earth, were it but to find out our path; and then we discover that our idol has feet of clay!"
"Is there no such thing as excellence?" exclaimed his listener.
"Very far from it. I admit that there are a great many excellent things in this world; Sir Robert's last measures, for example," returned his uncle, half smiling. "I would only warn you against youth's usual error of believing and expecting too much—not that I expect you to take my warning. I do not often give advice: first, because it is a bad habit that of giving any thing; and, secondly, because I always think of the ambassador's answer to Oliver's declaration, 'that if the court of Spain cut off his head, he would send them the heads of every Spaniard in his dominions.' 'Yes, please your highness,' returned the diplomatist, 'but among them all there may not be one to fit my shoulders.' In like manner, with all our choice of other people's experience, there is never any that suits us but our own."
