it was a piece of humbug certainly, but not
intended to offend her."

"I'm afraid there was more in it, Hycy," observed Bryan; "an' that if
she had been foolish or inexperienced enough to meet you or listen to
your discourse, it might a' been worse for herself. You were mistaken
there though."

"She is not a girl to be humbugged, I grant, Bryan--very far from it,
indeed; and now that you and she understand each other I will go farther
for both your sakes, and say, that I regret having written such a letter
to such an admirable young woman as she is. To tell you the truth,
Bryan, I shall half envy you the possession of such a wife."

"As to that," replied the other, smiling, "we'll keep never minding--but
you have spoken fairly and honestly on the subject of the letther,
an' I'm thankful to you; still, Hycy, you haven't answered my first
question--have you any ill feeling against me, or any intention to
injure me?"

"Neither one nor the other. I pledge you my honor and word I have no ill
feeling against you, nor any design to injure you."

"That's enough, Hycy," replied his companion; "I think I'm bound to
believe your words."

"You are, Bryan; but will you allow me to ask if any one ever told you
that I had--and if so, who was the person?"

"It's enough for you to know," said Bryan, "that whoever told it to me I
don't believe it."

"I certainly have a right to know," returned Hycy; "but as the matter
is false, and every way unfounded, I'll not press you upon it--all I can
say to satisfy you is, what I have said already--that I entertain no ill
will or unfriendly feeling towards you, and, consequently, can have no
earthly intention of doing you an injury even if I could, although at
the present moment I don't see how, even if I was willing."

"You have nothing particular that you'd wish to say to me?"

"No: devil a syllable."

"Nor a proposal of any kind to make me?"

Hycy pulled up his horse.

"Bryan, my good friend, let me look at you," he exclaimed. "Is it right
to have you at large? My word and honor I'm beginning to fear that
there's something wrong with your upper works."

"Never mind," replied Bryan, laughing, "I'm satisfied--the thing's a
mistake--so there's my hand to you, Hycy. I've no suspicion of the kind
against you and it's all right."

"What proposal, in heaven's name, could I have to make to you?"
exclaimed Hycy..

"There now," continued Bryan, "that'll do; didn't I say I was satisfi