and speaks up in a fine round voice for them.
It's only because the blessed sun is not an English institution, or he
'd keep all his warmth and light for the peerage!"

"And have they, who render all this homage, no shame for their
self-abasement?"

"Shame! why, the very approach to them is an honor. When a lord in the
ring at Newmarket nods his head to me and says, 'How d' ye do, Davis?'
my pals--my acquaintances, I mean--are twice as respectful to me for the
rest of the day. Not that _I_ care for that," added he, sternly; "I know
_them_ a deuced sight better than they fancy!--far better than _they_
know _me!_"

Lizzy fell into a revery; her thoughts went back to a conversation she
had once held with Beecher about the habits of the great world, and all
the difficulties to its approach.

"I wish I could dare to put a question to you, papa," said she, at last.

"Do so, girl. I 'll do my best to answer it"

"And not be angry at my presumption,--not be offended with me?"

"Not a bit. Be frank with me, and you 'll find me just as candid."

"What I would ask, then, is this,--and mind, papa, it is in no mere
curiosity, no idle indulgence of a passing whim I would ask it, but for
sake of self-guidance and direction,--who are we?--what are we?"

The blood rose to Davis's face and temples till he became crimson;
his nostrils dilated, and his eyes flashed with a wild lustre. Had the
bitterest insult of an enemy been hurled at his face before the open
world, his countenance could not have betrayed an expression of more
intense passion.

"By heaven!" said he, with a long-drawn breath, "I did n't think there
was one in Europe would have asked me that much to my face. There's no
denying it, girl, you have my own pluck in you."

"If I ever thought it would have moved you so--"

"Only to make me love you the more, girl,--to make me know you for my
own child in heart and soul," cried he, pressing her warmly to him.

"But I would not have cost you this emotion, dearest pa--"

"It's over now; I am as cool as yourself. There 's my hand,--there
's not much show of nervousness there. 'Who are we?'" exclaimed he,
fiercely, echoing her question. "I 'd like to know how many of that
eight-and-twenty millions they say we are in England could answer such a
question? There's a short thick book or two tells about the peerage and
baronetage, and says who are they; but as for the rest of us--" A wave
of the hand finished the sentence.