laugh at it as a mere enlargement of the peculiar features of the Composite order. He calls it a caprice rather than a taste. Nor do I see what concern a majority, as you term them, can have with a house that does not belong to them." Aristobulus was surprised any one could disregard a majority, for, in this respect, he a good deal resembled Mr. Dodge, though running a somewhat different career; and the look of surprise that he gave was natural and open. "I do not mean that the public has a legal right to control the tastes of the citizens," he said; but in a republican government, you undoubtedly understand, Miss Eve, it will rule in all things." "I can understand that a person might wish to see his neighbour display good taste, as it helps to embellish a country; but a man who should consult the whole neighbourhood before he built, would be very likely to erect a complicated house, if he paid much respect to the different opinions he received; or, what is quite as probable, have no house at all!" "I think you are mistaken, Miss Effingham; for the public sentiment just now runs almost exclusively and popularly into the Grecian school. We build little besides temples for our churches, our banks, our ta verns, our court-houses, and our dwellings: a friend of mine has just built a brewery on the model of the Temple of the Winds." "Had it been a mill, one might understand the conceit," said Eve; who now began to perceive that her visiter had some latent humour, though he produced it in such a manner as to induce one to think him anything but a droll. "The mountains must be doubly beautiful if they are decorated in the way you mention. I sincerely hope, Grace, that I shall find the hills as pleasant as they now exist in my recollection!" "Should they not prove to be quite as lovely as you imagine, Miss Effingham," returned Aristobulus, who saw no impropriety in answering a remark made to Miss Van Courtlandt, or any one else, "I hope you will have the kindness to conceal the fact from the world." "I am afraid that would exceed my power; my disappointment would be so strong. But may I ask why you desire that I should keep so cruel a mortification to myself?" "Why, Miss Eve," said Aristobulus, looking grave, "I am afraid that our people would hardly bear the expression of such an opinion from you." "From me! particular ?" And why not from me in "Perhaps it is because they think you have travelled, and have seen other countries." "And is it only those who have not travelled, and who have no means of knowing the value of what they see, that are privileged to criticise ?" "I cannot exactly explain my own meaning, perhaps; but I think Miss Grace will understand me. Do you not agree with me, Miss Van Courtlandt, in thinking it would be safer for one who never saw any other mountains to complain of the tameness and monotony of our own, than for one who had passed a whole life among the Andes and the Alps ?" Eve smiled, for she saw that Mr. Bragg was capable of detecting and laughing at provincial feeling, even while he was so much under its influence; and Grace coloured, for she had the consciousness of having already betrayed some of this very silly sensitiveness in her intercourse with her cousin in connection with other subjects. A reply was unnecessary, however, as the door just then opened, and John Effingham made his appearance. The meeting between the two gentlemen, for we suppose that Aristobulus must be included in this category, by courtesy, if not of right, was more cordial than Eve had expected, for each really entertained a respect for the other, in reference to a merit of a particular sort; Mr. Bragg esteeming Mr. John Effingham as a wealthy and caustic cynic; and Mr. John Effingham regarding Mr. Bragg much as the owner of |