id I, pulling out my box (which
was a small tortoise one), and putting it into his hand.

"''Tis most excellent,' said the monk.

"'Then do me the favor,' I replied 'to accept of the box and
all, and when you take a pinch out of it, sometimes
recollect it was the peace-offering of a man who once used
you unkindly, but not from his heart.'

"The poor monk blushed as red as scarlet, 'Mon Dieu?' said
he, pressing his hands together, 'you never used me
unkindly.'

"'I should think,' said the lady, 'he is not likely.'

I blushed in my turn; but from what motives, I leave to the
few who feel to analyze. 'Excuse me, madam,' replied I, 'I
treated him most unkindly, and from no provocations.'

"''Tis impossible,' said the lady.

"'My God!' cried the monk, with a warmth of asseveration
which seemed not to belong to him, 'the fault was in me, and
in the indiscretion of my zeal.'

"The lady opposed it, and I joined with her in maintaining
it was impossible, that a spirit so regulated as his could
give offence to any. I knew not that contention could be
rendered so sweet and pleasurable a thing to the nerves as I
then felt it. We remained silent, without any sensation of
that foolish pain which takes place when, in a circle, you
look for ten minutes in one another's faces without saying a
word.

[Illustration: Horn snuff-boxes.]

"Whilst this lasted, the monk rubb'd his horn box upon the
sleeve of his tunic; and as soon as it had acquired a little
air of brightness by the friction, he made a low bow and
said, 'twas too late to say whether it was the weakness or
goodness of our tempers which had involved us in this
contest, but be it as it would, he begg'd we would exchange
boxes. In saying this, he presented this to me with one, as
he took mine from me in the other; and having kissed it,
with a stream of good nature in his eyes, he put it into his
bosom, and took his leave. I guard this box as I would the
instrumental parts of my religion, to help my mind on to
something better: in truth I seldom go abroad without it;
and oft and many a time have I called up by it the
courteous spirit of its owner, to regulate my own in the
jostlings of the world; they had found full employment for
his, as I learnt from his story, ti