Lapping* up the Stars 



?6 If|kON'T you think it is rather risky," said Mr. Worldly- 

 ^^ Wiseman, " to throw up a fixed income for the sake 

 of something so uncertain?" 



The Enthusiast's eyes sparkled. " I would rather earn a 

 shilling a day at the thing that's worth while, than a thousand 

 a year grubbing at work I loathe for people I despise." 



" A shilling a day will hardly pay for crusts," said the elder, 

 dryly. 



" But it will leave me the illusion of lapping up the stars," 

 retorted the Enthusiast. 



" And very little else ! Still, if you prefer stars to 

 sovereigns well, it's your own life!" 



" Yes, and the only one I'm sure of, so I mean to make 

 the most of it ; and piling sovereigns is a very poor occupation 

 for a lifetime. There's better gold than that to be had for 

 the taking." 



" Perhaps you're right," with a most unworldly touch of 

 wistfulness. Then, with a shrug, " but I prefer the sovereigns 

 myself; they're tangible." 



The conversation was finished ; Mr. Worldly-Wiseman had 

 pronounced the final judgment, had spoken the last grown-up 

 word on the subject. "They're tangible" therefore desir- 

 able and comprehensible ; they can be touched and counted, 



