tly.
"But I do not think you will find that possible. Because when Cicero
spoke it was in a different, age and to very different people--people
who were glad to learn how to be wise and brave. But if you were Cicero
himself, do you think you would be able to impress the English
Parliament?"

"Why not, dear?" asked Errington with some fervor. "I believe that men,
taken as men, _pur et simple_, are the same in all ages, and are open to
the same impressions. Why should not modern Englishmen be capable of
receiving the same lofty ideas as the antique Romans, and acting upon
them?"

"Ah, do not ask _me_ why," said Thelma, with a plaintive little shake of
her head--"for _I_ cannot tell you! But remember how many members of
Parliament we did meet in London--and where were their lofty ideas?
Philip, had they any ideas at all, do you think? There was that very fat
gentleman who is a brewer,--well, to hear him talk, would you not think
all England was for the making of beer? And he does not care for the
country unless it continues to consume his beer! It was to that very man
I said something about _Hamlet_, and he told me he had no interest for
such nonsense as Shakespeare and play-going--his time was taken up at
the '_'Ouse_.' You see, he is a member of Parliament--yet it is evident
he neither knows the language nor the literature of his country! And
there must be many like him, otherwise so ignorant a person would not
hold such a position--and for such men, what would be the use of a
Cicero?"

Philip leaned back against the trunk of the tree under which they were
sitting, and laughed.

"You may be right, Thelma,--I dare say you are. There's certainly too
much beer represented in the House--I admit that. But, after all, trade
is the great moving-spring of national prosperity,--and it would hardly
be fair to refuse seats to the very men who help to keep the country
going."

"I do not see that," said Thelma gravely,--"if those men are ignorant,
why should they have a share in so important a thing as Government? They
may know all about beer, and wool, and iron,--but perhaps they can only
judge what is good for themselves, not what is best for the whole
country, with all its rich and poor. I do think that only the wisest
scholars and most intelligent persons should be allowed to help in the
ruling of a great nation."

"But the people choose their own rulers," remarked Errington
reflectively.

"Ah, the poor people!" sighed