DULL AND UNEVENTFUL. 121 



" Oh dear, yes peculiar men in peculiar circum- 

 stances. Franklin, for instance, who had to force 

 both means and time in his early drudgery, and he 

 did well and wisely for himself and the world ; but 

 why should I follow poor Peter's maxims?" 



" Why not, Hope ? " 



" Because I have ample time and means for study, 

 if I use them aright, without being brought to book 

 for a Highland vacation." 



" Yes, surely ; but many quiet people might think 

 your very wrath proves Anthony sagacious." 



"Then many quiet people would be very wrong. 

 I try to improve in my own way as I get along : I 

 might ponder on advice from some men, but not from 

 a muff." 



u Still, ' improve the shining hour' is a sound 

 platitude even from a muff." 



" Hem ! Why, just the other day, Major, I was 

 riled at the autobiography of a petty Solon of this 

 stamp. The man had been staying at a nice country 

 house, where even he allowed the company to be 

 composed of educated, agreeable people; but it seemed 

 they did not suit him ; probably they did not bleat 

 over others' shortcomings, and laud one another ; at 

 all events, he drivels somewhat in this way * A las ! 



