n't cost you a cent
more," said Watts, and when Peter had finally been won over to give his
assent, Watts had supposed it was on this uneven basis. But in the end,
the joint chambers were more simply furnished than those of the rest of
the gang, who promptly christened them "the hermitage," and Peter had
paid his half of the expense. And though he rarely had visitors of his
own asking at the chambers, all cost of wine and tobacco was equally
borne by him.

The three succeeding years welded very strong bands round these two. It
was natural that they should modify each other strongly, but in truth,
as in most cases, when markedly different characteristics are brought in
contact, the only effect was to accentuate each in his peculiarities.
Peter dug at his books all the harder, by reason of Watts's neglect of
them. Watts became the more free-handed with his money because of
Peter's prudence. Watts talked more because of Peter's silence, and
Peter listened more because of Watts's talk. Watts, it is true, tried to
drag Peter into society, yet in truth, Peter was really left more alone
than if he had been rooming with a less social fellow. Each had in truth
become the complement of the other, and seemed as mutually necessary as
the positive and negative wires in electricity. Peter, who had been
taking the law lectures in addition to the regular academic course, and
had spent his last two summers reading law in an attorney's office, in
his native town, taking the New York examination in the previous
January, had striven to get Watts to do the same, with the ultimate
intention of their hanging out a joint legal shingle in New York.

"I'll see the clients, and work up the cases, Watts, and you'll make the
speeches and do the social end," said Peter, making a rather long speech
in the ardor of his wishes.

Watts laughed. "I don't know, old man. I rather fancy I shan't do
anything. To do something requires that one shall make up one's mind
what to do, and that's such devilish hard work. I'll wait till I've
graduated, and had a chin with my governor about it Perhaps he'll make
up my mind for me, and so save my brain tissue. But anyway, you'll come
to New York, and start in, for you must be within reach of me. Besides,
New York's the only place in this country worth living in."

Such were the relations between the two at graduation time. Watts, who
had always prepared his lessons in a tenth part of the time it had taken
Peter, b