it may seem, the best plan is to humor Nature, and not to exhaust by overfrequent presence the affection of those whom we would love, or whom we would have to love us. I would not say, after the manner of Rochefoucauld, that the less we see of people the more we like them; but there are certain limits of sociality; and prudent reserve and absence may find a place in the management of the tenderest relations.

Dunsford-Yes, all this is true enough; I do not see anything hard in this. But then there is the other side. Custom is a great aid to affection.

Milverton-Yes. -Yes. All I say is, do not fancy that the general laws are suspended for the sake of any one affection.

Dunsford — Still, this does not go to the question whether there is not something more of will in affection than you make out. You would speak of inducements and counter inducements, aids and hindrances; but I cannot but think you are limiting the power of will, and therefore limiting duty. Such views tend to make people easily discontented with each other, and prevent their making efforts to get over offenses, and to find out what is lovable in those about them.

Ellesmere Here we are in deep places again. I see you are pondering, Milverton. It is a question, as a minister would say when Parliament perplexes him, that we must go to the country upon; each man's heart will, perhaps, tell him best about it. For my own part, I think that the continuance of affection, as the rise of it, depends more on the taste being satisfied, or at least not disgusted, than upon any other single thing. Our hearts may be touched at our being loved by people essentially distasteful to us, whose modes of talking and acting are a continual offense to us; but whether we can love them in return is a question.

Milverton Yes, we can, I think. I begin to see that it is a question of degree. The word love includes many shades of meaning. When it includes admiration, of course we cannot be said to love those in whom we see nothing to admire. this seldom happens in the mixed characters of real life. The upshot of it all seems to me to be that, as Guizot says of civilization, every impulse has room; so in the affections, every inducement and counter inducement has its influence; and the result is not a simple one, which can be spoken of as if it were alike on all occasions and with all men.

Dunsford-I am still unanswered, I think, Milverton.

What you say is still wholly built upon inducements, and does not touch the power of will.

Milverton-No; it does not.

Ellesmere We must leave that alone. Infinite piles of books have not as yet lifted us up to a clear view of that

matter.

Dunsford-Well, then, we must leave it as a vexed question; but let it be seen that there is such a question. Now, as to another thing: you speak, Milverton, of men's not making allowance enough for the unpleasant weight of obligation. think that weight seems to have increased in modern times. Essex could give Bacon a small estate, and Bacon could take it comfortably, I have no doubt. That is a much more wholesome state of things among friends than the present.

Milverton-Yes, undoubtedly. An extreme notion about independence has made men much less generous in receiving.

Dunsford-It is a falling off, then. There was another comment I had to make. I think, when you speak about the exorbitant demands of neglected merit, you should say more upon the neglect of the just demands of merit.

Milverton-I would have the Government and the public in general try by all means to understand and reward merit, especially in those matters wherein excellence cannot, otherwise, meet with large present reward. But, to say the truth, I would have this done, not with the view of fostering genius so much as of fulfilling duty; I would say to a minister-it is becoming in you-it is well for the nation, to reward, as far as you can, and dignify men of genius. Whether you will do them any good, or bring forth more of them, I do not know.

Ellesmere-Men of great genius are often such a sensitive race, so apt to be miserable in many other than pecuniary ways and want of public estimation, that I am not sure that distress and neglect do not take their minds off worse discomforts. It is a kind of grievance, too, that they like to have.

Dunsford-Really, Ellesmere, that is a most unfeeling

speech.

Milverton-At any rate, it is right for us to honor and serve a great man. It is our nature to do so, if we are worth anything. We may put aside the question whether our honor will do him more good than our neglect. That is a question for him to look to. The world has not yet so largely honored

deserving men in their own time that we can exactly pronounce what effect it would have upon them.

Ellesmere Come, Rollo, let us leave these men of sentiment. Oh, you will not go, as your master does not move. Look how he wags his tail, and almost says, "I should dearly like to have a hunt after the water rat we saw in the pond the other day, but master is talking philosophy, and requires an intelligent audience." These dogs are dear creatures, it must be owned. Come, Milverton, let us have a walk.

COURAGE!

BY ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH.

[1819-1861.]

SAY not the struggle naught availeth,
The labor and the wounds are vain,
The enemy faints not, nor faileth,

And as things have been they remain.

If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars;
It may be, in yon smoke concealed,
Your comrades chase e'en now the fliers,
And, but for you, possess the field.

For while the tired waves, vainly breaking,
Seem here no painful inch to gain,
Far back, through creeks and inlets making,
Comes silent, flooding in, the main.

And not by eastern windows only,

When daylight comes, comes in the light;
In front, the sun climbs slow, how slowly!
But westward, look, the land is bright!