much of certain things is too much, and too little of other things is not enough; the difficult part is to show how much is too much, how little is too little; that part is accordingly often done to the entire satisfaction of many a man, but not so this other part. The great sermon for each man lies behind him in living characters; let him turn round and read that, by the God-given light that is in him, and he shall know; otherwise he cannot know, but must ever stand uncertain, weighing proba bilities on the balance of his understanding. This last is the way generally prescribed, but unfortunately human life is too short for it; one can never get done weighing.

I said just now that I walked toward the hotel, a miserable, contemptible man, not knowing what to do. I was, as men say, lost in thought; and probably had that look which is accounted mark of wisdom; but Gravity brooding over Follies can hatch only Goslings. —

Next day, after noon, I arrived at that village where the wax figures were exhibited some time ago. I was still in a state of indecision. When I came to the cross street, which leads to the house of my mother's friend, my horse turned into it, and 1 let him have his way. While yet at some distance from the gate I saw two figures issue from it; a man in dark clothes, a woman in white, and walk up the street in the direction I was going. I thought I recognised them, and did not feel quite at ease when I entered the house. The man of the house was abroad: the lady greeted me kindly. After some talk I asked, what news?

"None," she replied, "O yes, I forgot; it will be news to you; Elizabeth is engaged."

"Engaged?"

"Yes; you can guess to whom, I suppose."

I made some reply in such tone of indifference as I In my heart I am afraid I cursed the

could assume. schoolmaster.

The lady offered to have my horse cared for; but I said I must be on my way. I thought I detected a smile lurking about the lady's face when she urged me to stay; women are quick-sighted in affairs of the heart. I decidedly refused to stay, and departed soon as I could do so with good grace. My horse was less willing to go than I; he was refractory, and thought he could have his own way because I had been so undecided of late; but now I was decided enough. Decision often makes one master, and the horse, this time, must go my way.

I cannot say that my thoughts and feelings were altogether pleasant that night; but they did not banish sleep; nor did sleep quite banish them. I had a dream or a vision. There were Priest, Bridegroom, and Wedding Guests; but no Bride. A kind of smoke, or vapor rose, and the scene changed itself. I saw one in white robes whose features were known to me; she pointed to a party of young women in a Grove, who seemed to be in search of something.

Next day, before I rode into the city, I had regained my usual degree of equanimity. I am too old to die of disappointed love. Your young Plant just out of the nursery is easily blighted or crushed; but the full grown Tree, which, in sunshine and storm has rooted itself, will live through much.

CHAPTER XXI.

A T HOME.

My housekeeper is quite old and ugly of me, and declared that I looked quite well. She is of economical, thrifty turn of mind, and seemed to think I had loitered and wasted time on this excursion: but she is never satisfied. What had I done if I had staid at home? Nothing but look out of windows at brick walls and painfully strive to keep myself alive. In one point of view it may, with some show of truth, be said that this journey has been unprofitable; that I have returned to, my starting place empty as I went out. It is not exactly Before judging of any man's acts as regards their worth to himself, we should look into the man and consider what he specially is. The restless, whizzing, buzzing man does a great thing when he keeps himself still one whole day; he shall be the better for it all the days of his life. For your sedentary, reflective Donothing, on the other hand, a journey, were it only to some Pebblebrook and back, can hardly fail to be beneficial.

to avoid scandal I may say that she expressed a kind of joy at sight

So.

My good Physician came in, took my hand, and smiled. I do not mean to say that he opened his mouth, and, with

18

an effort, drew up the corners of it; he smiled all over. Speaking as though he had given the Prescription only a week ago, he asked:

"How did it operate?"

"Very well," I replied; "it set me in motion and cleared out much bad stuff."

"How is your appetite now?"

"Right good; I have great desire."

"Do you digest well?"

"So well that I have done thinking about digestion." "How did you find your

friends?"

"Quite well. I found intercourse with them pleasant and quickening. I had almost forgotten that I had

friends."

"It is dangerous," he said, "for a man to neglect his relations in this life; he gets into a bad way. A completely isolated Being is always in some sense sick. By all means, then, a man should find out his relations and learn to know them. When he has once taken this business in hand he need never be idle, for Man's relations are wide as the Universe."

I suppose the Doctor saw in my looks an expression of dismay at the width of the business; for he, after a short pause, added:

"You may have noticed, Mr. Harding, that a social man, who has already got a circle of acquaintance, finds no difficulty in enlarging it; for each one of that circle has also a circle of his own, and willingly introduces the social man into it. This holds good not only of men, but of all things; each thing, besides its immediate family relations, has universal relations; and the man who really knows one thing stands in the door-way to many. There is, moreover, much truth in the saying of one of