mentioned and discussed with the tone of licence common on such
occasions, appeared to me such complete profanation, that I determined,
be the consequences what they might, to prevent it--"Excuse my
interrupting you, but I should feel greatly obliged by your substituting
some other toast for the one you are about to propose".

"Eh, what! not drink the young woman's health? why I thought you admired
her more than I do: not drink her health? how's that, eh?"

"I shall be most happy to explain to you the reasons for my request at
some other time," replied I; "at present I can only add that I shall
consider it as a personal favour if you will accede to it."

"It does not appear to me to require an OEdipus to discover Mr.
Fairlegh's reasons for this request," observed Stephen Wilford; "he
evidently does not consider the present company deserving of the high
honour of drinking the health of a young lady whom _he_ distinguishes by
his admiration."

"Not over-flattering, I must say," muttered Lawless, looking annoyed.

"I suppose he's afraid of our hearing her name, lest some of us should
go and cut him out," suggested Curtis in an undertone, which was,
however, perfectly audible.

"In the meanwhile, Lawless, I hope you're not going to indulge your
friend's caprice at the expense of the rest of the company," resumed
Wilford; "having raised our expectations you are bound to gratify them."

Lawless, who evidently hesitated between his desire to assert his
independence and his wish to oblige me, was beginning with his usual,
"Eh? why, don't you see,"--when I interrupted him by saying, "Allow me to
set this matter at rest in a very few words. Lawless, I hope, knows me
well enough to feel sure that I could not ~168~~intend any disrespect
either to himself or to his guests--I believe it is not such an
unheard-of thing for a gentle-man to object to the name of any lady
whom he respects being commented upon with the freedom incidental to a
convivial meeting like the present--however that may be, I have asked
Lawless as a favour not to drink a certain toast in my presence; should
he be unwilling to comply with my request, as I would not wish to be
the slightest restraint upon him at his own table, I shall request his
permission to withdraw; on this point I await his decision. I have only
one more observation to make," continued I, looking at Wilford, who was
evidently preparing to speak, "which is, that if, after what I have just