SARTOR INSECTORUM. 419 



your metaphor. The creature never eats itself out of 

 house and home after the fashion of our species ; it 

 cuts windows and doors through its leaf partitions, 

 passing thereby from one to another, but the instinct 

 which urged it to its first act of protection prevents 

 it from destroying its outer defenses." 



" In other Avords," said Abby, speaking up sharply, 

 "a worm will do better for itself under the sway of 

 Instinct than some men under the rule of Keason. 

 Why is that?" 



"Excuse me. Miss Abby, if I decline to follow up 

 your question fully. It would lead us into very deep 

 waters, indeed, and we should perhaps need Dr. Good- 

 man to bring us back to harborage. But let me say 

 there is some strange element which somewhere in 

 man's history has overpassed the bounds and bars of 

 the common laws of Nature and found place Avithin 

 him. It is peculiar to him — alien from his fellow- 

 creatures of the lower orders. It has jarred his nature 

 at many points, and made it discordant with the catho- 

 lic Unity and Law. It has set him upon paths that 

 lead to depths below the brutes. Sovereign of the 

 creatures as he is, it has yet betrayed him into inferior 

 traits, and shown him the baser and weaker vessel. 

 At some point in history man's inner constitution has 

 undergone a strange — a terrible revolution. When was 

 it ? What is it ? I cannot say — at least I will not say 

 now. I do not know " 



"Friend Mayfield, I know, if thee does not !" Aunt 

 Hannah dropped her work into her lap, and broke into 



