ologist. He merely meant
to imply that it isn't every one who can appreciate a glass of port and
a clean shirt."

"But he didn't appreciate those things himself!"

"No; poor fellow. He often wished he could, though."

"Did he really?"

"Oh, you've no idea how tired he grew of flannel and ginger-beer! Many a
time he's said to me, 'My boy, learn to take what's set before you,
even at an alderman's table.' Ah, his was a generous creed, Miss
Wallingford!"

"Yes, I suppose it was," said Julia submissively.

His advantage in being able to claim an intimate personal knowledge of
the late philosopher's tastes encouraged the Count greatly. Realizing
that a nephew could not well be contradicted, he was emboldened to ask
whether there were any more points on which his authority could be of
assistance.

"Oh yes," said she, "only--only somehow you seem to throw a different
light on everything."

"Naturally, dear," chimed in Miss Minchell, "a personal explanation
always makes things seem different."

Julia sighed, but summed up her courage to read out--

"'When woman is prized according to her intellect and man according to
his virtue; oh, then mankind will return to Eden!'"

"That," said he, "is one of the rare instances of my uncle's pessimism."

"Of his pessimism! How can you say that?"

"He meant to imply that mankind would have to wait for some considerable
time. But do not feel dismayed. My own opinion is that so long as woman
is fair and man has the wit to appreciate her, we ARE in Eden."

The gracious tone in which he delivered this dictum, and the moving
smile that accompanied it, appeared to atone completely for his
relative's cynical philosophy. With a smile and a sigh Julia murmured--

"Do you really think so?"

"I do," said the Count fervently; "and now suppose we were to have a
little music?"

"Oh yes!" cried Miss Minchell; "do you perform, Count Bunker?"

"I sometimes sing a little to the guitar."

"To the guitar!" said Julia. "How delicious! Have you brought it?"

"I have been so bold," he smiled, and promptly went to fetch this
instrument.

In a few minutes he returned with an apologetic air.

"I find that by some error they have sent me away with a banjo instead,"
he exclaimed. "But I dare say I could manage an accompaniment on that if
you would condescend to listen to me."

He felt so exceedingly disinclined for expounding a philosophy any
longer that he gave them no time to dissent, e