ence crowned with pleasure was preferable to
four-score and ten years of dull uniformity. The giant trees of the
forest, the reddest roses of the garden, and the fairest faces in
Christendom must be frowned on as noxious if the doctrine of moderation
was to prevail. For were not they extremes? Yet rob the world of them,
and where would a recompense be found for their loss? In ordinary
growths, in the every-day rose, in commonplace beauty? Heaven forbid!
and he pulled at his beard, and his fine eyes flashed in the fulness of
his excitement.

Mrs. Marsh looked shocked, and took up the cudgels against him in
defence of the opposite principles, so that I was able to keep silent
and wonder. He would fain deify passion, he said; and there were two
passions which no human agency could stem or curb,--the passion for
wealth, and the passion of love. Thereat he looked at me again, with so
much eloquence of expression that I had to blush and turn my head away.

Then the little German, Mr. Fleisch, sat down at the piano and performed
a series of pieces in illustration of what he had explained to me,
including a sonata in four bars, a symphony in three chords, and a song
without words, in paraphrase of Mr. Spence's "fragment" in celebration
of a night passed in the tomb. I was so thrilled and delighted by these
selections that I quite forgot my perplexities, and revelled in the
enjoyment of these new-found theories. Presently too Miss Kingsley came
over to sit by me, radiant and expressive as before. The coolness on her
part had completely vanished, and needless to say my heart felt lighter.

Resolving to be natural and to obtain as much benefit as possible from
an opportunity that I might never have again, I moved about the room and
managed to renew my conversation with Mr. Fleisch, who after a momentary
coldness seemed gratified at my expressions of interest in his musical
ideas. We recommenced the Economic system of speech, and presently were
joined by Miss Kingsley. I rapidly grew proficient; and so absorbed did
I become in an attempt made by us three to carry on connectedly an
entire conversation in single words, that I was startled at hearing a
voice just behind me say,--

"Carriage."

I turned, and found myself face to face with Mr. Spence. I understood
that he had come to announce to me the arrival of my coupe.

"Servant," he added.

This told me that my maid was waiting at the door.

Mr. Spence's face was courteous