." the old fellow paused, and laughed over his wine-glass.

"Yet I may as well be honest about it! Offense _was_ meant; but when I found that none was taken, my humor changed." A slight, half-weary smile played on Errington's lips.

"I assure you, sir," he said, "I agreed with you then and agree with you now in every word you uttered.

You took my measure very correctly, and allow me to add that no one can be more conscious of my own insignificance that I am myself.

The days we live in are insignificant; the chronicle of our paltry doings will be skipped by future readers of the country's history.