was ambitious, for at one time he asked Whitelock: ‘What if a man should take upon himself to be king?’ evidently having in view the regal power, and yet according to his own assertion he would rather have returned to his occupation as a farmer, than have undertaken the government of Britain. But in this, as in other acts, he recognised the call of God, (as he thought) and obeyed it.” _Q._ What do you know of the Girondins? (Book studied, Lord’s _Modern Europe_.) C. (aged 17):— “The Girondins were the perhaps most tolerant and reasonable of the revolutionary parties. They were a body of men who found the government of France under the king more than they could stand, and who were the first to welcome any changes, but were shocked and horrified at the dreadful riots and massacres which followed the fall of the throne. Such a party, representing justice and reform, could not be popular with the more violent Jacobins and like clubs. The day came when these latter were in power, and all the Girondins were thrown into prison. “They were all taken from prison before the Court of Justice for trial, and placed before the judge, where they sat quite silently; they were one by one condemned to execution, receiving the sentence of death with perfect calmness. Only their leader was seen to fall down; one of his companions leant over him and said: ‘What, are _you_ afraid?’ ‘Non,’ was the answer, ‘Je mours,’ he had stabbed himself with his dagger. “As the Girondins marched back to their cells, condemned to die the next morning, they all sang the ‘Marseillaise,’ as they had arranged, to tell their fellow-prisoners what the sentence had been. When they reached the prison a splendid supper was placed for them, and they all sat down with great cheerfulness to eat it, none of them showing the least signs of breaking down. Towards morning priests were sent to them, and very early in the day they all marched to the foot of the guillotine, singing as they went. They kept on singing a solemn chant when the executions commenced, which became fainter and fainter as one by one they were beheaded, until all were gone.” _Q._ Distinguish between _arrogant_ and _presumptuous_, _interference_ and _interposition_, _genuine_ and _authentic_, _hate_ and _detest_, _loathe_ and _abhor_, _education_ and _instruction_, _apprehend_ and _comprehend_, using each word in a sentence. (Book studied, Trench’s _Study of Words_.) E. (aged 15):— “A man who is ‘arrogant’ is a man who has right to what he wants, but who is harsh and exacting in taking it. A ‘presumptuous’ man is a man who expects more than is due and takes it. ‘Judge Jeffries was an _arrogant_ old man.’ ‘Charles II. was a _presumptuous_ king, he thought he could have absolute power.’