be beforehand and say I do not wish it."

"I retreat," said Miss Wynne. "I haul down my colors." He was quite sure
that she never would.

"You are again kind, madame," he returned.

"I hear Mr. Schmidt and the joss," she said as she rose, while Margaret,
unobserved, cast a thoughtful glance at the clerk. It was a new type to
her. The gravity, the decisiveness, and the moral courage, although she
may not have so labeled the qualities, appealed to her who had proudly
borne the annoyances of restricted means among friends and kindred who
lived in luxury. She had heard Schmidt say to her mother that this De
Courval was a man on the way to the making of a larger manhood. Even
young as she was, about to be seventeen in September, she had among the
young Friends those she liked and some who were disposed to like her too
well; but this was another kind of man.

When Schmidt entered, followed by Friend Langstroth, De Courval was
struck by the truth of Gainor's reference to the joss. Short, very fat,
a triple chin and pendant cheeks under small eyes, and a bald head--all
were there.

"You are both late. My back of mutton will be overdone. The Vicomte de
Courval--Mr. Langstroth."

"Glad to see thee; meant to come and see thee. I was to give thee this
letter, Friend Schmidt. Mr. Wynne sent it. A messenger came up from
Chester while I was with him at the counting-house. The _Saucy Sisters_
was lying below for the flood."

Schmidt glanced at it, hesitated a moment, and put it in his pocket as
they went in to dinner.

"Any news?" asked Langstroth. "Any news from France?"

"I do not know," said Schmidt. He had no mind to spoil the meal with
what he knew must very likely be evil tidings. "It is from England," he
added. Miss Gainor, understanding him, said: "We were to have had Mr.
Hamilton. I think I told you."

"I saw him at the office of the Secretary of the Treasury," said
Schmidt; "a less capable successor he has in his place. We talked much
about the rage for lotteries, and he would stop them by a law."

"He should let things alone," said Langstroth. "A nice muddle he has
made of it with his bank and his excise."

"And what do you know about it?" said Gainor, tartly.

"Fiddlesticks! I know that a man who cannot manage his own affairs had
better leave larger things alone."

"He has," said Schmidt quietly, "as I see it, that rare double gift, a
genius for government and finance."

"Humph!" growled Langstroth.

Sc