wine, and fell to their letters,
careless of the surrounding war of words. The elder's mail was
heavy,--letters from London, from New York, from Philadelphia, one from
his overseer at Greenwood, others from clients, colleagues, and
strangers,--all the varied correspondence of the lawyer, the planter,
and the man of the world. Fairfax Cary's letters were fewer in number,
but one was gilt-edged, curiously folded, and superscribed in a strong
and delicate hand. "Miss Dandridge seals with a dove and an olive
branch?" murmured the elder brother. "Lucky Fair! What's the frown for?"

"Olive branch?" quoth the other. "She should seal with a nettle! Listen
to this: 'Mr. Hunter has been some time with us at Fontenoy. Mr. Carter
spent his Christmas here--he dances extremely well. Mr. Page gives us
now and then the pleasure of his company. He turns the leaves of my
music for me. Mr. Lee and I are reading Sir Charles Grandison together.
I see Mr. Nelson at Saint Anne's.' Saint Anne! Saint Griselda! Her
letters are enough to make a man renounce the world, the flesh, and the
devil, and turn Trappist--"

"I wish the room would turn Trappist," said the other. "I am tired of
talk. I would like to be somewhere in the woods to-night--quiet. We
won't stay long here. There has been contention enough to-day."

The younger leaned forward. "Lewis Rand is over there--three tables
back."

"I know. I saw him when we came in. Read your letters and we will be
gone."

The minutes passed. Outside Lynch's the western red faded, and the
still, winter night came quickly on. Within, fire and candles burned
bright, but to not a few of Mr. Lynch's patrons the flames danced
unsteadily. It was an age of hard drinking; the day had been an exciting
one, and Lynch's wine or punch or apple toddy but the last of many
potations. The assemblage was assuredly not drunken, but neither was it,
at this hour and after the emotional wear and tear of the past hours,
quite sane or less than hectic. Its mood was edged. Now, in the quarter
of an hour before the general start for home and supper, foreign and
federal affairs gave way to first-hand matters and a review of the day
that was closing. It had been a field day. The city of Richmond was
strongly Federal, the General Assembly mainly Republican. At Lynch's
this evening were members, Federalist and Republican, of the two Houses,
with citizens, planters, visitors enough of either principle. When the
general talk tur