he loved!

Frequently since the party had he met her, each time becoming more and
more convinced of her superiority over the other young ladies of his
acquaintance. He was undoubtedly greatly assisted in this decision by
the manner with which she was received by the fashionables of Boston,
but aside from that, as far as he was capable of doing so, he liked
her, and was now making up his mind whether to tell her so or not.

At last, breaking the silence, he exclaimed, "Hang me if I don't
believe she's bewitched me, or else I'm in love.--Bender, how does a
chap feel when he's in love?"

"Very foolish, judging from yourself," returned William; and Henry
replied, "I hope you mean nothing personal, for I'm bound to avenge my
honor, and t'would be a deuced scrape for you and me to fight about
'your sister,' as you call her, for 'tis she who has inspired me, or
made a fool of me, one or the other."

"You've changed your mind, haven't you?" asked William, a little
sarcastically.

"Hanged if I have," said Henry. "I was interested in her years ago,
when she was the ugliest little vixen a man ever looked upon, and
that's why I teazed her so,--I don't believe she's handsome now, but
she's something, and that something has raised the mischief with me.
Come, Bender, you are better acquainted with her than I am, so tell me
honestly if you think I'd better marry her."

The expression of William's face was a sufficient answer, and with
something of his old insolence, Henry continued, "You needn't feel
jealous, for I tell you Mary Howard looks higher than you. Why, she'd
wear the crown of England, as a matter of course, any day."

With a haughty frown, William replied, "You have my permission, sir,
to propose as soon as you please. I rather wish you would," then
taking his hat, he left the office, while Henry continued his
soliloquy, as follows:--"I wonder what the old folks would say to a
penniless bride. Wouldn't mother and Rose raise a row? I'd soon quiet
the old woman, though, by threatening to tell that she was once a
factory girl,--yes, a factory girl. But if dad smashes up I'll have
to work, for I haven't brains enough to earn my living by my wit. I
guess on the whole, I'll go and call on Ella, she's handsome, and
besides that, has the rhino too, but, Lord, how shallow!" and the
young man broke the blade of his knife as he struck it into the hard
wood table, by way of emphasizing his last words.

Ella chanced to be out,