Take that to your principal."

The little fellow hesitated.

"I hope, sir, that this contains a perfectly satisfactory apology?" he
said, turning it around in his fingers.

"Oh, perfectly! amply! We shall hear no more of the challenge."

"I am very glad, sir," said the little lieutenant, rising.

"Won't you have something before you go?"

The lieutenant hesitated.

"Shall I ring for the maid to bring you a slice of bread and butter and
a cup of milk?"

"No, thank you, sir!" said Springald, with a look of offended dignity.

"Very well, then; you must give my respects to your papa and mamma, and
ask them to let you come and play with little Bobby and Tommy Middleton!
They are nice little boys!" said the judge, so very kindly that the
little lieutenant, though hugely affronted, scarcely knew in what manner
to resent the affront.

"Good-day, sir!" he said, with a vast assumption of dignity, as he
strutted towards the door.

"Good-day, my little friend. You seem an innocent little fellow enough.
Therefore I hope that you will never again be led into the sinful folly
of carrying a challenge to fight a duel, especially to a gray-headed
chief justice."

And so saying, Judge Merlin bowed his visitor out.

And it is scarcely necessary to say that Judge Merlin heard no more of
"the satisfaction of a gentleman."

The story, however, got out, and Captain Burghe and his second were so
mercilessly laughed at, that they voluntarily shortened their own
furlough and speedily left Washington.

The remainder of that week the house was again closed to company, during
the process of dismantling the reception rooms of their festive
decorations and restoring them to their ordinarily sober aspect.

By Saturday afternoon this transformation was effected, and the
household felt themselves at home again.

Early that evening Ishmael joined the family circle perfectly radiant
with good news.

"What is it, Ishmael?" inquired the judge.

"Well, sir, the hard-fought battle is over at length, and we have the
victory. The case of Cobham versus Hanley is decided. The jury came into
court this afternoon with a verdict for the plaintiff."

"Good!" said the judge.

"And the widow and children get their money. I am so glad!" said Bee,
who had kept herself posted up in the progress of the great suit by
reading the reports in the daily papers.

"Yes, but how much money will you get, Ishmael?" inquired the judge.

"None, sir, on th