ld only be in the way."

Mr Enderby sighed, and made no answer. Before any one spoke again, Mr
Hope and his little companions came up.

"How quiet you all are!" exclaimed Sydney. "I've a good mind to come
and fish here again, if you will only go on to be so drowsy."

Sophia declared that they had been talking, up to the last minute, about
Miss Young, and learning German, and being philosophical.

"And which of the party have you made out to be the most philosophical?"
inquired Mr Hope.

"We have not so much as made out what philosophy is for," said Hester;
"can you tell us?"

As she looked up at Mr Hope, who was standing behind her, Sydney
thought her question was addressed to him. Swinging his fishing-rod
round, he replied doubtfully that he thought philosophy was good to know
how to do things. What sort of things? Why, to make phosphorus lights,
and electrify people, as Dr Levitt did, when he made Sophia jump off
the stool with glass legs. Sophia was sure that any one else would have
jumped off the stool as she did. She should take good care never to
jump on it again. But she wondered Sydney did not know any better than
that what philosophy was for. Her cousins said Miss Young was
philosophical, and she had nothing to do with phosphorus or electrical
machines.

Mr Enderby explained to Mr Hope that he had said what he was ready to
maintain; that it was a happy thing for any one who, like Miss Young,
was not so prosperous as she had been, to be supported by philosophy.

"And, granting this," said Margaret, "it was next inquired whether this
same philosophy would have been considered equally admirable, equally a
matter of congratulation, if Miss Young had not wanted it for solace."

"A question as old as the brigg at Stirling," replied Mr Hope; "older,
older than any bridges of man's making."

"Why Stirling brigg? What do you mean?"

"I mean--do not you know the story?--that an old woman wanted to cross
the Forth, and some ferrymen would have persuaded her to go in their
boat when she was confident that a tempest was coming on, which would
have made the ferry unsafe. They told her at last that she must trust
to Providence. `Na, na,' said she, `I will ne'er trust to Providence
while there is a brigg at Stirling.' The common practice is, you know,
with the old woman.--We will not trust to the highest support we profess
to have, till nothing else is left us. We worship philosophy, but never
think