Page:Colymbia (1873).djvu/214

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COLYMBIA.

never think of waiting till we tired of, still less till we hated, one another, but we would separate the best of friends, and always retain esteem if not affection for one another."

"I fear," said I, "I never can reconcile myself to the Colymbian views concerning marriage, and my first shall be also my last disappointment, for I shall not allow myself to think of marriage again."

"Well, certainly, I think you are right not to think of marrying until you get correct views on marriage."

"I am sure," I said, "my present views will never be altered: they are grounded in my mind ineradicably by the teachings of the great and good men of the Church of England—a church," I exclaimed with fervour, "whose principles have a more than human authority."

"Ah!" replied my light-hearted friend, "I forgot I was engaged for the next dance to Charlemagne yonder; I see he is waiting for me, and his politeness forbids him interrupting our interesting talk, which I hope to be permitted to resume on a future occasion."

So saying she darted off to where her partner was, and presently they were gyrating away as gracefully as could be wished.

As shark-hunting proved one of the most fashionable amusements among the young men of the better classes, and it was an object of ambition with all to be able to throw the harpoon with precision,—for it was not always that young men were attended by professional huntsmen as skilled in throwing the harpoon as a Spanish banderillero is in casting his somewhat analogous weapon at the noble animal he