id that
some of you might think that because we are hermits we must keep away from
each other all the time. But we must remember that we are associate
hermits, and so should come together occasionally. I was going to say
something to the effect that some of us may have misunderstood the true
manner and intent of the assertions of our individualities, but I do not
now believe that this is necessary."

"Do you mean by all that," said Mrs. Perkenpine, "that I cooked the
supper?"

"Yes," said Miss Raybold, turning upon her guide with a pleasant smile,
"that is what I referred to."

"Well," said Mrs. Perkenpine, "I was told that if I didn't cook I'd be
bounced. It isn't my individdlety to cook for outsiders, but it isn't my
individdlety to be bounced, nuther, so I cooked. Is that bein' a
hermick?"

"You have it," cried Mr. Archibald, "you've not only found out what you
are, but what you have to be. Your knowledge of yourself is perfect. And
now," he continued, "isn't there somebody who can tell us a story? When we
are sitting around a camp-fire, there is nothing better than stories.
Bishop, I dare say you have heard a good many in the course of your life.
Don't you feel like giving us one?"

"I think," said Corona, "that by the aid of stories it is possible to
get a very good idea of ourselves. For instance, if some one were to
tell a good historical story, and any one of us should find himself or
herself greatly interested in it, then that person might discover, on
subsequent reflection, some phase of his or her intellect which he or she
might not have before noticed. On the other hand, if it should be a
love story, and some of us could not bear to hear it, then we might
also find out something about ourselves of which we had been ignorant.
But I really think that, before making any tests of this sort, we
should continue the discussion of what is at present the main object
of our lives--self-knowledge and self-assertion. In other words, the
emancipation of the individual. As I have said before, and as we all
know, there never was a better opportunity offered a group of people
of mature minds to subject themselves, free of outside influences, to a
thorough mental inquisition, and then to exhibit the results of their
self-examinations to appreciative companions. This last is very important.
If we do not announce to others what we are, it is of scarcely any use to
be anything. I mean this, of course, in a limited sense."