overs. They hear the birds of paradise singing in the bowers of
Eden, while he hears only the croaking of the raven.

They got back to realities presently. Bob's new-found joy had led him
to the realisation of the future.

"I'm going to speak to your father to-night, Nancy. I know he'll be
angry, but that I don't mind a bit."

"No, Bob, you must not speak to him--at least not yet."

"Why?"

"Because he'll refuse, and you mustn't speak to him until you can make
him consent."

"I don't understand, Nancy."

"You see, he has exactly the same feeling that I have about men. He
would never consent to my being the wife of a book-worm."

"Oh, I've thought that all out while I've been here," replied Bob
confidently. "Yes, I know I've been unpractical--a dreamer, in fact.
But I'm going to alter all that. Now you've told me--that--that you
love me, I feel I must become a man of action. You've wakened
something in me that I didn't know existed. I haven't been half alive.
I've imagined that only thoughts, ideas mattered; now I know
differently. I've lived only half-life. Mark you, I don't altogether
go back upon my faith--I only add a new element to it. I've always
said that we owe everything to thought. I've said that thoughts
covered the seas with floating cities, and converted the world into a
whispering-gallery. That thoughts have belted the globe with electric
currents, and given us untold blessings. Now I know that I've stated
only half a truth. The man who is simply a man of ideas, is like a
bird trying to fly with one wing. There must be action to put the
ideas into use. Oh, yes, I see it all."

"Yes, yes, Bob; and what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to study for the Bar. I'm going to set about it right away.
And then I'm going into Parliament. I've big ideas, Nancy--big ideas
about governments, and about reforms in our laws. There are great
things that want doing, and I'm going to do them. I'm going to get at
the helm of government, and destroy abuses. I am not going to be
content by writing books about what is needed; I'm going to see that my
ideas take shape in the laws of the country, and effect the betterment
of the world."

Please do not smile at Robert Nancarrow's somewhat highfalutin talk,
and set him down as a conceited prig. Every young fellow who has ever
done or been anything in the world, has at some time in his life had
such thoughts. Sad will it be for England as a natio