bloody, hastened to the inn at Northallerton, thence wrote a defiance, conceived in the grossest terms of abuse, avowing his design, and swearing that it should be effected. Mortimer having read this letter, declared his resolution to meet the fellow immediately. His father and sister eagerly beseeched him to disregard a challenge from such a man. John, however, hastily ran out, followed by his father; and was immediately after heard above stairs in his own room. Hamilton was following him, when Maria, afraid he was going to accompany him as his second, eagerly grasped his arm, and prayed he would hear her for one minute. “One minute, my lovely Maria! for my life and for ever.” “O my dear sir,” she proceeded, “prevent my brother from exposing himself, perhaps, to death: it is all my rashness and precipitancy. I shall be the murderer of my kind, accomplished, and beloved brother. I shall deprive my father of his darling son, and bring his grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. Do, Mr. Hamilton, prevent this calamity, and you will merit my eternal gratitude.” Hamilton told her, that he had just formed a scheme, which he trusted would prevent the extremities she apprehended. He went to his friend, whom he found vehemently contending with his father, that he must meet and chastise the villain. “My dear friend,” interrupted our hero, “do you believe me a man of honour, or that I would suffer an insult to pass without a punishment adequate to the subject and object?” “I know you would not.” “Do you think I would accept a challenge from a footman?” “Unquestionably not.” “Or from any one not a gentleman?” “Certainly not.” “Can you think the writer of this letter entitled to the treatment of a gentleman?” “Not by conduct; but by his situation in life, and the estimation of society.” “His situation in life is nothing to us,” replied our hero, “and if you will follow my advice, you will satisfy society, even that part of it that supports the factitious honour of duelling, and punish the fellow without degrading yourself, a gentleman, to the low level of a brutal clown.” William accordingly explained his proposition; that John should write an answer, declaring “that he would not admit a man of such behaviour to the privilege of a gentleman; but that he would personally chastise him, and would not suffer him to appear in any public meeting, until he had publicly asked pardon for his infamous behaviour.”--John at last agreed to this expedient, and also to defer the answer till the following morning, when Blossom might have had time to cool and reflect on the exact predicament in which he stood.--Maria and her father regarded our hero with the most delighted gratitude, and the remainder of the evening passed in tranquillity.