'You give me a title, beautiful Proserpine, to which I have no claim,' replied Saturn. 'You forget that I am now only Count Hesperus; I am no longer a king, and believe me, I am very glad of it.'

   'What a pity, my dear sir, that you would not condescend to conform to the spirit of the age. For myself, I am quite a reformer.'

   'So I have understood, beautiful Proserpine, which I confess has a little surprised me; for to tell you the truth, I do not consider that reform is exactly

    our

   trade.'

   'Affairs cannot go on as they used,' observed Proserpine, oracularly; 'we must bow to the spirit of the age.'

   'And what is that?' inquired Saturn.

   'I do not exactly know,' replied Proserpine, 'but one hears of it everywhere.'

   'I also heard of it a great deal,' replied Saturn, 'and was also recommended to conform to it. Before doing so, however, I thought it as well to ascertain its nature, and something also of its strength.'

   'It is terribly strong,' observed Proserpine.

   'But you think it will be stronger?' inquired the ex-King.

   'Certainly; every day it is more powerful.'

   'Then if, on consideration, we were to deem resistance to it advisable, it is surely better to commence the contest at once than to postpone the struggle.'

   'It is useless to talk of resisting; one must conform.'

   'I certainly should consider resistance useless,' replied Saturn, 'for I tried it and failed; but at least one has a chance of success; and yet, having resisted this spirit and failed, I should not consider myself in a worse plight than you would voluntarily place yourself in by conforming to it.'

   'You speak riddles,' said Proserpine.

   'To be plain, then,' replied Saturn, 'I think you may as well at once give up your throne, as conform to this spirit.'

   'And why so?' inquired Proserpine very ingenuously.'

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