It represented a bluff, bold,
almost insolently bold man in full civic robes, the face not improbably
catching an additional expression of vulgar pride from the fact that the
likeness was taken in that culminating hour of greatness when he first
took the chair as chief magistrate of his town.

"Not an over-pleasant sort of fellow to deal with, I should say,"
remarked Crofton. "There are some stern lines here about the corners
of the eyes, and certain very suspicious-looking indentations next the
mouth."

"His eye has no forgiveness in it," said his sister.

"Well, one thing is clear enough, he ought to be easily recognized; that
broad forehead, and those wide-spread nostrils and deeply divided chin,
are very striking marks to guide one. I cannot give you this," said
Crofton to me, "but I 'll take care to send you an accurate copy of it
at the first favorable moment; meanwhile, make yourself master of its
details, and try if you cannot carry the resemblance in your memory."

"Disabuse yourself, too," said she, laughing, "of all this accessorial
grandeur, and bear in mind that you 'll not find him dressed in ermine,
or surrounded with a collar and badge. Not very like his daughter, I 'm
sure," whispered she in my ear, as I continued to gaze steadfastly at
the portrait. "Can you trace any likeness?"

"Not the very faintest; she is beautiful," said I, "and her whole
expression is gentleness and delicacy."

"Well, certainly," said Crofton, shutting up the miniature, "these are
not the distinguishing traits of our friend here, whom I should call a
hard-natured, stern, obstinate fellow, with great self-reliance, and no
great trust of others."

"I was just thinking," said I, "that were I to come up with such a man
as this, what chance would my poor, frail, yielding temperament have, in
influencing the rugged granite of his nature? He 'd terrify me at once."

"Not when your object was a good and generous one," said Miss Crofton.
"You might well enough be afraid to confront such a man as this if your
aim was to overreach and deceive him; but bear in mind the fable of the
man who had the courage to take the thorn out of the lion's paw. The
operation, we are told, was a painful one, and there might have been an
instant in which the patient felt disposed to eat his doctor; but, with
all these perils, strong in a good purpose, the surgeon persevered, and
by his skill and his courage made the king of the beasts his fast frien