with manly courtesy--though I am at a loss to understand
why you wished to 'tease' me. But I don't take offence, and
am sure the whole matter was a jest. I hope you will not
jest with me any more upon such a subject--I am very hasty;
and my experience has told me that most men that fall in
duels, are killed for this very jesting.

"As to what you say about my admiring Miss Mowbray, it is
true in some degree, and I am not offended. As far as my
part goes, we are as good friends as ever.

"Yours truly,

"J. DENIS."

X.

"Dear JACK:

"Your apology is perfectly satisfactory.--But I forgot! I
made the apology myself! Well, it's all the same, and I am
glad we haven't killed each other--for then, you know, we
would have been dead now.

"Come round this evening to my lodging--one corner from
Gloucester street, by the college, you know--and we'll empty
a jolly bottle, get up a game of ombre with Mowbray, and
make a night of it. Oh! I forgot!--my key has disappeared: I
don't see it any where, and so, to my great regret, your
visit must be deferred. What a pity!

"We shall meet this evening, when we shall embrace each
other--figuratively--and pledge everlasting friendship.

"Devotedly till death,

"Charles HOFFLAND."

Thus was the great affair which agitated all Williamsburg for more
than forty-eight hours arranged to the perfect satisfaction of all
parties: though we must except that large and influential body the
quidnuncs, who, as every body knows, are never satisfied with any
thing which comes to an end without a catastrophe. The correspondence,
as we have seen, had been confined to the principals, and the only
public announcement was to the effect that "both gentlemen were
satisfied"--which we regard as a very gratifying circumstance.

CHAPTER XV.

SENTIMENTS OF A DISAPPOINTED LOVER ON THE SUBJECT OF WOMEN.

Hoffland had just met and made friends with Jack Denis--"embraced him
figuratively," to use his expression; and he and Mowbray were walking
down Gloucester street, inhaling the pleasant air of the fine morning
joyously.

Hoffland was smiling as usual. Mowbray's countenance wore its habitual
expression of collected calmness--his clear eye as usual betrayed no
emotion of