Andrew pressed the very roots of his hair back from his red forehead, and sat upright and resolute, glancing at Tom. And now ensued a curious scene of family blood. For no sooner did elderly Tom observe this bantam-like demeanour of his brother, than he ruffled his feathers likewise, and looked down on him, agitating his wig over a prodigious frown. Whereof came the following sharp colloquy; Andrew beginning: I 'll pay off the debts out of my own pocket.' 'You can make a greater fool of yourself, then?' 'He shan't be a tailor!' 'He shan't be a brewer!' 'I say he shall live like a gentleman!' 'I say he shall squat like a Turk!' Bang went Andrew's hand on the table: 'I 've pledged my word, mind!' Tom made a counter demonstration: 'And I'll have my way!' 'Hang it! I can be as eccentric as you,' said Andrew. 'And I as much a donkey as you, if I try hard,' said Tom. Something of the cobbler's stall followed this; till waxing furious, Tom sung out to Jonathan, hovering around them in watchful timidity, 'More Port!' and the words immediately fell oily on the wrath of the brothers; both commenced wiping their heads with their handkerchiefs the faces of both emerged and met, with a half-laugh: and, severally determined to keep to what they had spoken, there was a tacit accord between them to drop the subject. Like sunshine after smart rain, the Port shone on these brothers. Like a voice from the pastures after the bellowing of the thunder, Andrew's voice asked: 'Got rid of that twinge of the gout, Tom? Did you rub in that ointment?' while Tom replied: 'Ay. How about that rheumatism of yours? Have you tried that Indy oil?' receiving a like assurance. The remainder of the Port ebbed in meditation and chance remarks. The bit of storm had done them both good; and Tom especially--the cynical, carping, grim old gentleman--was much improved by the nearer resemblance of his manner to Andrew's. Behind this unaffected fraternal concord, however, the fact that they were pledged to a race in eccentricity, was present. They had been rivals before; and anterior to the date of his marriage, Andrew had done odd eclipsing things. But Andrew required prompting to it; he required to be put upon his mettle. Whereas, it was more nature with Tom: nature and the absence of a wife, gave him advantages over Andrew. Besides, he had his character to maintain. He had said the word: and the first vanity of your born eccentric is, that he shall be taken for infallible. Presently Andrew ducked his head to mark the evening clouds flushing over the court-yard of the Aurora. 'Time to be off, Tom,' he said: 'wife at home.' 'Ah!' Tom answered. 'Well, I haven't got to go to bed so early.' 'What an old rogue you are, Tom!' Andrew pushed his elbows forward on the table amiably. 'Gad, we haven't drunk wine together since--by George! we'll have another pint.' 'Many as you like,' said Tom.