ty."

"'T is easy said, my little man, but it is not so easy dealing with
human beings as with the little wooden figures in your shop beyond."

"There must be 'good and substantial bail,' as the summons declares;
such as will satisfy the Court," said Hans, who seemed at once to
have become a man of acute worldly perception at sight of this printed
document.

"Security--bail!" exclaimed Dalton. "You might as well ask Robinson
Crusoe who 'd be godfather to his child on the desert island. There's
not a man, woman, or child in the place would give me a meal's meat
There's not a house I could shelter my head in for one night; and see
now," cried he, carried away by an impulse of passionate excitement, "it
is n't by way of disparagement I say it to this little town,--for the
world all over is the same,--the more you give the less you get! Treat
them with champagne and venison; send money to this one, make presents
to that, and the day luck turns with you, the best word they 'll have
for you is, 'He was a wasteful, careless devil; could n't keep it when
he had it; lived always above his means; all hand and mouth.' It's a
kind friend that will vouchsafe as much as 'Poor fellow! I 'm sorry for
him.'"

"And to what end is wealth," cried Hans, boldly, "if it but conduce
to this? Are the friends well chosen who can behave thus? Are the
hospitalities well bestowed that meet such return? or is it not rather
selfishness is paid back in the same base coin that it uttered?"

"For the matter of that," said Dalton, angrily, "I never found that
vulgar people was a bit more grateful than their betters, nor low
manners any warranty for high principles; and when one is to be
shipwrecked it's better to go down in a 'seventy-four' than be drowned
out of a punt in a mill-pond."

"It's past noon already," said Hans, pointing to the son-dial on his
house. "There 's little time to be lost."

"And as little to be gained," muttered Dalton, moodily, as he strolled
out into the garden.

"Let me have this paper," said Hans; "I will see the Herr Kraus myself,
and try if something cannot be done. With time, I suppose, you could
meet this claim?"

"To be sure I could, when my remittances arrive,----when my instalments
are paid up, when my rents come in, when--" He was about to add, "when
luck changes," but he stopped himself just in time.

"There need be no difficulty if you can be certain," said Hans, slowly.

"Certain!--and of what is a man