XII CONTENTS CONTENTS PREFACE. PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION. THE POET AT THE BREAKFAST-TABLE. I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII PREFACE. In this, the third series of Breakfast-Table conversations, a slight dramatic background shows off a few talkers and writers, aided by certain silent supernumeraries. The machinery is much like that of the two preceding series. Some of the characters must seem like old acquaintances to those who have read the former papers. As I read these over for the first time for a number of years, I notice one character; presenting a