believe, and having an income of only six hundred dollars a year, which
I allow him, I presume he would not marry without some security upon the
other side. However, Sir, as that is his affair, and as I do not find it
very interesting--no offense, Sir, for I shall always be happy to see my
daughter-in-law--we had better, perhaps, find some other topic. The art
of life, my young friend, is to avoid what is disagreeable. Don't you
think Mr. Ele quite a remarkable man? I regard him as an honor to your
State, Sir."

"A very great honor, Sir, and all the gentlemen at this charming dinner
are honors to the States from which they come, and to our common country,
Mr. Dinks. We younger men are content to dine upon veal and spring
chickens so long as we know that such intellects have the guidance
of public affairs."

Mr. Abel Newt bowed to Mr. Dinks as he spoke, while that gentleman
listened with the stately gravity with which a President of the United
States hears the Latin oration in which he is made a Doctor of Laws. He
bowed in reply to the little speech of Abel's, as if he desired to return
thanks for the combined intellects that had been complimented.

"And yet, Sir," continued Abel, "if my father should unhappily conceive a
prejudice in regard to this elopement, and decline to know any thing of
the happy pair, six hundred dollars, in the present liberal style of life
incumbent upon a man who has moved in the circles to which your son has
been accustomed, would be a very limited income for your son and
daughter-in-law--very limited."

Abel lighted another cigar. Mr. Dinks was a little confounded by the
sudden lurch of the conversation.

"Very, very," he replied, as if he were entirely loth to linger upon the
subject.

"The father of the lady in these cases is very apt to be obdurate," said
Abel.

"I think very likely," replied Mr. Dinks, with the polite air of a man
assenting to an axiom in a science of which, unfortunately, he has not
the slightest knowledge.

"Now, Sir," persisted Abel, "I will not conceal from you--for I know a
father's heart will wish to know to what his son is exposed--that my
father is in quite a frenzy about this affair."

"Oh! he'll get over it," interrupted Mr. Dinks, complacently. "They
always do; and now, don't you think that we had better--"

"Exactly," struck in the other. "But I, who know my father well, know
that he will not relent. Oh, Sir, it is dreadful to think of a family
di