THE NEW PAUL AND VIRGINIA or POSITIVISM ON AN ISLAND BY W.H. MALLOCK AUTHOR OF 'THE NEW REPUBLIC' ETC. LONDON CHATTO & WINDUS, PICCADILLY 1890 _'Pessimism as to the essential dignity of man is one of the surest marks of the enervating influence of this dream of a celestial glory.'_ Mr Frederic Harrison 'Those who can read the signs of the times read in them that the kingdom of man is at hand'--Professor CLIFFORD Thou art smitten, o God, thou art smitten; thy curse is upon thee, O Lord! And the love song of earth as thou diest, resounds through the wind of its wings, Glory to man in the highest, for man is the master of things _Songs before Sunrise_ CONTENTS. Chapter I. Chapter II. Chapter III. Chapter IV. Chapter V. Chapter VI. Chapter VII. Chapter VIII. Chapter IX. Chapter X. Chapter XI. Chapter XII. Chapter XIII. Chapter XIV. Chapter XV. Chapter XVI. Chapter XVII. Chapter XVIII. Notes _THE NEW PAUL AND VIRGINIA._ CHAPTER I. The magnificent ocean-steamer the _Australasian_ was bound for England, on her homeward voyage from Melbourne, carrying Her Majesty's mails and ninety-eight first-class passengers. Never did vessel start under happier auspices. The skies were cloudless; the sea was smooth as glass. There was not a sound of sickness to be heard anywhere; and when dinner-time came there was not a single absentee nor an appetite wanting. But the passengers soon discovered they were lucky in more than weather. Dinner was hardly half over before two of the company had begun to attract general attention; and every one all round the table was wondering, in whispers, who they could possibly be. One of the objects of this delightful curiosity was a large-boned, middle-aged man, with gleaming spectacles, and lank, untidy hair; whose coat fitted him so ill, and who held his head so high, that one saw at a glance he was some great celebrity. The other was a beautiful lady of about thirty years of age, the like of whom nobody present had ever seen before. She had the fairest hair and the darkest eyebrows, the largest eyes and the smallest waist conceivable; art and nature had been plainly struggling as to which should do the most for her; whilst her bearing was so haughty and distinguished, her glance so tender, and her dress so expensive and so fascinating, that she seemed at the same time to defy and to court attention.