had, however, for some time been engaged trying to solve the mysterious
agency that had brought him into business relations with her father.
Being a girl of fixed character and good common sense, it was only
natural that she should entertain an instinctive dislike for Gusher, in
whom she saw a nature, if not really bad, at least frivolous and
artificial.

The unexpected meeting between Romer and Gusher threw a shadow over the
entertainment, so far as it affected the latter. Here he had been for
weeks sounding the trumpet of Mrs. Chapman's ball, and looking forward
to it as the means of making a temple of triumph of himself, and
captivating no end of female hearts, Mattie's included; but how sadly he
was disappointed. It had suddenly thrown around him a chain of
difficulties that might blast his ambition, destroy all his hopes, and
cause the veil he supposed was forever drawn over his past life to be
lifted. The only way he saw of extricating himself from these
difficulties, of cutting through them as it were, was by the force and
skilful exercise of great coolness and impudence, and these he resolved
to use, and use quickly.

And while the dancing was progressing a number of young fellows, who
found more congenial enjoyment in their glasses and cigars, were seated
at a table in a room down stairs, which Mrs. Chapman had provided as a
sort of free-and-easy for such of her guests as were inclined to enjoy
themselves in their own way. Chapman had provided generously, both of
wines and cigars, which might have seemed strange to one of his Dogtown
acquaintances. He had, however, so modified his ideas as to what
constituted strict morality as to believe it would be nothing against a
man in the other world that he had drank a glass of wine and smoked a
cigar in this.

The young gentlemen were conducting themselves in a manner not
recognized in the rules of propriety. Indeed, they had smoked so many of
Chapman's cigars, and uncorked so many bottles of his wine, and drank
the health of the family such a number of times, that they were fast
losing their wits. When, then, Bowles made his appearance in the room,
to see if there was anything he could do for the gentlemen, he found
them talking so strangely of his mistress, and making so free with her
personal appearance, that he considered it an indignity he was bound to
defend by putting on the severest look he was capable of.

"Say, Charles," said one of the young men, address