at dinner to-day? You don't like being in his
company? He can't do you any harm; and I am sure you will do him none."
Kind speeches like these addressed by a little girl to a gentleman, and
spoken by a strange inadvertency in company, and when other gentlemen
and ladies were present, were not likely to render Mr. Warrington very
eager for the society of the young American lady.

George's meeting with Mr. Will was not known for some days in Dean
Street, for he did not wish to disturb those kind folks with his
quarrel; but when the ladies were made aware of it, you may be sure
there was a great flurry and to-do. "You were actually going to take a
fellow-creature's life, and you came to see us, and said not a word! Oh,
George, it was shocking!" said Theo.

"My dear, he had insulted me and my brother," pleaded George. "Could I
let him call us both cowards, and sit by and say, Thank you?"

The General sate by and looked very grave.

"You know you think, papa, it is a wicked and un-Christian practice; and
have often said you wished gentlemen would have the courage to refuse!"

"To refuse? Yes," says Mr. Lambert, still very glum.

"It must require a prodigious strength of mind to refuse," says Jack
Lambert, looking as gloomy as his father; "and I think if any man were
to call me a coward, I should be apt to forget my orders."

"You see brother Jack is with me!" cries George.

"I must not be against you, Mr. Warrington," says Jack Lambert.

"Mr. Warrington!" cries George, turning very red.

"Would you, a clergyman, have George break the Commandments, and commit
murder, John?" asks Theo, aghast.

"I am a soldier's son, sister," says the young divine, drily. "Besides,
Mr. Warrington has committed no murder at all. We must soon be hearing
from Canada, father. The great question of the supremacy of the two
races must be tried there ere long!" He turned his back on George as he
spoke, and the latter eyed him with wonder.

Hetty, looking rather pale at this original remark of brother Jack,
is called out of the room by some artful pretext of her sister. George
started up and followed the retreating girls to the door.

"Great powers, gentlemen!" says he, coming back, "I believe, on my
honour, you are giving me the credit of shirking this affair with Mr.
Esmond!" The clergyman and his father looked at one another.

"A man's nearest and dearest are always the first to insult him," says
George, flashing out.

"You mean t