n. I
suppose it is very difficult for us to see it in ourselves as it really
is, especially in these days when there are so many attractive forms of
self-denial. It occurred to me the other day what an odd thing it would
be to see how a number of utterly selfish people would get on if thrown
together for some weeks, with not a single unselfish person amongst
them, and unable to get rid of one another's company. I feel sure the
result would teach an admirable lesson on the misery of a thoroughly
selfish disposition."

"I think so too, Grace," said her companion, much amused. "What do you
say to putting a story or allegory together on the subject."

"Capital!" cried Miss Willerly; "it will be something quite in my line I
will set about it at once. I shall be able to give myself some very
seasonable raps on the knuckles as I go on, and perhaps I may be of use
to some of my acquaintance, who might be induced to look through my
performance in a friendly way."

"You must let me be the first to see it," said her friend.

"Oh, certainly; and you must give me your free and candid criticisms."

"Yes, I will do so; and I don't doubt I shall find profit in the reading
of it, and a little bit of myself in more than one of your characters."

A fortnight after this conversation Miss Stansfield received from her
friend the promised story, which we give in the following chapter.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

THE SELFISH ISLANDS.

A certain Eastern despot, whose attention had been painfully drawn to
the odious character of selfishness, by finding it exhibited in a very
marked manner towards himself by some who had, in looking after their
own interests, ventured to thwart the royal will, was resolved to get
rid of all the most selfish people out of his capital. To that end he
made proclamation that on a certain day he would give a grand banquet to
all the _un_selfish people in the metropolis, nothing being needed for
admittance to the feast but the personal application of any one laying
claim to unselfishness to the lord chancellor for a ticket.

The king took this course under the firm conviction that all the most
selfish people, being utterly blinded by self-esteem to their own
failing, would be the very persons most ready to claim admittance to the
banquet; and in this expectation he was not disappointed. But he was a
little staggered to find that about a thousand persons, of both sexes
and of nearly all ages, applied at the o