The Young Queens 
at least, and the greatest —that which 
bears on its flank the name “ Nature’ — 
encloses a very real force, the most real 
of all, and one that is able to preserve an 
enormous -and marvellous quantity and 
quality of life on our globe, by means so 
skilful that they surpass all that the genius 
of man could contrive. Could this quan- 
tity and quality be maintained by other 
means? -Is it we who deceive ourselves 
when we imagine that we see precautions 
where perhaps there is truly no more than 
a fortunate chance, that has survived a 
million unfortunate chances? 
[ 80 ] 
That may be; but these fortunate 
chances teach us a lesson in admiration 
as valuable as those we might learn in re- 
gions superior to chance. If we let our 
gaze travel beyond the creatures that are 
possessed of a glimmer of intellect and 
983 
