n mine have lately
risen to high places,--ay, and carry themselves as loftily as if they
were born to lord it over not only empire, but empires."

"Ah! true: then, I suppose, you would fain seek service; and if so, I
think my poor word would be of use. I am somewhat esteemed by the
Protector and other props of this great Commonwealth, and would gladly
tender my aid to you, to whom I am already strongly bound."

"I thank you for your bounty, sir; but at present I feel inclined to
sheathe, not draw my sword."

"But why? A youth like you, gifted with courage, skill, and health,--the
state demands some activity at your hands; 'tis ill to be a laggard."

"Nor am I one. Frankly, I like not innovation, and this state has been
experimentalising lately:--in a word, I like it not."

"That is a candid confession, more candid than your former words would
have led me to expect. But, young gentleman, it is not safe to trust
such sentiments into a stranger's keeping: the Lord Protector has, it is
said, his spies in every house; nay, it is reported the highways grow
them as rife as blackberries."

"And you may be one, for aught I know or care," said the youth bluntly.
"But what of that?--they say Old Noll likes in others what he hath not
yet practised himself--a thing called honesty; and at worst, he could
but take my life, which, after all, is little worth in comparison to
those he has already taken."

A long silence followed this intemperate speech, which at last was
broken by the mounted traveller.

"You spoke of innovations, and I also believe it is ill to try
experiments in states, unless the need be urgent, and unless it be
the reformation that draweth on the change, and not the love of
change that urgeth the reformation. Is not time the greatest
innovator?--is he not always changing? It hath been said that, as
in nature things move violently to their place, and calmly _in_
their place; so virtue in ambition is violent, in authority settled
and calm. Steel sharpens steel; so one glory perfecteth another:
and I am of belief, that they who are glorious, must have been
factious. Yet are there degrees in honour, and amongst the first
of them I should rank founders of commonwealths, or even states,
such as we read of in history--Romulus----"

"And you would, I suppose, include the name of Cromwell in the list you
were about to make?" interrupted De Guerre.

"And why not?" retorted the other proudly; "why not Cromwell? Is t