either end. All Asia have I ransacked, and pierced as far into Africa as
traveller ever went in search of Timbuctoo. But I have sojourned also,
at long intervals, at least they seemed long to me,--in the gay capitals
of Europe (Paris excepted); mixed, too, with the gayest; hired palaces,
filled them with guests; feasted and heard music. 'Guy Darrell,' said I,
'shake off the rust of years: thou hadst no youth while young,--be young
now. A holiday may restore thee to wholesome work, as a holiday restores
the wearied school-boy.'"

COLONEL MORLEY.--"I comprehend; the experiment succeeded?"

DARRELL.--"I don't know: not yet; but it may. I am here, and I intend to
stay. I would not go to a hotel for a single day, lest my resolution
should fail me. I have thrown myself into this castle of care without
even a garrison. I hope to hold it. Help me to man it. In a word, and
without metaphor, I am here with the design of re-entering London life."

COLONEL MORLEY.--"I am so glad. Hearty congratulations! How rejoiced
all the Viponts will be! Another 'CRISIS' is at hand. You have seen the
newspapers regularly, of course: the state of the country interests you.
You say that you come from Ouzelford, the town you once represented. I
guess you will re-enter Parliament; you have but to say the word."

DARRELL.--"Parliament! No. I received, while abroad, so earnest a
request from my old constituents to lay the foundation-stone of a new
Town-Hall, in which they are much interested; and my obligations to them
have been so great that I could not refuse. I wrote to fix the day as
soon as I had resolved to return to England, making a condition that I
should be spared the infliction of a public dinner, and landed just in
time to keep my appointment; reached Ouzelford early this morning, went