"It was," replied Severnius. "It was in active operation for a hundred or so years. Finally, when there was no more need of it, the State having undertaken the care of its poor, it passed into a sentiment, such as you have seen to-day." "A very costly and elaborate sentiment," I retorted. "Yes, and it is growing more so, all the time," said he. "I sometimes wonder where it is going to stop! For those who, like Elodia, have plenty of money, it does not matter; but some of the women we saw in those costly robes and ornaments can ill afford them,--they mean less of comfort in their homes and less of culture to their children." "I should think their husbands would not allow such a waste of money," I said, forgetting the social economy of Mars. "It does not cost any more than membership in the orders to which the husbands themselves belong," returned he. "They argue, of course, that they need the recreation, and also that membership in such hightoned clubs gives them and their children a better standing and greater influence in society." Severnius did not forget his usual corollary,--the question with which he topped out every explanation he made about his country and people. "Have you nothing of the sort on the Earth?" he asked. "Among the women?--we have not," I answered. "I did not specify," he said. "O, well, the men have," I admitted; "I belong to one such organization myself,--the City Guards." "And you guard the city?" "No; there is nothing to guard it against at present. It's a 'sentiment,' as you say." "And do you parade?" "Yes, of course, upon occasion,--there are certain great anniversaries in our nation's history when we appear." "And why not your women?" I smiled to myself, as I tried to fancy some of the New York ladies I knew, arrayed in gorgeous habiliments for an equestrian exhibition on Broadway. I replied, "Really, Severnius, the idea is entirely new to me. I think they would regard it as highly absurd." "Do they regard you as absurd?" he asked, in that way of his which I was often in doubt about, not knowing whether he was in earnest or not. "I'm sure I do not know," I said. "They may,--our women have a keen relish for the ludicrous. Still, I cannot think that they do; they appear to look upon us with pride. And they present us with an elaborate silken banner about once a year, stitched together by their own fair fingers and paid for out of their own pocket money. That does not look as though they were laughing at us exactly." I said this as much to convince myself as Severnius. The half-hour was up and we were at the Temple gate. The building, somewhat isolated, reared itself before us, a grand conception in chiseled marble, glinting in the brilliant lights shot upon it from various high points. Already it was dark beyond the radius of these lights,--neither of the moons having yet appeared.