you never go to London, so that I must say nothing about the opera or Landseer's last picture. What are the subjects which circulate at country dinner parties?'

'Poachers, pheasants, and foxes,' said Thomasina.

'I thought these were reserved until after dinner. They are scarcely feminine subjects,' rejoined Noel.

'I never made a science of conversation, and I have not been to many dinner parties. I did not want to come to-night,' said Thomasina.

Perhaps,' said Noel smiling, 'you do not know that I am staying in the house and that Lady Camden is my aunt?'

Thomasina coloured at the implied caution, though she answered, with characteristic candour, 'Yes, I believe I did know it, and I beg your pardon if I have said. anything rude.'

'Not at all; I was afraid that I might be taking an unfair advantage of your ignorance. I quite admit the general heaviness of country dinner parties, but it is our business to make this one a brilliant exception. Do not think too meanly of me if I confess that I do not know much about foxes, except that they have pointed noses and bushy tails. I am willing to receive instruction.'

'I did not say that I liked to talk about foxes,' said Thomasina with some pique; I get rather tired of the subject.'

'Then we must try something else. Do you take an interest in politics?'

The un

'I think I do at least I like to read the debates to my grandfather. satisfactory part of it is that I am doubtful which side to take.'

6

Then I predict that you are in a promising frame of mind to become a disciple of the Whig or Radical school.

you are a Tory by tradition?'

Of course

Why of course?' asked Thomasina.

'Did you not tell me that

to London?

you never went I have a wide experience of

country neighbourhoods, and can fearlessly assert that nothing short of an annual visit to town can implant the seeds of Liberal principles in the feminine mind. Toryism is indigenous to the soil.'

High

'I suppose that women can think for themselves in the country as well as in town?' said Thomasina.

They can, only as a matter of fact they do not at least they do not think out anything,' replied Noel.

'How are we to think out any matter of which we have an imperfect knowledge?' said Thomasina with some vehemence.

'Precisely so, Miss Bertram. And fuller knowledge is not to be attained in the limited sphere of a country neighbourhood. My aunt was good enough to tell me this

afternoon that my visionary and unpractical views would never obtain favour from the county magnates, and that, if I do not relinquish them or my hopes of a seat in Parliament, I must take refuge in "some low Radical borough."

'Do you intend to make politics your career?'

'If the fates are propitious. Many of my friends tell me that it is a mistake.'

'It is a great career if men really aim at redressing wrongs,' said Thomasina.

'I suppose that most men begin with some such intention; but the difficulty is, as you observed just now, to agree on what is right or wrong.'

I think that the China war is wrong,' said Thomasina.

'Do not think me impertinent, Miss Bertram, if I remark that you take up politics. from the feminine point of view. The

female mind always takes refuge in the concrete. If it will bring down the price of butcher's meat, then I am a free-trader; if not, I am a protectionist. From these premises I conclude that, if you object to the China war, it is because you have a brother or cousin engaged in it.'

'I have no brother or cousin there—only a sort of connection,' said Thomasina, the vivid colour flushing into her cheeks.

'Exactly; that admission will do equally well for my argument. Now, before you can decide on the justice or expediency of the China war, you ought to read every page of the Blue Book which has been printed on the subject. I brought it down with me last night, and it is quite at your service.'

Thank you; I should like to look at it, just to see what a Blue Book is like; but if I do read every word of it, my opinion