so much to see?

Rome, Charlie; do you

hear me?"

"I am not old, nor deaf for that matter, and I am not a fellow-I wish I was, of some college-and I hear."

"You are making a joke of it, but reflect a little. Dismissing that fable of a lively imagination which raises a cry of Wolf' when there is no wolf-just think that we are on the very ground which was trodden by the brave Horatius Cocles, by Coriolanus and Cincinnatus, by Scipio Africanus, Cato, the Gracchi, by Marius, Sulla, Pompey, Cæsar and Cicero. Here were uttered the words, Delenda est Carthago;' under this sky walked the immortal poets whom we have studied on English ground-the amiable Virgil, the unrivalled Horace."

"Who is orator now, Tom,

self? But I

you, Cicero or

agree with you. It is difficult to realise that we are really at Rome, and when we get away we shall almost fancy we

have never been here. What is the secret of the peculiar feelings we experience? I verily believe that if some of the celebrated individuals were living now we should have a thorough contempt for them."

"I think it is that mysterious glamour to which the mind's eye is subjected when regarding remote ages and the men and things thereof," said Tom. "You know our creed

is 'no merit, no honour.'

"You are fond of making comparisons; did you ever compare the struggles for power in ancient Rome with the striving after political power in England? One is apt to be surprised that in such early times they could be inflamed with such desires, yet the same desires prevailed then as exist now. Though we have not the bloodthirstiness of Sulla, the vile author of the Proscriptio, the motive powers are of the same kind."

66

"I very much doubt," said Tom, "whether there is such a thing as politics pure and

VOL. I.

M

simple. The word ought to mean the art and science of Government; modern politics means, in a great measure, the art and science of trickery. Imperially or municipally it is but a more civilised version of Sulla's method, the cry being 'Power! Power! Power!' Frequently the very reforms we get are not due to that philanthropic spirit from which they ought to emanate. A war cry must be raised to gain popular favour, a bill must be brought in with an especial eye on the next election. The supporters will curry favour with the constituencies, basing their claims on the measures obtained for them. Nay, the very nature of the statute may serve to render the election sure by adding a large body of ignorant, and consequently unfit men to the register. Then it is, 'Who procured for you the Act for giving to the ignorant working man the political rights to which he is entitled? Who gave you the Act to extend the franchise to those

who are unable, through ignorance, to ex

ercise it with judgment?'

And all this,

Charlie, is caused by the fact that there are

two parties in the state."

"But does not one party act as a check upon the other ?"

"That may be; but

you are assuming the

position to be proved, that is, the necessity Is not the rule, ' Pro bono

for two parties. publico' sufficient? True politics, which ought to mean the greatest good of the greatest number, would be the highest mundane work in which man could engage, whereas I detest, above all things, your modern counterfeit."

"And he loved also Rachel more than Leah." GENESIS xxix., 30.

"Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus." THE ACTS ix., 11.

T the beginning of the following

April the two friends arrived in Paris prior to returning to England. Besides visiting Rome, they had seen the beauties of Berlin, Vienna, Naples, Venice, Florence, Milan, and other noted cities, and they now felt somewhat inclined to return to their native land.

During his absence Tom had well considered the question of marriage. He had