flowers and
ecstacies! Avoid it, sir! it's like honey-water--it catches the legs
of flies like you, and holds you tight. Don't think you can take a
slight sip of the wine, sir, and there leave off--no, sir, you
don't leave off, you youngsters never do; you guzzle a gallon! The
consequence is intellectual drunkenness, and thus you make, as I said
before, confounded fools of yourselves! Bah! why am I wasting my
time!--a vast deal of influence we people who give good advice
possess! Young men will be fools to the end--go and see your
sweetheart!"

And with a grim smile, the shaggy lawyer entered his sanctum, and
banged the door, just as Roundjacket, still irate about the slur
cast upon his poetry, had commenced reading in a loud voice the fine
introductory stanzas--his hair sticking up, his eyes rolling,
his ruler breaking the skulls of invisible foes. Alas for
Roundjacket!--nobody appreciated him, which is perhaps one of the most
disagreeable things in nature. Even Verty rose in a minute, and took
up his hat and rifle, as was his habit.

Roundjacket rolled up his manuscript with a deep sigh, and restored it
to the desk.

"Where are you going, young man?" he said. "But I know--and that is
your excuse for such shocking taste as you display. As for the within
bear," and Roundjacket pointed toward Mr. Rushton's apartment, "he is
unpardonable!"

"Well, good-bye."

These latter words were uttered as Verty went out, followed by
Longears, and closed the door of the office after him.

He had scarcely heard or understood Mr. Rushton's extraordinary
speech: but had comprehended that he was free to go away, and in the
troubled state of his mind, this was a great boon. Yes! he would go
and suffer again in Redbud's presence--this time he would know whether
she really hated him. And then that passage in the letter! The thought
tore his heart.

What could the reason for this dislike possibly be? Certainly not his
familiar ascent to her room, on the previous day. Could it have been
because she did not like him in his fine clothes? Was this latter
possible? It might be.

"I'll go to Mr. O'Brallaghan's and get my old suit--he has not sent
them yet," said Verty, aloud; "then I'll go and see Redbud just as she
used to see me in old times, at Apple Orchard, when we were--ah!--so
happy!"

The "ah" above, represents a very deep sigh, which issued from Verty's
breast, as he went along with the dignified Longears at his heels.
Longe