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138
ETHEL CHURCHILL.

question was addressed: "Pope reverses the former system of writing: the ancients traced their characters in wax, but his are transcribed in honey!"

"What diverts me the most," continued Sir George, " is, Ulysses being always called 'the much enduring man.' After all his ten years of wandering are past, pleasantly enough, the greater portion of them being spent with Circe and Calypso—to be sure, it was rather tiresome staying so long with the last—how he must have enjoyed his flirtation with the Phœnician princess!"

"Certainly, this is a new view to take of Ulysses!" replied Courtenaye.

"The truth is always a novelty," returned Kingston; "but I have always considered the patient Ulysses, the model of a classical coquette: you may get many useful hints from his career."

"I shall go home at once," said Norbourne, rising, "and begin to study the 'Odyssey' on new principles!"

"The blue-eyed goddess forbid that I should