nd
friendship. Hunger gives day and night their meaning, and makes the
pulse of time beat; creates society, industry, and rank. Hunger moves
man to join in the work of creation,--to harmonize himself with the
music of the universe,--to feel ambition, joy, and sorrow. Hunger
unites man to nature in the ever-recurring inspiration to food,
followed by the ever-alternating ecstasy of digestion. Morning tunes
his heart to joy, for the benison of breakfast awaits him. The sun
scales heaven to light him to his noonday meal. Evening wooes him
supperwards, and night brings timeless sleep, to waft him to another
dawn. Eating is earth's first law, and heaven itself could not subsist
without it!"

So Balder Helwyse and the cook feasted gloriously that afternoon, in
the back pantry, and they solemnly installed the partridges among the
constellations!

VII.

A QUARREL.

That same afternoon Mr. MacGentle put his head into the outer office
and said, "Mr. Dyke, could I speak with you a moment?"

Mr. Dyke scraped back his chair and went in, with his polished bald
head, and square face and figure,--a block of common-sense. He was
more common-sensible than usual, that afternoon, because he had so
strangely forgotten himself in the morning. Mr. MacGentle was in his
usual position for talking with his confidential clerk,--standing up
with his back to the fireplace, and his coat-tails over his arms.
Experience had taught him that this attitude was better adapted than
any other to sustain the crushing weight of Mr. Dyke's sense. To have
conversed with him in a sitting position would have been to lose
breath and vitality before the end of five minutes.

"Mr. Helwyse has thoughts of settling in Boston to practise his
profession," began the President, gently. "I told him you would be
likely to know what the chances are."

"Profession is--what?" demanded Mr. Dyke, settling his fist on his
hip.

"O--doctor--physician; eye-doctor, he said, I think."

"Eye-doctor? Well, Dr. Schlemm won't last the winter; may drop any
day. Just the thing for Mr. Helwyse,--Dr. Helwyse." And the subject,
being discussed at some length between the two gentlemen, took on a
promising aspect. His house was picked out for the new incumbent, his
earnings calculated, his success foretold. Two characters so diverse
as were the President and his clerk united, it seems, in liking the
young physician.

"Married?" asked Mr. Dyke, after a pause.

"Why, no,--