CHAPTER VIII. 



SELECTION. 



Take a hot schoolboy into a fruiterer's shop, where the 

 cheeks of the peach and the Ouarrenden pippin are glowing 

 like his own, where the bloom still lingers upon grape and 

 plum, and where the " Good Christian " pear of Williams 

 (would that all who assure us of their sanctity were as free 

 from sourness, as fruitful, melting, and juicy!) yields to his 

 inquiring thumb. Bid him survey the scene, a pomological 

 Selkirk, and then proceed to fruition. Or take young 

 Philippos, a few years older, to some great mart of horses. 

 Introduce him to the proprietor, with his pleasant smiling 

 face, ruddy (from early rising, doubtless), his cheek and 

 chin close shaven (few men nowadays shave so closely), 

 hair clipped like his horses', fox galloping over bird's-eye 

 neckerchief, cut-away coat with gilt buttons, and drab 

 adhesive pants. Let him hear how this generous, guileless 



