And it is a deadening thought to mental ambition, that the circle of happiness we can create is formed more by our moral than our mental qualities.

A warm heart, though accompanied but by a mediocre understanding, is even more likely to promote the happiness of those around, than are the absorbed and abstract, though kindly powers of a more elevated genius; but (observing Lester about to interrupt him), let us turn from this topic,--let us turn from man's weakness to the glories of the mother-nature, from which he sprung." And kindling, as he ever did, the moment he approached a subject so dear to his studies, Aram now spoke of the stars, which began to sparkle forth,--of the vast, illimitable career which recent science had opened to the imagination,--and of the old, bewildering, yet eloquent theories, which from age to age had at once misled and elevated the conjecture of past sages.

All this was a theme which his listeners loved to listen to, and Madeline not the least.

Youth, beauty, pomp, what are these, in point of attraction, to a woman's heart, when compared to eloquence ?--the magic of the tongue is the most dangerous of all spells!.