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86 "They were so, Sir," returned the critic,—"we make it a rule in our profession to assert that fact!"

"But, Sir," said Paul, "they were wrong now and then."

"Never! Ignoramus, never!"

"They praised poverty, Mr. Mac Grawler!" said Paul with a sigh.

"Hem!" quoth the critic, a little staggered, but presently recovering his characteristic acumen, he observed—

"It is true, Paul; but that was the poverty of other people."

There was a slight pause. "Criticism," renewed Paul, "must be a most difficult art."

"A-hem!—and what art is there, Sir, that is not difficult?—at least to become master of."

"True," sighed Paul; "or else——"

"Or else what, boy?" repeated Mr. Mac Grawler, seeing that Paul hesitated either from fear of his superior knowledge, as the critic's vanity suggested, or from (what was equally likely) want of a word to express his meaning.

"Why, I was thinking, Sir," said Paul, with