n indifferent tone, "to inquire whether your motives for silence were
respect for the family or regard for yourself."

"You now at least know, sir. Let me ask you whether you made the remark
to which I refer with a full knowledge of who I was, and what were my
relations towards Mr. Bacon."

"I decline making any explanation of language which, both in manner and
expression, was sufficiently intelligible."

"Then, sir," said Hansford, resolutely, "there is but one reparation
that you can make," and he laid his hand significantly on his sword.

"I understand you," returned Bernard, "but do not hold myself
responsible to a man whose position in society may be more worthy of my
contempt than of my resentment."

"The company in which you found me, and the gentleman who introduced us,
are sufficient guarantees of my position. If under these circumstances
you refuse, you take advantage of a subterfuge alike unworthy of a
gentleman or a brave man."

"Even this could scarcely avail you, since the family are not aware of
the treason by which you have forfeited any claim to their protection.
But I waive any such objection, sir, and accept your challenge."

"Being better acquainted with the place than yourself," said Hansford,
"I would suggest, sir, that there is a little grove in rear of the
barn-yard, which is a fit spot for our purpose. There will there be no
danger of interruption."

"As you please, sir," replied Bernard. "To-morrow morning, then, at
sunrise, with swords, and in the grove you speak of."

The servant entered the room at this moment, and the two young men
parted for the night, having thus settled in a few moments the
preliminaries of a mortal combat, with as much coolness as if it had
been an agreement for a fox-hunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[6] A coxcomb, a popinjay.

CHAPTER VII.

"'We try this quarrel hilt to hilt.'
Then each at once his falchion drew,
Each on the ground his scabbard threw,
Each looked to sun, and stream, and plain,
As what they ne'er might see again;
Then foot, and point, and eye opposed,
In dubious strife they darkly closed."
_Lady of the Lake._

It is a happy thing for human nature that the cares, and vexations, and
fears, of this weary life, are at least excluded from the magic world of
sleep. Exhausted nature will seek a respite from her trials in
forgetfulness, and steeped in the sacred stream of Lethe, lik