SQUILLS.--"If it be not too great a liberty, pray who or what is Camarina?" MR. CAXTON.--"Camarina, Mr. Squills, was a lake apt to be low, and then liable to be muddy; and 'Don't disturb Camarina' was a Greek proverb derived from an Oracle of Apollo; and from that Greek proverb, no doubt, comes the origin of the injunction, '_Quieta non movere_,' which became the favorite maxim of Sir Robert Walpole and Parson Dale. The Greek line, Mr. Squills (here my father's memory began to warm) is preserved by STEPHANUS BYZANTINUS, de _Urbibus_-- [Greek: 'Mê kinei Kamarinan, akinêtos gar ameinôn.'] ZENOBIUS explains it in his Proverbs; SUIDAS repeats ZENOBIUS; LUCIAN alludes to it; so does VIRGIL in the Third Book of the ÆNEID; and SILIUS ITALICUS imitates Virgil-- 'Et cui non licitum fatis Camarina moveri.' Parson Dale, as a clergyman and a scholar, had, no doubt, these authorities at his fingers' end. And I wonder he did not quote them," quoth my father; "but, to be sure, he is represented as a mild man, and so might not wish to humble the Squire over-much in the presence of his family. Meanwhile, My Novel is My Novel; and now that that matter is settled, perhaps the tongs, poker, and shovel may be picked up, the children may go to bed, Blanche and Kitty may speculate apart upon the future dignities of the Neogilos, taking care, nevertheless, to finish the new pinbefores he requires for the present; Roland may cast up his account-book, Mr. Squills have his brandy and water, and all the world be comfortable, each in his own way. Blanche, come away from the screen, get me my slippers, and leave Pisistratus to himself. [Greek: Mê kinei Kamarinan]--don't disturb Camarina. You see, my dear," added my father, kindly, as, after settling himself into his slippers, he detained Blanche's hand in his own--"you see, my dear, every house has its Camarina. Man, who is a lazy animal, is quite content to let it alone; but woman, being the more active, bustling, curious creature, is always for giving it a sly stir." BLANCHE, with female dignity.--"I assure you, that if Pisistratus had not called me, I should not have--" MR. CAXTON, interrupting her, without lifting his eyes from the book he has already taken.--"Certainly you would not. I am now in the midst of the great Puseyite Controversy. [Greek: Mê kinei Kamarinan]--don't disturb Camarina." A dead silence for half an hour, at the end of which, PISISTRATUS, from behind the screen.--"Blanche, my dear, I want to consult you." Blanche does not stir. PISISTRATUS.--"Blanche, I say." Blanche glances in triumph toward Mr. Caxton. Mr. CAXTON, laying down his theological tract, and rubbing his spectacles mournfully.--"I hear him, child; I hear him. I retract my vindication of Man. Oracles warn in vain; so long as there is a woman on the other side of the screen--it is all up with Camarina!" CHAPTER II.