keenly at the speaker, then answered,
with a light laugh:--

"Yes, yes, just so; I didn't apply my remark beyond myself; in fact,
it's something _I_ never could stand."

"We have extended our walk as far as we intended for to-night, have we
not, brother? Mr. Clinton, we bid you good evening," said Guly, as they,
for the third time, gained the gate by which they had entered the
square.

Mr. Clinton looked up in astonishment.

"No! you don't mean to leave so? Come, let's just step over to
Royal-street, and take a glass of soda-water. You will find it so
refreshing."

Poor Arthur "felt his pockets bare," and was about to refuse, when Mr.
Clinton slipped a hand through his arm, and drew him with him, saying,
as he did so:--

"You know it's _my_ treat this time, Pratt. Don't refuse a friend."

As Arthur moved away with him, Guly determined not to leave his side for
an instant, while in the presence of so dangerous a companion, and
though his heart went down as he saw Arthur thus forgeting all his
new-formed resolutions, yet he hoped for the best, and went with him
resolutely.

They entered a richly ornamented saloon, where all that could please the
palate or tickle the taste was most temptingly displayed; and Clinton,
tossing a gold half-eagle upon the marble counter, called for "a few
choice titbits and a bottle of wine."

As the last desideratum was named, Guly glanced anxiously toward his
brother, but Arthur's eye was turned another way, and when the collation
was brought he sat readily down at the table by Clinton's side. Guly did
not wish to appear ill-bred or impolite, and he accepted the hearty
invitation of his new acquaintance to "sit by," with as good a grace as
he could command. Of the wine, however, he could not be prevailed upon
to touch a drop--though he did not fail to perceive the sneer that
curled Mr. Clinton's thin lip at his refusal.

"You don't mean to say," said the last mentioned gentleman,
half-pityingly, "that you expect to remain in New-Orleans any length of
time without learning to drink wine?"

"I shall never touch a drop, sir, unless absolutely necessary in a case
of sickness."

"Bah! anybody would know you were from the North, my dear fellow, just
by that speech. Nobody hesitates to drink wine here, unless those who
are too poor to pay for it"--and the speaker glanced keenly, but slyly,
at Guly's face, then added: "Why, it's impossible here to avoid
drinking, even if you would.