'I have no wrong, where I can claim no right,

Naught ta'en me fro, where I have nothing had,

Yet of my woe I cannot so be quite;

Namely, since that another may be glad

With that, that thus in sorrow makes me sad.'

WYATT.

Margaret had not expected much pleasure to herself from Mr.

Bell's visit--she had only looked forward to it on her father's

account, but when her godfather came, she at once fell into the

most natural position of friendship in the world. He said she had

no merit in being what she was, a girl so entirely after his own

heart; it was an hereditary power which she had, to walk in and

take possession of his regard; while she, in reply, gave him much

credit for being so fresh and young under his Fellow's cap and

gown.

'Fresh and young in warmth and kindness, I mean. I'm afraid I

must own, that I think your op

'Hear this daughter of yours, Hale Her residence in Milton has

quite corrupted her. She's a democrat, a red republican, a member

of the Peace Society, a socialist--'

'Papa, it's all because I'm standing up for the progress of

commerce. Mr. Bell would have had it keep still at exchanging

wild-beast skins for acorns.' 'No, no. I'd dig the ground and grow potatoes. And I'd shave the

wild-beast skins and make the wool into broad cloth. Don't

exaggerate, missy. But I'm tired of this bustle. Everybody

rushing over everybody, in their hurry to get rich.' 'It is not every one who can sit comfortably in a set of college

rooms, and let his riches grow without any exertion of his own.

No doubt there is many a man here who would be thankful if his

property would increase as yours has done, without his taking any

trouble about it,' said Mr. Hale.

'I don't believe they would. It's the bustle and the struggle

they like. As for sitting still, and learning from the past, or

shaping out the future by faithful work done in a prophetic

spirit--Why! Pooh! I don't believe there's a man in Milton who

knows how to sit still; and it is a great art.' 'Milton people, I suspect, think Oxford men don't know how to

move. It would be a very good thing if they mixed a little more.' 'It might be good for the Miltoners. Many things might be good

for them which would be very disagreeable for other people.' 'Are you not a Milton man yourself?' asked Margaret. 'I should

have thought you would have been proud of your town.' 'I confess, I don't see what there is to be proud of If you'll

only come to Oxford, Margaret, I will show you a place to glory

in.' 'Well!' said Mr. Hale, 'Mr. Thornton is coming to drink tea with

us to-night, and he is as proud of Milton as you of Oxford. You

two must try and make each other a little more liberal-minded.' 'I don't want to be more liberal-minded, thank you,' said Mr.

Bell.




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