a bet on
it?'

'When you have done with your raptures, I'll thank you to hand the likeness
to me.'

'But who is she? what is she? where is she? Is she the Greek?'

'When a fellow can help himself so coolly to his information as you do, I
scarcely think he deserves much aid from others; but, I may tell you, she
is not Maritana, nor a provincial actress, nor any actress at all, but a
young lady of good blood and birth, and my own first cousin.'

'On my oath, it's the best thing I ever knew of you.'

Kearney laughed out at this moment at something in the letter, and did not
hear the other's remark.

'It seems, Master Joe, that the young lady did not reciprocate the
rapturous delight you feel, at sight of _your_ picture. My sister
says--I'll read you her very words--"she does not like the portrait of your
friend Atlee; he may be clever and amusing, she says, but he is undeniably
false." Mind that--undeniably false.'

'That's all the fault of the artist. The stupid dog would place me in so
strong a light that I kept blinking.'

'No, no. She reads you like a book,' said the other.

'I wish to Heaven she would, if she would hold me like one.'

'And the nice way she qualifies your cleverness, by calling you amusing.'

'She could certainly spare that reproach to her cousin Dick,' said he,
laughing; 'but no more of this sparring. When do you mean to take me down
to the country with you? The term will be up on Tuesday.'

'That will demand a little consideration now. In the fall of the year,
perhaps. When the sun is less powerful the light will be more favourable to
your features.'

'My poor Dick, I cram you with good advice every day; but one counsel I
never cease repeating, "Never try to be witty." A dull fellow only cuts his
finger with a joke; he never catches it by the handle. Hand me over that
letter of your sister's; I like the way she writes. All that about the pigs
and the poultry is as good as the _Farmer's Chronicle_.'

The other made no other reply than by coolly folding up the letter and
placing it in his pocket; and then, after a pause, he said--

'I shall tell Miss Kearney the favourable impression her epistolary powers
have produced on my very clever and accomplished chum, Mr. Atlee.'

'Do so; and say, if she'd take me for a correspondent instead of you, she'd
be "exchanging with a difference." On my oath,' said he seriously, 'I
believe a most finished education might be effected in letter-writing.