e?"

"I do assure you it did not raise you in my opinion."

"Faith, no wonder, Harry, and I am only surprised you didn't speak to me
sooner about it. Still," he proceeded, smiling, 'there is one portion
of it I should not wish to see cancelled--I mean your advocacy with Miss
Clinton."

"To be plain with you, Hycy, I wash my hands out of that affair too; I
won't promise advocacy."

"Well neutrality?"

"The truth is, neither neutrality nor advocacy would avail a rush.
I have reason to think that my sister's objections against you are
insuperable."

"On what do they rest?" asked the other.

"They are founded upon your want of morals," replied Clinton.

"Well, suppose I reform my morals?"

"That is, substitute hypocrisy for profligacy; I fear, Hycy, the
elements of reformation are rather slight within you."

"Seriously, you do me injustice; and, besides, a man ought not to be
judged of his morals before marriage, but after."

"Faith, both before and after, in my opinion, Hycy. No well-educated,
right-minded girl would marry a man of depraved morals, knowing him to
be such."

"But I really am not worse than others, nor so bad as many. Neither
have I the reputation of being an immoral man. A little wild and
over-impulsive from animal spirits I may be, but all that will pass off
with the new state. No, no, d--n it, don't allow Miss Clinton to imbibe
such prejudices. I do not say that I am a saint; but I shall settle down
and bring her to church very regularly, and hear the sermon with most
edifying attention. Another glass of grog?"

"No, no."

"But I hope and trust, my dear Harry, that you have not been making
impressions against me."

"Unquestionably not. I only say you have no chance whatever in that
quarter."

"Will you allow me to try?" asked Hycy.

"I have not the slightest objection," replied the other, "because I
know how it will result."

"Very well,--thank you even for that same, my dear Harry; but, seriously
speaking, I fear that neither you nor I are leading the kind of lives we
ought, and so far I cannot quarrel with your sister's principles. On
the contrary, they enable me to appreciate her if possible still more
highly; for a clear and pure standard of morals in a wife is not only
the best fortune but the best security for happiness besides. You might
stop and dine?"

"No, thank you, it is impossible. By the way, I have already spoiled my
dinner with that splendid ham of yours. Give me