relative," said Shagoth, in anger. "How soon these
upstarts forget their poverty when they are permitted to mingle in good
society."

"And how soon they forget the kind hands that lifted them up from their
low estate!" answered Scribbo, casting a reproachful glance in the
direction of Apgomer.

"Now, cousins," said Apgomer, smilingly, "since these charges are thrown
out against me, without going through the usual form of asking
permission, I shall at once take the liberty of repelling them.

"In the first place, I am charged with being an 'upstart,' and of too
soon forgetting my poverty. This I deny. I have, by no means, forgotten
my own poverty, or the low condition of my ancestors. Let us look at this
for a moment. Painful as it may be, I believe ye do occasionally admit
that I am your cousin. Well, then, be it remembered that I am your
cousin. Our fathers were brothers, and our grandfather was one and the
same person. It is well known to you that our respected grand-sire was an
individual who had to plod his way along through the very steeps of
poverty, and procure a little bread for his family by humble employments.
In poverty he lived, and in deep poverty he would have died, had it not
been for the grateful regard of one of his sons; of the other, I have
nothing to say at present. Now to some, who have suddenly risen from
poverty to a degree of affluence, it proves a source of deep
mortification to remember that they sprang from a low origin. But is this
the case with your cousin Apgomer? Have I forgotten the source whence I
sprang? Does it create a blush on this cheek to remember that my
grandfather was poor, and that my father had to win his bread through the
sweat of his brow? Whoever has forgotten the poverty of his father and
grandfather, be it known that Apgomer is not that youth.

"So much in regard to the first charge. Now for the second. I am accused
of forgetting those 'kind friends, who lifted me up from my low estate.'
Those friendly hands who helped me to the situation I now hold are, by no
means, forgotten; they are deeply graven upon a grateful memory. While
this pulse shall beat, and while this heart shall throb, the names of
Barzello and Joram will, by me, be fondly cherished. Then there was much
opposition from certain quarters. There were those who could not discern
the propriety of my being elevated to an equality with those of greater
wealth; and I am not sure, since the king has not seen f