nless he
desired to see his license taken away, and himself a suspected person,
as well as without employment. These prudential considerations
contending with Eleazar's nature, had sobered the otherwise mirthful
features of his face, and made him present the appearance of a merry
and a sad man rolled into one, each striving for the mastery, and each
alternately achieving victory, according to circumstances. The merry
man was safe in the presence of Arundel, and, therefore, his mouth
dissolved into a pleasant chuckle as he welcomed him.

"It is a joy and an honor, Master Arundel," he said, "to see again a
discreet young gentleman like yourself, whose spirits--ahem!--are
lively as my own ale, and yet chastised by a godly 'havior. You must
have had something of a walk this morning. What refreshment may it
please you to take?"

While uttering this speech, he had been busy ushering into the tap or
common reception room the young man, who, by the time it was finished,
was seated.

"Thy guess hits the mark, mine host," he said? "but what is fitting I
leave to thy discretion. Thou shalt prescribe like a physician."

"Thou art a sweet-tempered gentleman, and easily satisfied," answered
the host, "and I should be no better than a heathen salvage to abuse
thy goodness. To begin, I have some of the famosest malt liquor that
ever ran down throat with a relish."

"Avaunt, with thy detestable malt liquors. You inveigled me once into
tasting the decoction, and methinks that should satisfy thee, if not
me. Thou wilt hardly succeed a second time. It will never do. Thy
cellar contains something better, to my knowledge."

"As you say," replied the landlord, (whose habit was to recommend his
ale to those who he knew would not take it, in order, perhaps, to make
his wines taste the better, by consideration of the contrast)--"as you
say, Master Arundel, my malt liquor, though the best in the country,
is not for high-bred gentlemen like yourself. I have Spanish wines,
and French wines, and wines from Italy, and from the Canaries, and"--

"Any will do," said Arundel, knowing that a single kind was made to
play the part of vintages from all parts of the world; "so be prompt,
good man, for my thirst increases."

While the publican, whose business was not sufficiently large to
warrant him to employ a tapster, was absent, Arundel looked round the
apartment to see what company was present. At no great distance from
where he sat were half-a