"Entirely mistaken," said Mivers, "and for this reason: in politics formerly there was a direct choice between good and evil. That rarely exists now. Men of high education, having to choose whether to accept or reject a measure forced upon their option by constituent bodies of very low education, are called upon to weigh evil against evil,--the evil of accepting or the evil of rejecting; and if they resolve on the first, it is as the lesser evil of the two." "Your definition is perfect," said Gordon, "and I am contented to rest on it my excuse for what my cousin deems insincerity." "I suppose that is real life," said Kenelm, with his mournful smile. "Of course it is," said Mivers. "Every day I live," sighed Kenelm, "still more confirms my conviction that real life is a phantasmal sham. How absurd it is in philosophers to deny the existence of apparitions! what apparitions we, living men, must seem to the ghosts! "'The spirits of the wise Sit in the clouds and mock us.'" CHAPTER VI. CHILLINGLY GORDON did not fail to confirm his acquaintance with Kenelm. He very often looked in upon him of a morning, sometimes joined him in his afternoon rides, introduced him to men of his own set who were mostly busy members of Parliament, rising barristers, or political journalists, but not without a proportion of brilliant idlers,--club men, sporting men, men of fashion, rank, and fortune. He did so with a purpose, for these persons spoke well of him,--spoke well not only of his talents, but of his honourable character. His general nickname amongst them was "HONEST GORDON." Kenelm at first thought this sobriquet must be ironical; not a bit of it. It was given to him on account of the candour and boldness with which he expressed opinions embodying that sort of cynicism which is vulgarly called "the absence of humbug." The man was certainly no hypocrite; he affected no beliefs which he did not entertain. And he had very few beliefs in anything, except the first half of the adage, "Every man for himself,--and God for us all."