"Do you never," asked Walter, "fear the fate of Orpheus?"
"Oh! that," replied Sir George, languidly, "was merely an allegory of my actual existence. I, literally, am torn to pieces; I shall be obliged to marry some day, by way of protection!
'Ay, there are moments when my thoughts disclose
A dreadful moment, dark with future woes!"
at present, however, I have no intention of allowing any woman to carry so selfish a design into execution!"
"'Bold were her deed who sought in chains to bind
The great destroyer of half womankind!'"
replied Courtenaye.
"Really, we ought not to broach such melancholy subjects," exclaimed Sir George, "my spirits are not equal to them of a morning. Here, La Fleu! bring some champagne, and do let us talk of something less alarming! Have you read Pope's last three books of the 'Odyssey?'"
"Yes," answered Maynard, to whom the
