226 ARDENMOHR. 



just accidents of circumstance and temperament 

 a nice theory to give elbow-room to vice and crime. 

 And, vilest doctrine of all, and most wanton, they 

 would bruise the broken reed by telling the sad and 

 wretched of the world, who have nothing left but 

 hope, that their hopes are vain." 



" Bless me, Ward ! your feelings have led you on 

 to give us quite a sermon. But don't you see, man, 

 that abstract science has nought to do with faith or 

 feeling ; it is merely mental vivisection. Eeally, we 

 had better let alone this unsavoury subject ; it is all 

 very sad." 



" Eight, Major," I said, " but I half suspect you 

 yourself first moved it." 



" For whilk indiscretion let me try and atone by 

 burning some of the very particular Eegalias. You 

 fellows go out to the garden seat, and I'll get them 

 presently." So we went out, and he brought the 

 cigars. " So perish evolution in smoke" he said as 

 we proceeded to light up. 



" How charitable not to say in fire" I remarked. 

 " Major George Duncan is not a bigot, and he really 

 has some good tobacco." 



" Cease, you remorseless cynic," he said laughingly. 

 "Is it not enough to have brought me to confession 



