is nonsense offered nothing that was repellent; on the
contrary, she found it most touching and most sad. It seemed to her
like the effort of a strong man to rid himself of an overmastering
feeling--a feeling deep within him that struggled forever upward and
would not be repressed. It rose up constantly, seeking to break
through all bounds; yet still he struggled against it; and still, as
he felt himself grow weaker in the conflict, he sought refuge in
fresh outbursts of unmeaning words. But amidst it all Talbot saw
nothing except the man who had gone forth to die for her, and in all
his words heard nothing except the utterance of that which proved the
very intensity of his feelings.

"Oh yes," continued Brooke, "there are lots of authorities to be
quoted in favor of mirthfulness. I've already mentioned Bunyan and
Watts. I'll give you all the rest of the old divines.

"'Oh, Baxter is the boy for me,
So fall of merriment and glee:
And when I want a funny man,
I turn to any old Puritan:--
A Puritan,
A funny man,
I read the works of a Puritan!

Among the Puritan divines
Old Cotton Mather brightest shines,
And he could be a funny man,
Because he was a Puritan:--
A Puritan,
A funny man,
Old Mather was a Puritan!

The old Blue-Laws, of all the best,
Od Calvin made in solemn jest;
For fun he never could tolerate.
Unless established by the State:--
A Puritan,
A funny man,
John Calvin was a Puritan!"

This eccentric song Brooke droned out in nasal tones and with a
lachrymose whine to the strangest tune that ever was heard. At its
close he heaved a sigh, and said:

"Well, it's dry work singing hymns all by myself, and you won't even
'jine' in the choruses, and so--I'll stop the machine."

Saying this, he turned away and went to the opposite side of the
small loft, where he sat down with his head against the wall.

"Does any lady or gentleman present object to smoking?" said he,
after a brief pause, as he drew forth his pipe and smoking materials.
"Because I propose to take a smoke, and I should like to know, just
out of curiosity."

To this Talbot made no reply, but sat down opposite Brooke, in the
same attitude, and watched him as he smoked, which he proceeded to do
without any further delay.

"You don't smoke, I believe, sir," said he, with all gravity.

Talbot said nothing.

"Well," said Brooke, "I wouldn