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You are fond of that kind of reading?"

"To say the truth, I do not much like any other"

"Indeed!"

"That is, I can read poetry and plays, and things of that sort, and do not dislike travels But history, real solemn history, I cannot be interested in Can you?"

"Yes, I am fond of history"

"I wish I were too I read it a little as a duty, but it tellsthat does not either vex or weary s, ars or pestilences, in every page; the , and hardly any women at all--it is very tiresome: and yet I often think it odd that it should be so dull, for a great deal of it must be invention The speeches that are put into the heroes' ns--the chief of all this hts me in other books"

"Historians, you think," said Miss Tilney, "are not happy in their flights of fancy They display i interest I am fond of history--and am very well contented to take the false with the true In the principal facts they have sources of intelligence in former histories and records, whichthat does not actually pass under one's own observation; and as for the little embellishments you speak of, they are embellishments, and I like them as such If a speech be well drawn up, I read it with pleasure, by whoreater, if the production of Mr Huenuine words of Caractacus, Agricola, or Alfred the Great"

"You are fond of history! And so are Mr Allen and my father; and I have two brothers who do not dislike it So many instances within my small circle of friends is remarkable! At this rate, I shall not pity the writers of history any longer If people like to read their books, it is all very well, but to be at so reat voluly ever look into, to be labouring only for the torirls, always struck ht and necessary, I have often wondered at the person's courage that could sit down on purpose to do it"