there should be any want of cordiality between our families."

"Our families," asked Hartley, with a look of surprise and indignation,
"our families, sir! what do you mean?"

"Oh, damn it, Hartley, don't explode; I mean nothing offensive between
us--then, dropping the families," said Val, fawningly, for he saw the
other's nostril begin to dilate--

"And, you cowardly hound, why should you drop the families," inquired
Deaker, taking fire; "do you forget, sirra, who your father was?"

"And do you forget, sirra," resumed Hartley, "who your mother is?"

"Damn it," replied Val, still with fawning good-humor, "how am I
accountable for their conduct before I had existence? I neither made
them as they were, nor as they are."

"Then have the modesty," said Hartley, "to forbear any allusion to them,
especially in the way of comparison."

"For one of them, Hartley, I reply," said Deaker, "that he is of a
better family than yourself; and don't imagine, my worthy fellow, that
however you may browbeat others, you will be permitted to bully or
browbeat me. I say, sir, there is better blood in my veins than ever ran
through yours."

"I had no intention of bullying or browbeating any man here," replied
Hartley, "much less one whose age and virtues must prevent him--"

"Not from meeting you like a man," said Deaker; "old as I am, I can yet
stand my ground, or if not, d--n me, I can tie a stake to my bottom, and
you may take that as a proof that I won't run away."

"Nobody suspects you for that," said the other. "Out of the long
catalogue of human virtues, courage is the only one loft you, or indeed,
you ever had--unless, indeed, it be the shameless and diabolical honesty
of glorying in your own vices."

"Why, Hartley!" replied Deaker, "you forget, that you had more vices,
and,'hammers, too, in your family, and more brass, than ever I or mine
could' boast of. If the memory of that successful old tinker, your
grandfather, had not passed out of your mind, you would make no allusion
to vices or screws, and take care, my good hot-brained young fellow,
that you don't die in your family trade, and come to the pully yet."

Hartley, who was hasty, but exceedingly good-natured, although certainly
a noted duelist, now burst out into a hearty laugh, as did most of the
rest.

"Deaker," said he, "there is no use in being angry with you, nor in
being ashamed that my fortune was created by industry and honesty,
for both of which virtues I