ible。 So let cressets flare into the night from all the hills！ It is no purchased exultation； no servile flattery。 The People acclaims itself； yet not without genuine gratitude and affection towards the Representative of its glory and its power。 The Constitutional pact has been well preserved。 Review the record of kingdoms； and say how often it has e to pass that sovereign and people rejoiced together over bloodless victories。
XXI
At an inn in the north I once heard three men talking at their breakfast on the question of diet。 They agreed that most people ate too much meat； and one of them went so far as to declare that； for his part； he rather preferred vegetables and fruit。 〃Why；〃 he said； 〃will you believe me that I sometimes make a breakfast of apples？〃 This announcement was received in silence； evidently the two listeners didn't quite know what to think of it。 Thereupon the speaker； in rather a blustering tone； cried out； 〃Yes； I can make a very good breakfast on TWO OR THREE POUNDS OF APPLES。〃
Wasn't it amusing？ And wasn't it characteristic？ This honest Briton had gone too far in frankness。 'Tis all very well to like vegetables and fruits up to a certain point； but to breakfast on apples！ His panions' silence proved that they were just a little ashamed of him； his confession savoured of poverty or meanness； to right himself in their opinion； nothing better occurred to the man than to protest that he ate apples； yes； but not merely one or two； he ate them largely； BY THE POUND！ I laughed at the fellow； but I thoroughly understood him； so would every Englishman； for at the root of our being is a hatred of parsimony。 This manifests itself in all sorts of ludicrous or contemptible forms； but no less is it the source of our finest qualities。 An Englishman desires； above all； to live largely； on that account he not only dreads； but hates and despises； poverty。 His virtues are those of the free…handed and warm…hearted opulent man； his weaknesses e of the sense of inferiority （intensely painful and humiliating） which attaches in his mind to one who cannot spend and give； his vices； for the most part； originate in loss of self…respect due to loss of secure position。
XXII
For a nation of this temper； the movement towards democracy is fraught with peculiar dangers。 Profoundly aristocratic in his sympathies； the Englishman has always seen in the patrician class not merely a social； but a moral； superiority； the man of blue blood was to him a living representative of those potencies and virtues which made his ideal of the worthy life。 Very significant is the cordial alliance from old time between nobles and people； free； proud homage on one side answering to gallant championship on the other； both classes working together in the cause of liberty。 However great the sacrifices of the mon folk for the maintenance of aristocratic power and splendour； they were gladly made； this was the Englishman's religion； his inborn pietas； in the depths of the dullest soul moved a perception of the ethic meaning attached to lordship。 Your Lord was the privileged being endowed by descent with generous instincts； and possessed of means to show them forth in act。 A poor noble was a contradiction in terms； if such a person existed； he could only be spoken of with wondering sadness； as though he were the victim of some freak of nature。 The Lord was Honourable； Right Honourable； his acts； his words virtually constituted the code of honour whereby the nation lived。
In a new world； beyond the ocean； there grew up a new race； a scion of England； which shaped its life without regard to the principle of hereditary lordship； and in course of time this triumphant Republic began to shake the ideals of the Motherland。 Its civilization； spite of superficial resemblances； is not English； let him who will think it superior； all one cares to say is that it has already shown in a broad picture the natural tendencies of English blood when emancipated from the old cult。 Easy to understand that some there are who see nothing but evil in the influence of that vast monwealth。 If it has done us good； assuredly the fact is not yet demonstrable。 In old England； democracy is a thing so alien to our traditions and rooted sentiment that the line of its progress seems hitherto a mere track of ruin。 In the very word is something from which we shrink； it seems to signify nothing less than a national apostasy； a denial of the faith in which we won our glory。 The democratic Englishman is； by the laws of his own nature； in parlous case； he has lost the ideal by which he guided his rude； prodigal； domineering instincts； in place of the Right Honourable； born to noble things； he has set up the mere Plebs； born； more likely than not； for all manner of baseness。 And； amid all his show of loud self…confidence； the man is haunted with misgiving。
The task before us is no light one。 Can we； whilst losing the class； retain the idea it embodied？ Can we English； ever so subject to the material； liberate ourselves from that old association； yet guard its meaning in the sphere of spiritual life？ Can we； with eyes which have ceased to look reverently on worn…out symbols； learn to select from among the grey…coated multitude； and place in reverence even higher him who 〃holds his patent of nobility straight from Almighty God〃？ Upon that depends the future of England。 In days gone by； our very Snob bore testimony after his fashion to our scorn of meanness； he at all events imagined himself to be imitating those who were incapable of a sordid transaction； of a plebeian pliance。 But the Snob； one notes； is in the way of degeneracy； he has new exemplars； he speaks a ruder language。 Him； be sure； in one form or another； we shall have always with us； and to observe his habits is to note the tenor of the time。 If he have at the back of his dim mind no living ideal which lends his foolishness a generous significance； then indeed……videant consules。
XXIII
A visit from N…。 He stayed with me two days； and I wish he could have stayed a third。 （Beyond the third day； I am not sure that any man would be wholly wele。 My strength will bear but a certain amount of conversation； even the pleasantest； and before long I desire solitude； which is rest。）
The mere sight of N…； to say nothing of his talk； did me good。 If appearances can ever be trusted； there are few men who get more enjoyment out of life。 His hardships were never excessive； they did not affect his health or touch his spirits； probably he is in every way a better man for having……as he says……〃gone through the mill。〃 His recollection of the time when he had to work hard for a five… pound note； and was not always sure of getting it； obviously lends gusto to his present state of ease。 I persuaded him to talk about his successes； and to give me a glimpse of their meaning in solid cash。 Last Midsummer day； his receipts for the twelvemonth were more than two thousand pounds。 Nothing wonderful； of course； bearing in mind what some men are making by their pen； but very good for a writer who does not address the baser throng。 Two thousand pounds in a year！ I gazed at him with wonder and admiration。
I have known very few prosperous men of letters； N… represents for me the best and brightest side of literary success。 Say what one will after a lifetime of disillusion； the author who earns largely by honest and capable work is among the few enviable mortals。 Think of N…'s existence。 No other man could do what he is doing； and he does it with ease。 Two； or at most three； hours' work a day……and that by no means every day……suffices to him。 Like all who write； he has his unfruitful times； his mental worries； his disappointments； but these bear no proportion to the hours of happy and effective labour。 Every time I see him he looks in better health； for of late years he has taken much more exercise； and he is often travelling。 He is happy in his wife and children； the thought of all the forts and pleasures he is able to give them must be a constant joy to him； were he to die； his family is safe from want。 He has friends and acquaintances as many as he desires； congenial folk gather at his table； he is wele in pleasant houses near and far； his praise is upon the lips of all whose praise is worth having。 With all this； he has the good sense to avoid manifest dangers； he has not abandoned his privacy； and he seems to be in no danger of being spoilt by good fortune。 His work is more to him than a means of earning money； he talks about a book he has in hand almost as freshly and keenly as in the old days； when his annual ine was barely a couple of hundred。 I note； too； that his leisure is not swamped with the publications of the day； he reads as many old books as new； and keeps many of his early enthusiasms。
He is one of the men I heartily like。 That he greatly cares for me I do not suppose； but this has nothing to do with the matter； enough that he likes my society well enough to make a special journey down into Devon。 I represent to him； of course； the days gone by； and for their sake he will always feel an interest in me。 Being ten years my junior； he must naturally regard me as an old buffer； I notice； indeed； that he is just a little too deferential at moments。 He feels a certain respect for some of my work； but thinks； I am sure； that I ceased writing none too soon……which is very true。 If I had not been such a lucky fellow……if at this moment I were still toiling for bread……it is probable that he and I would see each other very seldom； for N… has delicacy； and would shrink from bringing his high…spirited affluence face to face ； whilst I； on the other hand； should hate to think that he kept up my acquaintance from a sense of decency。 As it is we are very good friends； quite unembarrassed； and……for a couple of days…… really enjoy the sight and hearing of each other。 That I am able to give him a fortable bedroom； and set before him an eatable dinner； flatters my pride。 If I chose at any time to accept his hearty invitation； I can do so without moral twinges。
Two thousand pounds！ If； at N…'s age； I had achieved that ine； what would have been the result upon me？ Nothing but good； I know； but what form would the good have taken？ Should I have bee a social man； a giver of dinners； a member of clubs？ Or should I merely have begun； ten years sooner； the life I am living now？ That is more likely。
In my twenties I used to say to myself： what a splendid thing it will be WHEN I am the possessor of a thousand pounds！ Well； I have never possessed that sum……never anything like it……and now never shall。 Yet it was not an extravagant ambition； methinks； however primitive。
As we sat in the garden dusk； the scent of our pipes mingling with that of roses； N… said to me in a laughing tone： 〃e now； tell me how you felt when you first heard of your legacy？〃 And I could not tell him； I had nothing to say； no vivid recollection of the moment would e back to me。 I am afraid N… thought he had been indiscreet； for he passed quickly to another subject。 Thinking it over now； I see； of course； that it would be impossible to put into words the feeling of that supreme moment of life。 It was not joy that possessed me； I did not exult； I did not lose control of myself in any way。 But I remember drawing one or two deep sig