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274 Tasmania, and, for all I know to the contrary, condemned and despised by those who do know me. I decline the honour with thanks. To accept it would only expose me to derision and contempt. A very slight thing, Julius, if I may dare to call you by your Christian name, will often raise up for us a tempest of indignation when we least expect it, and the friend of years will suddenly become our bitterest enemy. And while we are on the subject of names, why may not I give this magnificent lake, which is, to borrow the exclamation of a classical friend, Lacus Superbus rather than Lacus Magnus—a name which will stick to it until the trees around us shall become so many balloons, to waft all good men and women to realms of eternal bliss—why not, I say, call it Lake Julius Rabbitonius?'

He roared with laughter, and exclaimed: 'No; that would be too absurd altogether. Lake Ubertus let it be for ever and ever, amen! I have said it, I am entitled to respect; I am the oldest man in your beautiful and romantic island.'

We were now approaching the lonely shepherd's hut, where we hoped to procure food and lodging for the night. Before we entered it, however, the Doctor stopped suddenly, and, with a solemn air, addressed me thus:

'Ubertus, before our spiritual intercourse shall be, as it must soon be, broken in upon by the earthly language and opinions of men still in the flesh, and by the presence of to whom our lamp of knowledge and experience is nothing but a dark shadow, or an impenetrable veil, I will be serious, and make this confession for the good of my soul. I have been too light and vain, and too fond of the world. For every loud laugh I have enjoyed at the expense of my fellow men I have paid the full price in tears, as it were, of blood. For every evil desire and impure thought a certain penalty has been exacted. Even when an over-