220 ILLUSIONS EXPLAINED.' 



the cloud, no arch in the sky, no green or gold in the dew, 

 no color in the grass or the flowers, no sweetness in sugar, 

 no fragrance in the rose, no sound in the bell, and no 

 warmth in the fire, but only phenomena taking place in 

 the external objects which have power to cause those sen- 

 sations in a living being. 



The conversation between Lawrence and John, which 

 was interrupted by the dinner at the Palais Royal, was re- 

 sumed after dinner. Flippy was quite interested in such 

 portions of it as he could understand, and that evening at 

 tea he put his knowledge to the very questionable use of 

 playing a joke upon his mother. Just as they were ready 

 to leave the table, he took some sugar out of the sugar- 

 bowl with a spoon, and, wetting his finger, touched a little 

 to his tongue. 



"Why, mother," said he, "there's no taste in this sugar!" 



"No taste !" repeated his mother, surprised. 



" No, mother," said he ; then he tasted it again. 



" Let me see," said his mother ; and, taking the spoon 

 from his hand, she tasted it herself, very daintily, as if she 

 expected that it would taste like salt. She found, how- 

 ever, that it was good, sweet sugar. 



" Why, what do you mean, Flippy ?" she said. " This 

 sugar is all right; there is as much taste in it as in any 

 sugar." 



" No, mother," said Flippy, " the taste is not in the sugai-, 

 it is all in your tongue." 



So saying, Flippy seized his cap and ran off, leaving his 

 mother half vexed with his having played a joke upon her, 

 and half pleased with his ingenuity and fun. 



" Some of the nonsense he has got from Mr. Wollaston," 

 she said, turning to Mr. Gray with a smile, " I'll engage." 



