groan and complain because I don't visit them; but really this
is the first time I have been out of the house of an evening for a
month," continued Mr. Wittleworth, as he seated himself in the offered
chair, expecting the barber's family to appreciate his condescension in
this particular instance.

"The last time I went out of an evening," he added, "I called on my
friend Choate--you know Choate? Of course you do, Mr. Maggimore."

"I have not that honor," replied the barber, modestly.

"Choate's a good fellow--Choate is. He is the most gentlemanly person I
ever met, not even excepting Everett, who, by the way, was at Choate's
when I called upon him. Winthrop was there, too; but Winthrop is rather
stiff--Winthrop is. Of course I haven't anything to say against
Winthrop. He is a great man, talented, a good speaker, and all that
sort of thing; but you see he hasn't that companionable way with him
that Choate has. Of course you will not mention what I say to Winthrop,
for I don't want him to know but what I think as much of him as I do of
Choate or Everett."

Andre very kindly promised not to mention any disparaging allusion he
might make in regard to the honorable gentleman.

"In a private conversation one does not like to be held responsible for
remarks dropped without much reflection," continued Fitz. "I have
nothing against Winthrop, only he is not just like Choate. Choate is my
idea of a perfect gentleman--Choate is. But perhaps I am prejudiced in
Choate's favor. I used to be in the law business myself--in the same
office with Choate. Well, really, I didn't come here to talk about
Choate, or any of the rest of my friends. Isn't it singular how a light
remark, casually dropped, leads us off into a conversation which
occupies a whole evening?"

Andre acknowledged that it was singular how a light remark, casually
dropped, leads us into a conversation which occupies a whole evening;
but he hoped no light remark of Mr. Wittleworth would be expanded to
that extent, for his room was better than his company, now that the
family were at the high tide of happiness and prosperity.

"I suppose Miss Maggimore has informed you that she sent for me this
morning, in order to obtain the benefit of my advice," continued Fitz.

"Yes, sir, she did," replied Andre.

"The case was rather a singular one; and being alone, she needed the
counsel of some person of experience, and of extensive knowledge. She
sent for me, and I came," a