"Pardon me," replied Quincy, "if I have unintentionally wounded your feelings, but after all life is only precious to those who have something to live for."
"But you certainly," said Alice, "can see something in life worth living for."
"Yes," assented Quincy, "I can see it, but I am not satisfied in my own mind that I shall ever be able to possess it."
"Oh, you must work and wait and hope!" cried Alice.
"I shall be happy to," he said, "if you will be kind and say an encouraging word to me, so that I may not grow weary of the battle of life."
"I should be pleased to help you all I can," she said sweetly.
"I shall need your help," Quincy remarked gravely, and then with a quick change in tone he said playfully, "I think it is about time for the judge to get back upon the bench."
"This," said Alice, as she passed him a manuscript enclosed in a cover, "is my capital offence. If I escape punishment for my other misdemeanors, I know I shall not when you have read this." And she handed him the paper.
Quincy opened it and read, The Lord of the Sea, a Cantata.
CHARACTERS.