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ROMANCE AND REALITY.

an active part in literature instead of politics—writing, instead of talking;—as if there were not speakers enow in the House to debate till doomsday. And as to the practical utility, may I be permitted to venture my opinion, that moral is at least as useful as political satire?"

"Who is yonder gentleman? " asked Emily, attracted by that air of anticipative consciousness which says, "all eyes are upon me, or ought to be."

"The writer of some poems we were studying in one of the Annuals," replied Lorraine. "You remember the one which appears with its author's name in capitals at the beginning, and ends with stating its claim to one merit at any rate—

'Some praise, at least—one act of sense may claim—
He wrote these verses, but concealed his name:'

—the name, nevertheless, being the first thing we saw."

"Ah," said Mr. Morland, "I have quite a little history to give you—a romance of fashionable life—by which I mean the romance of effect, not feeling. Colonel Clarendon commenced his search after reputation by a journey