256 AN ANGRY PHANTOM. 



victims into the dusty ground. Scarcely had we done the 

 deed, when something like a qualm of conscience, arising 

 partly from our penchant for gnats before recorded, partly 

 from the magnifying turn our thoughts had taken, shot 

 through our heart. It passed, however, as rapidly away as 

 the remnant of the insect host, whose enjoyment we had so 

 murderously interrupted ; and in a few minutes the drowsy 

 incubus which had so long hovered over our head, fairly 

 wrapped us in its leaden wings in short, we fell asleep. Still 

 our waking fancies followed us. It seemed as though one of 

 the gnats we had just exterminated rose from the ground, and, 

 poised in air on a level with our face, set up a shrill hum, 

 which presently assumed the distinctness of angry high-toned 

 speech. " By what right," cried the little apparition, " didst 

 thou cut short the thread of my joyous life ?" 



"Because," answered we, "as one of creation's lords, we 

 have the privilege of destroying every thing that invades our 

 peace." 



" And by what right art thou a lord of creation ?" 



" By the right of reason." 



"Reason!" exclaimed the insect ghost ; "say rather by 

 right of size. Only let my stature equal thine, and see which 

 would then possess the mastery !" 



As the winged phantom thus addressed us, her tiny form 

 expanded ; her long hairy shanks stretching down wards reached 

 the ground, and upwards waved like spectral arms above our 



