see, that, under the idea of exalting me, he is chalking out a new path for

himself; a path of action from which he has long wandered?

"Let us assist him. He, the noble, the warlike, the great in every quality

that can adorn the mind and person of man; he is fitted to be the Protector

of England. If I--that is, if we propose him, he will assuredly be

elected, and will find, in the functions of that high office, scope for the

towering powers of his mind. Even Perdita will rejoice. Perdita, in whom

ambition was a covered fire until she married Raymond, which event was for

a time the fulfilment of her hopes; Perdita will rejoice in the glory and

advancement of her lord--and, coyly and prettily, not be discontented

with her share. In the mean time, we, the wise of the land, will return to

our Castle, and, Cincinnatus-like, take to our usual labours, until our

friend shall require our presence and assistance here."

The more Adrian reasoned upon this scheme, the more feasible it appeared.

His own determination never to enter into public life was insurmountable,

and the delicacy of his health was a sufficient argument against it. The

next step was to induce Raymond to confess his secret wishes for dignity

and fame. He entered while we were speaking. The way in which Adrian had

received his project for setting him up as a candidate for the

Protectorship, and his replies, had already awakened in his mind, the view

of the subject which we were now discussing. His countenance and manner

betrayed irresolution and anxiety; but the anxiety arose from a fear that

we should not prosecute, or not succeed in our idea; and his irresolution,

from a doubt whether we should risk a defeat. A few words from us decided

125

The Last Man