restore you
to that home you quitted in innocence. I will bring you back to that
honeysuckled porch where your pure heart expanded in home affections."
Nothing shall equal the refined delicacy of my manner; that mingled
reserve and kindness--a sort of cross between a half-brother and a canon
of St. Paul's--shall win her over to repentance, and then to peace. How
I fancied myself at intervals of time visiting that cottage, going,
as the gardener watches some cherished plant, to gaze on the growing
strength I had nurtured, and enjoy the luxury of seeing the once
drooping flower expanding into fresh loveliness and perfume. "Yes,
Potts, this would form one of those episodes you have so often longed to
realize." And then I went on to fancy a long heroic struggle between my
love and that sentiment of respect for worldly opinion which is dear to
every man, the years of conflict wearing me down in health, but exalting
me immensely in every moral consideration. Let the hour of crowning
victory at last come, I should take her to my bosom and say, "There is
rest for thee here!"

"His Excellency begs that you will call at the legation, as early as you
can, this morning," said a waiter, entering with the breakfast tray; and
I now perceived that I had never gone to bed, or closed my eyes during
the night.

"How did this message come?" I asked.

"By the chasseur of his Excellency."

"And how addressed?"

"'To the gentleman who dined yesterday at the legation. '"

I asked these questions to ascertain how far he persisted in the
impertinence of giving me a name that was not mine, and I was glad to
find that on this occasion no transgression had occurred.

I hesitated considerably about going to him. Was I to accept that
slippery morality that says, "I see no more than I please in the man
I dine with," or was I to go boldly on and denounce this offender to
himself? What if he were to say, "Potts, let us play fair; put your own
cards on the table, and let us see are you always on the square? Who is
your father? how does he live? Why have you left home, and how? What of
that horse you have--"

"No, no, not stolen--on my honor, not stolen!" "Well, ain't it ugly?
Is n't the story one that any relating might, without even a spice of
malevolence, make marvellously disagreeable? Is the tale such as you 'd
wish to herald you into any society you desired to mix with?" It was in
this high, easy, and truly companionable style that conscie