"How strange to think that there could have been men like ourselves, and living in this beautiful and happy country, who I suppose had feelings and affections like ourselves, who could yet do such dreadful things.""Yes," said I, in a didactic tone; "yetafter all, even those days were a great improvement on the days that had gone before them. Have you not read of the Medieval period, and the ferocity of its criminal laws; and how in those days men fairly seemed to have enjoyed tormenting their fellow-men?--nay, for the matter of that, they made their God a tormenter and a jailer rather than anything else.""Yes," said Dick,"there are good books on the period also, some of which I have read. But as to the great improvement of the nineteenth century, I don't see it. After all, the Medieval folk acted after their conscience, as your remark shows about their God (which is true)shows, and they were ready to bear what they inflicted on others;whereas the nineteenth century ones were hypocrites, and pretended to be humane, and yet went on tormenting those whom they dared to treat so by shutting them up in prison, for no reason at all, except that they were what they themselves, the prison-masters, had forced them to be. O, it's horrible to think of!""But perhaps," said I, "they did not know what the prisons were like."Dick seemed roused, and even angry. "More shame for them," said he, "when you and i know it all these years afterwards. Look you, neighbor, they couldn't fail to know what a disgrace prison is to the Commonwealth at the best, and that their prisons were a good step on towards being at the worst."Quoth I: "But have you no prisons at all now?"As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I felt that I had made a mistake, for Dick flushed red and frowned, and the old man looked surprised and pained; and presently Dick said angrily, yet as if restraining himself somewhat:
"Man alive! how can you ask such a question? Have I not told you that we know what a prison means by the undoubted evidence of really trust-worthy books, helped out by our own imaginations? And haven't you specially called me to notice that the people about the roads and streets look happy? and how could they look happy if they knew that their neighbours were shut up in prison, while they bore such things quietly? And if there were people in prison, you couldn't hide it from folk, like you can an occasional man-slaying; because that isn't done of set purpose with a lot of people backing up the slayer in cold blood as this prison business is. Prisons, indeed! O no, no, no!"He stopped, and began to cool down, and said in a kind voice: "But forgive me! I needn't be so hot about it, since there are _not_ any prisons: I'm afraid you will think the worse of me for losing my temper. Of course, you, coming from the outlands, cannot be expected to know about these things. And now I'm afraid I have made you feel uncomfortable."In a way he had; but he was so generous in his heat, that I liked him the better for it, and I said: "No, really 'tis all my fault for being so stupid. Let me change the subject, and ask you what the stately building is on our left just showing at the end of that grove of plane trees?""Ah," he said, "that is an old building built before the middle of the twentieth century, and as you see, in a iiqueer fantastic style not over beautiful; but there are some fine things inside it, too, mostly pictures are kept as curiosities permanently it is called a National Gallery, perhaps after this one. of course there are a good many of them up and down the country."I didn't try to enlighten him, feeling the task too heavy, but Ipulled out my magnificent pipe and fell a-smoking, and the old horse jogged on again. As we went, I said:
"This pipe is a very elaborate toy, and you seem, so reasonable in this country and your architecture is so good, that I rather wonder at your turning out such trivialities."It struck me as I spoke that this was rather ungrateful of me, after having received such a fine present; but Dick didn't seem to notice my bad manners, but said:
