morning, do we? It appears to me that we have all the vices of a philosopher."
The boy got to his feet and made a grave salutation.
"And how is our patient?" asked Desprez.
It appeared the patient was about the same.
"And why do you rise early in the morning?" he pursued.
Jean-Marie, after a long silence, professed that he hardly knew.
"You hardly know?" repeated Desprez. "We hardly know anything, my man, until we try to learn. Interrogate your consciousness. Come, push me this inquiry home. Do you like it?"
"Yes," said the boy slowly; "yes, I like it."
"And why do you like it?" continued the Doctor. "(We are now pursuing the Socratic method.) Why do you like it?"
"It is quiet," answered Jean-Marie; "and I have nothing to do; and then I feel as if I were good."
Doctor Desprez took a seat on the post at the opposite side. He was beginning to take an interest in the talk, for the boy plainly thought before he spoke, and tried to answer truly. "It appears you have a taste for feeling good," said the Doctor. "Now, there you puzzle me extremely; for I thought you said you were a thief; and the two are incompatible."
"Is it very bad to steal?" asked Jean-Marie.
"Such is the general opinion, little boy," replied the Doctor.
"No; but I mean as I stole," explained the other. "For I had no choice. I think it is surely right to
