law forces him; thus his
returns must be fixed by his sense of duty."

"Do not fear that I am proposing anything too sombre, Chamilly: It is an
agreeable life. There is no demand for your being shut up in the place;
and one can surround himself very conveniently with his private tastes."

But I did not feel the scheme repugnant. The house and locality had
struck me before as a comfortable retirement to prosecute the study of
Art, "and perhaps, I might bring here"--(I dared not put her name into
syllables in such a flight of hope.)

"You will find, though, more than you anticipate to do"

I looked up.

"And greater undertakings to accomplish properly than I have been
strong enough to meet."

"What do you mean, sir?" I enquired.

"These poor simple people," he said, "have many enemies, and they
sometimes do not know their friends. You are their hereditary guardian.
Instead of mediaeval protection, you must give them that of a nineteenth
century Chief."

"A nineteenth century Chief?" I could not but exclaim, "What is a
nineteenth century Chief?"

"The people's friend and leader."

"Yes, but what am I to do, sir?"

"In the first place, discourage litigation and its miseries. Offer
mediation wherever you can. Keep drink out of the villages. Preserve the
ancient forms of courtesy. Grow timber, and introduce improvements in
farming."

He spoke of other things. I was to fight especially the Ultramontanes
and the demagogues. My father was an uncompromising Liberal of the old
school.

"But what can I do about this?" I asked, my artistic skies beginning to
cloud with the prospect.

"You can speak! I know you will make an orator. You will be a member at
Quebec; and then you can effect something. I mourn over the state of
affairs, but I do not fear for the true end; and I yearn, as if across
the grave to see the vigor of another generation of us pressing into the
struggle. Remember our ancient motto," and he laid his finger on the
little coat of arms on the iron box, with its scroll: "_Sans Hesiter_."

I did not answer him, but sat thinking, while gathering up the documents
into the box, he carried it back to the office.

END OF THE FIRST PART OF THE
BOOK OF ENTHUSIASMS.

When Chrysler arrived next morning at the break in Chamilly's
manuscript, the sun was rising high and shining upon the river and
front hedge, and on the green lawn before the Ontarian's window, and he
could see Haviland walking backwar