vulgar one; there was nothing
snobbish or pretentious in his ugliness, and his cavernous black eye
could have belonged only to an intelligent and able man. Benson was
joking or pressing upon him some matter which he seemed unwilling to
explain.

"But do tell me," said Harry, as they passed Ashburner, "what _have_ you
been doing to yourself? Sprained your finger by working too hard the
night before last packet day? or tumbled down from running too fast in
Wall-street, and not thinking which way you were going?" And he took in
his own delicate white hand the rough paw of the stranger, which was
partly bound up as if suffering from some recent injury.

"If you must know," said the other, stopping short his walk, "I broke my
knuckles on an Irish hackman's teeth. Last week the fellow drove me from
the North River boat to my house in Union Square, and I offered him
seventy-five cents. He was very insolent and demanded a dollar. If I had
had a dollar-note about me I might have given it to him, but it happened
that I had only the six shillings in change; and so, knowing that was
two shillings more than his legal fare, I became as positive as he. At
last he seized my trunk, and then I could not resist the temptation of
giving him a left-hander that sent him clean down the steps into the
gutter."

"And then?

"He made a great bawling, and was beginning to draw a crowd about the
house, when I walked off to the nearest police-station; and as it turned
out that my gentleman was known as a troublesome character, they
threatened to take away his license and have him sent to Blackwell's
Island if he didn't keep quiet; so he was too glad to make himself
scarce."

"By Jove, you deserve a testimonial from the city! I once got twenty
dollars damages from an omnibus-driver for running into my brougham,
knocking off a wheel, and dumping my wife and child into the street; and
I thought it was a great exploit, but this performance of yours throws
me into the shade."

Just then Benson caught sight of Ashburner, and excusing himself to the
other, rushed up to him.

"Let me tell you now, before I forget it. We are going over to the glen
to-morrow to dine, and in fact spend the day there. You'll come, of
course?"

"With great pleasure," said Ashburner; "but pray don't let me take you
away from your friend."

"Oh, that's only Harrison."

We meant, of course, our set, with such foreign lions as the place
afforded, foremost among whom