" After labor," he said, " refreshment. Prebendary, you have
always held that milk punch, made with care and taken in modera-
tion, is sovereign against many evils."

"The creature called rum," said his reverence, "hath the
strength of an elephant — his madness too, unless he is curbed
and made gentle by the addition of milk, water, spices, lemon,
and sugar. Mrs, Comines, you have, I always maintain, a light






I-




THE TxEW YORK '.
•ASTCR, LSNOX
TILDEH FOUNDATION \



ST. katherine's by the towbr. 17

and skilful hand. Nowhere, not even at Cambridge, do I taste
better punch. Let us drink — madam, you will permit me ? — let
us drink confusion to all revolutionists, enemies of the country,
radicals, corresponding circles, and preachers of a fond and vain
equality."

All raised their glasses. As for me, I hesitated. Sylvia came
to my aid. " I must taste from your glass, brother," she said,
and so I escaped. If I drank the punch, I did not, as the oth-
ers, drink it to the confusion of my friends.
"There is," said the divine, " an equality among scholars, as
of those pursuing a common object ; as among gentlemen, as all
knowing and obeying the laws of politeness ; as among private
soldiers, the rank and file, mechanics and tradesmen, as being
all expected to fulfil certain duties and to obey authority. There
is equality among all men in respect that we have all one life,
one soul, and one salvation. There is equality among those in
high oflBce, as in the Bench of Bishops all may be called equal.
