ympathetic thing he has done."

"One of the most valuable contributions to the literature of pure
thought that we have had in many years," said Aunt Agnes.

I shook my head.

"Permit me," said Miss Kingsley, fumbling in a little reticule on her
lap and taking therefrom one of several cards, which she handed to me.

"This is a schedule of his new course of lectures on Moderation. He
regards moderation as the most valuable virtue of our civilization, and
is devoting his life to the promulgation of its importance."

The printed card read as follows:--

LECTURES.

HAWTHORNE ROOMS.

SIX SUCCESSIVE SATURDAYS,

BEGINNING DECEMBER THE TWENTY-EIGHTH.

_BY CHARLES LIVERSAGE SPENCE._

* * * * *

MODERATION.

December 28. General View of the Subject.
January 4. Tension and Torpor of the Nerves.
" 11. The Economy of Speech.
" 18. The Use and Abuse of Raiment.
" 25. Overeating and Undereating.
February 1. Exuberance and Poverty in the Soul.

"They must be very interesting," said I. It was something at any rate to
get a peep into the charmed circle, even if I were too illiterate
to share its membership; and I was eager to know more of the
poet-philosopher, as I rightly judged him to be from Miss Kingsley's
words.

"They are eminently suggestive," said she.

"You know him well I suppose."

"Mr. Spence? Yes. If I may say so," she simpered, with a rapid movement
of her eyes, "your aunt and I were among the first to find him out."

"Is he young?"

"Just thirty. He celebrated his birthday only a fortnight ago. It was on
that occasion that his 'Sonnet to Alpha' first saw the light."

"Is he good-looking?" I inquired somewhat ill advisedly, for Aunt Agnes
made a gesture of impatience.

"His face is intellectual rather than handsome," answered Miss Kingsley.
"Its expression is very striking and versatile. Fine, piercing eyes and
waving hair, which he wears long. An intense individuality. But I should
scarcely call him beautiful; interesting and highly sympathetic in
appearance seems to me a more accurate description."

"If you mean by 'good-looking' to inquire if he is a fop, Virginia, you
had better be undeceived on that score at once," said Aunt Agnes, with a
toss of her head. "I don't suppose Mr. Spence has ever danced the German
in his life."

"He is very particular about late hours," said Miss Kingsley; "that is a
p