THE ANCIENT NATION. CHAPTER I. A PREJUDICE. "A proverb and a byword."-DEUT. xxviii. 37. "YOU OU seem to be having an animated discussion," remarked Mrs. Conway, as she joined her young party in the library of Thornhill Manor, after settling all her usual domestic arrangements, one morning. And as she spoke she took her seat in her own particular armchair, and drew a basket of odds and ends towards her. "Well, we were," said Martin Seymour, laughing as he spoke. "Apparently, Mrs. Conway, we have been talking whilst you've been working. However, let's set to work now, if you please. Here, I can cover these little books for you, at any rate; may I?" “Oh, yes, if you will, and thank you; but in truth you need not drag Janet into your confession of idleness; for evidently she has been busy enough." "It was "I never meant to do so," returned the youth. only ourselves, we worthless boys, that I meant." "Well, I don't call people idle when they are talking |