cause? Is cause
the precursor of effect?'

'That's the point,' said Flamwell.

'To be sure,' said Mr. Malderton.

'Because, if effect is the consequence of cause, and if cause does
precede effect, I apprehend you are wrong,' added Horatio.

'Decidedly,' said the toad-eating Flamwell.

'At least, I apprehend that to be the just and logical deduction?' said
Sparkins, in a tone of interrogation.

'No doubt of it,' chimed in Flamwell again. 'It settles the point.'

'Well, perhaps it does,' said Mr. Frederick; 'I didn't see it before.'

'I don't exactly see it now,' thought the grocer; 'but I suppose it's all
right.'

'How wonderfully clever he is!' whispered Mrs. Malderton to her
daughters, as they retired to the drawing-room.

'Oh, he's quite a love!' said both the young ladies together; 'he talks
like an oracle. He must have seen a great deal of life.'

The gentlemen being left to themselves, a pause ensued, during which
everybody looked very grave, as if they were quite overcome by the
profound nature of the previous discussion. Flamwell, who had