eek and in high spirits, owing to a
good night's rest and a plentiful supply of his favorite provender,
Mr. Jinks remained for a moment irresolute before the door of the
hostelry, revolving in his mind various and conflicting thoughts of
love and war.

Should he go on his handsome animal, and enact the little drama, which
he had arranged in his mind, with Miss Sallianna at the Bower of
Nature? Should he, on this morning, advance to victory and revenge in
that direction? Or should he go and challenge his enemy, Verty, and
make his name glorious forever?

These conflicting ideas chased themselves through Mr. Jinks' mind, and
rendered him irresolute.

He was interrupted in the midst of them by a voice, laughing and
sonorous, which cried from the direction of the gateway:

"Hey, there! What now, Jinks'? What thoughts occupy your mind, my dear
fellow?"

And Ralph came out from the yard of the tavern, mounted upon his
handsome animal, as fresh and bright-looking as himself.

"I was reflecting, sir," said Mr. Jinks, "I have much to occupy me
to-day."

"Ah? Well, set about it--set about it! Don't you know that the great
element of success in life, from killing a mosquito to winning an
empress, is to strike at once, and at the right moment? Go on, Jinks,
my boy, and luck to you!"

"Thanks, sir," replied Mr. Jinks--"I hope I shall have luck."

"Of course, because you have genius! What is luck?" cried Ralph,
bending down to smooth the glossy neck of his animal, and laughing
gaily,--"why, nothing but a word! Luck, sir, is nothing--genius
everything. Luck throws her old shoe after, as says the proverb; but
genius catches it, and conquers. Come, you are good at everything, let
us have a race!"

"No, I thank you," said Mr. Jinks, drawing back; "I have business,
sir--important business, sir!"

"Have you?" said Ralph, restraining his desire to lay the lash of his
whip over Fodder's back, and so inaugurate a new Iliad of woes for Mr.
Jinks. "Then go on in your course, my dear fellow. I am going to see a
young lady, who really is beginning to annoy me."

And the mercurial young fellow passed from laughter to smiles, and
even to something suspiciously resembling a sigh.

"Farewell, my dear Jinks," he added, becoming gay again; "fortune
favors the brave, recollect. I wish I could believe it," he added,
laughing.

And touching his horse, Ralph set forward toward the Bower of Nature,
and consequently toward Miss Fanny.