ellius turned quite
white. "My poor fellow," he said, "what were you there for?"

"To see the world," answered Juba; "it's unmanly not to see it. Why
shouldn't I see it? It was good fun. I despise them all, fools and idiots.
There they were, scampering about, or lying like hogs, all in liquor. Apes
and swine! However, I will do as others do, if I please. I will be as
drunk as they, when I see good. I am my own master, and it would be no
kind of harm."

"No harm! why, is it no harm to become an ape or a hog?"

"You don't take just views of human nature," answered Juba, with a
self-satisfied air. "Our first duty is to seek our own happiness. If a man
thinks it happier to be a hog, why, let him be a hog," and he laughed.
"This is where you are narrow-minded. I shall seek my own happiness, and
try this way, if I please."

"Happiness!" cried Agellius; "where have you been picking up all this
stuff? Can you call such detestable filth happiness?"

"What do you know about such matters?" asked Juba. "Did you ever see them?
Did you ever try them? You would be twice the man you are if you had. You
will not be a man till you do. You are carried off your legs in your own
way. I'd rather get drunk every day than fall down on all fours as you do,
crawling on your stomach like a worm, and whining like a hound that has
been beaten."

"Now, as I live, you shan't stop here one instant longer!" cried out
Agellius, starting up. "Be off with you! get away! what do you come here
to blaspheme for? who wants you? who asked for you? Go! go, I say! take
yourself off! Why don't you go? Keep your ribaldry for others."

"I am as good as you any day," said Juba.

"I don't set myself up," answered Agellius, "but it's impossible to
confound Christian and unbeliever as you do."

"Christian and unbeliever!" said Juba, slowly. "I suppose, when they are
a-courting each other, they _are_ confounded." He looked hard at Agellius,
as if he thought he had hit a blot. Then he continued, "If I _were_ a
Christian, I'd be so in earnest: else I'd be an honest heathen."

Agellius coloured somewhat, and sat down, as if under embarrassment.

"I despise you," said Juba; "you have not the pluck to be a Christian. Be
consistent, and fizz upon a stake; but you're not made of that stuff.
You're even afraid of uncle. Nay, you can be caught by those painted
wares, about which, when it suits your purpose, you can be so grave. I
despise you," he continued, "I despis