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154
NIGHTMARE ABBEY.

hope, to dwell in others which are only fertile in the ruins of memory, does what none of those ancients, whose fragmentary memorials you venerate, would have done in similar circumstances.

Mr. Cypress.

Sir, I have quarrelled with my wife; and a man who has quarrelled with his wife is absolved from all duty to his country. I have written an ode to tell the people as much, and they may take it as they list.

Scythrop.

Do you suppose, if Brutus had quarrelled with his wife, he would have given it to Cassius as a reason for having nothing to do with his enterprise? Or would Cassius have been satisfied with such an excuse?

Mr. Flosky.

Brutus was a senator; so is our dear