e they had in common. Ralph had a purpose
in view, and as soon as he saw, or thought he saw, Wallingford's mind in
the right mood, said--

"I am going to ask a particular favor, and you must not refuse."

"If I can serve you in any thing, it will be my pleasure to do so," was
the ready answer.

"You know that I am to be married next month?"

"So I have heard," replied Wallingford.

"You will stand my groomsman? Don't say no!"

He had seen an instant negative in the young man's face.

"Almost any thing else, but not that!" replied Henry, speaking with some
feeling. He was thrown off his guard by so unexpected a request.

"Come now, my good friend, don't take the matter so much to heart!" said
Dewey, in a light way. "Plenty of good fish in the sea yet--as good as
ever were caught. You must forgive the girl for liking me the best."

"You jest on a grave subject," said Wallingford, his face growing pale,
but his eyes, a little dilated, riveting his companion's where he stood.

"No, I am in earnest," said Dewey, with something in his manner that was
offensive.

"Jest or earnest, your familiarity is out of place with me," retorted
Wallingford, with a sternness of manner, that quickened the flow of bad
blood in Dewey's heart.

"Oh, you needn't take on airs!" replied the other with a sneer of
contempt. Then muttering to himself, yet loud enough to be heard,--"I
didn't suppose the puppy would growl at a familiar pat on the head."

This was too much for Wallingford. At another time, he might have borne
it with a manly self-possession. But only an hour before he had met
Miss Floyd in the street, and the look she then gave him had stirred
his heart, and left a tinge of shadowy regret on his feelings. He was,
therefore, in no mood to bear trifling, much less insult. Scarcely
had the offensive words passed Dewey's lips, when a blow in the face
staggered him back against the wall. Instantly recovering himself,
he sprang towards Wallingford in blind rage, and struck at him with a
savage energy; but the latter stepped aside, and let his assailant come,
with stunning force, against the wall at the other side of the office,
when he fell to the floor.

At this instant, Judge Bigelow came in.

"Henry! Ralph!" he exclaimed--"what is the meaning of this?"

"Your nephew insulted me, and in the heat of anger I struck him in the
face. In attempting to return that blow, he missed his aim, and fell
against the wall, as you see."