ust mounted Piebald, and
rode off to Houseman, and made him solemnly promise her not to lend her
father a shilling.

Houseman kept his word; but his refusal cost him more pain than he had
calculated on when he made the promise. Squire Peyton had paid him
thousands, first and last; and when he left Houseman's room, with
disappointment, mortification, and humiliation deeply marked on his
features, usually so handsome and jolly, the lawyer felt sorry and
ashamed,--and did _not_ show it.

But it rankled in him; and the very next day he took advantage of a
little business he had to do in Mr. Peyton's neighborhood, and drove to
Peyton Hall, and asked for Mistress Kate.

His was a curious errand. Indeed, I think it would not be easy to find a
parallel to it.

For here was an attorney calling upon a beautiful girl,--to do what?

To soften her.

On a daughter,--to do what?

To persuade her to permit him to lend her father L100 on insufficient
security.

Well, he reminded her of his ancient obligations to her family, and
assured her he could well afford to risk a hundred or even a thousand
pounds. He then told her that her father had shown great pain at his
refusal, and that he himself was human, and could not divest himself of
gratitude and pity and good-nature,--all for L100.

"In a word," said he, "I have brought the money; and you must give in
for this once, and let me lend it him without more ado."

Miss Peyton was gratified and affected, and a tear trembled a moment in
her eye, but went in-doors again; and left her firm as a rock sprinkled
with dew. She told him she could quite understand his feeling, and
thanked him for it; but she had long and seriously weighed the matter,
and could not release him from his promise.

"No more of this base borrowing," said she, and clenched her white teeth
indomitably.

He attacked her with a good many weapons; but she parried them all so
gently, yet so nobly, and so successfully, that he admired her more than
ever.

Still, lawyers fight hard, and die very hard. Houseman got warm in his
cause, and cross-examined this defendant, and asked her whether _she_
would refuse to lend her father L100 out of a full purse.

This question was answered only by a flash of her glorious eyes, and a
magnificent look of disdain at the doubt implied.

"Well, then," said Houseman, "be your father's surety for repayment,
with interest at six per centum, and then there will be nothing in the