father.

She thought Knowles evaded the question,--wished to leave the
subject. Perhaps he did not regard the poor old school-master as
a practical judge of practical matters. All his life he had
called him thriftless and unready.

"It never will do, Knowles," he went on in his slow way. "Any
plan, Phalanstery or Community, call it what you please, founded
on self government, is based on a sham, the tawdriest of shams."

The old school-master shook his head as one who knows, and tried
to push the thin gray hairs out of his eyes in a groping way.
Margret lifted them back, so quietly that he did not feel her.

"You'll call the Republic a sham next!" said the Doctor, coolly
aggravating.

"The Republic!" The old man quickened his tone, like a war-horse
scenting the battle near at hand. "There never was a thinner-
crusted Devil's egg in the world than democracy. I think I've
told you that before?"

"I think you have," said the other, dryly.

"You always were a Tory, Mr. Howth," said his wife, in her
placid, creamy way. "It is in the blood, I think, Doctor. The
Howths fought under Cornwallis, you know."

The school-master waited until his wife had ended.