After these congratulations, and others to the same purpose, the real state of the case could no longer be hidden. Instead of the mortification and defeat confidently expected, I had unwittingly made a ten-strike upon that erratic set of pins, the Foxden public. The Young Men, who knew me only as the [Greek: gelôtopoios], or laughter-maker, of their merry association, considered the sombre getting up and energetic delivery of the Cheops lecture the very best joke I had ever perpetrated. Some of the most influential citizens, as has been already seen, were personally gratified in the general dustiness of the subject; while others, perchance, were able to doze in the consciousness that the opinions of Cheops upon such disturbing topics as Temperance, Anti-Slavery, and Woman's Rights must necessarily be of a patriarchal and comforting character. But the glory of the unlooked-for triumph seemed strangely lessened by the reflection that I had no just claim to the funereal plumage with which I had so happily decked myself. "Gentlemen," said I, "I ought to tell you that the address I have delivered this evening is--in fact--is not original." "That's just why we like it," rejoined Dr. Dastick. "No young man should be original; it is a great impertinence, if he tries to be." "I do not mean simply to acknowledge an indebtedness to the ancient authorities quoted in the lecture; but--but, the truth is, that the arrangement and composition cannot properly be called my own." "Not the least consequence," said Colonel Prowler. "You showed a commendable modesty in seeking the aid of any discreet and learned person. You know I offered to give you what assistance was in my power; but you found--unexpectedly, at the last moment, perhaps--some wiser friend." "Most unexpectedly,--at the very last moment," I murmured. "As for originality," said the clergyman, pleasantly, "when you have come to my age, you will cease to trouble yourself much about it. No man can accomplish anything important without a large indebtedness to those who have lived, as well as to those who live. We know that the old fathers not only dared to lack originality, but even to consider times and peoples in their selection and treatment of topics. _Non quod sentiunt, sed quod necesse est dicunt_, may be said of them in no disparagement. For, not to mention others, I might quote Cyprian, Minutius, Lactantius, and Hilarius,"----