ay,' said Aunt, 'this is intolerable.' 'We ought to request
them to stop,' replied father, glancing at N--r. 'It would be better to
avoid a quarrel and any scandal,' replied the latter without daring to
look up. 'Why can't we remain quietly here, and let these children of
the world continue their talk, which doesn't concern us.' 'Us?' said my
good father rising. 'I should think, as we're sitting at the same
table, it concerned us all if any person behaved rudely to one. I'll
see whether this babbling mouth can't be stopped.' 'Would you--?'
exclaimed N--r in astonishment, but father did not hear him. He had
approached the table, courteously raised his hat, and said a few words
in a tone so low, that I did not understand them; there was a strange
roaring noise in my ears. I only saw his dear, gentle, honest eyes
flash with an unusual light, a flush mount to his cheeks, and an
expression of such firm resolution rest upon his features, that even
the blustering young officer remained perfectly quiet, and no one
interrupted him. When he had finished, he paused a moment to ascertain
whether they had anything to say, then as all were silent and only the
principal hero faltered a few incoherent words, father smiled very
pleasantly, raised his hat again, and bowed to the whole table.
Meantime the orchestra began, and when the piece was over, our
neighbors departed, courteously raising their caps to my dear, knightly
father, in doing which the ex-orator did not even venture to look at
me.

"N--r was overwhelmed with shame, but father behaved as if nothing had
happened. Afterwards when we were driving home with Aunt (my peaceful
suitor had found some pretext to bid us farewell,) he took occasion to
tell her that in the future she need not encourage this singular person
to visit our house. 'I know,' said he, 'that we're told to turn the
right cheek when smitten on the left. But although I greatly desire
always to be disposed to forgive insults to myself, as soon as they are
addressed to another, especially a lady, you must allow me to defend
myself and hold the man who either has not the heart or spirit to do
so, a weakling, with whom I prefer to have no intercourse.'

"When we were at home and alone, I threw my arms around my dear, noble
papa's neck and kissed him till he was fairly out of breath and began
to scold, though there were tears of joy in his eyes.

"N--r was not mentioned by either of us. I think I shall not see him