terity! the word has gulled men enough without my adding to the number. I, who loathe the living, can scarcely venerate the unborn. Lucy, believe me, that no man can mix largely with men in political life, and not despise every thing that in youth he adored! Age leaves us only one feeling—contempt!"
"Are you belied, then?" said Lucy, pointing to a newspaper, the organ of the party opposed to Brandon.—"Are you belied when you are here called 'ambitious?'—When they call you 'selfish,' and 'grasping'—I know they wrong you; but I confess that I have thought you ambitious; yet can he who despises men, desire their good opinion?"
"Their good opinion!" repeated Brandon, mockingly. "Do we want the bray of the asses we ride?—No!" he resumed after a pause. "It is power, not honour—it is the hope of elevating oneself in every respect, in the world without, as well as in the world of one's own mind: it is this hope which makes me labour where I might rest, and will continue the labour to my grave.—Lucy," continued Brandon, fixing his keen eyes on his
