t
completely upset me; and the first thing that really sobered me was
seeing that the other fellows ran away, leaving me all alone in the
garden, while a short stout man rushed out of the house with a stick to
thrash me. I tried to make him hear me, for I wanted to apologize; but
he wouldn't listen, and so I gave him a shake. I didn't strike him; but
I shook him off, roughly enough perhaps, for he fell, and then I
sprang over the gate, and cut off as fast as I could. When I awoke next
morning, I remembered it all, and heartily ashamed I was of myself; and
I thought that perhaps I ought to go out in person and beg his pardon;
but I had no time for that; I wanted to get away by that day's packet,
and so I wrote him a few civil lines. I don't remember them exactly, but
they were to say that I was very sorry for it all, and I hoped he 'd
see the thing as it was,--a stupid bit of boyish excess, of which I felt
much ashamed; and here's his answer:--

"'Dear Sir,--When I received your note on Monday morning,
I was having leeches to my eye, and could n't answer it.
Yesterday both eyes were closed, and it is only to-day that
I can see to scratch these lines. If I had had a little more
patience on the night I first met you, it would have been
better for both of us. As it is, I receive all your
explanation as frankly as it is given; and you 'll be lucky
in life if nobody bears you more ill-will than--Yours
truly,

'Robt. M'Gruder.

"'If you come up to town again, look in on me at 27 Cannon
Street, City. I do not say here, as Mrs. M'G, has not yet
forgiven the black eye.'"

"Oh, Tony! my own, dear, dear, true-hearted Tony!" cried his mother, as
she flung her arms around him, and hugged him to her heart "I knew my
own dear boy was as loyal as his own high-hearted father."

Tony was exceedingly puzzled to what precise part of his late behavior
be owned all this enthusiastic fondness, and was curious also to know if
giving black eyes to Scotchmen had been a trait of his father's.

"And this was all of it, Tony?" asked she, eagerly.

"Don't you think it was quite enough? I'm certain Dolly did; for she
knew my voice, and cried out, 'Oh, Tony, how could you?' or something
like that from the window. And that's a thing, mother, has been weighing
heavily on my mind ever since. Has this unlucky freak of mine anything
to do with Dolly's coming home?"

"We 'll find tha