"Oh, no, it's all done for--it's all up with me!" "But _what's_ been done?--let us hear," said Huckaback, as he passed a wet towel to and fro over his ensanguined features. It was by this time clear that the storm which had for some time given out only a few faint fitful flashes or flickerings in the distance, had passed away. Titmouse, with many grievous sighs, took out the letter which had produced the paroxysms I have been describing, and read it aloud. "And only see how they've spelled your name, Huckaback--look!" he added, handing his friend the letter. "How _partic'lar_ vulgar!" exclaimed Huckaback, with a contemptuous air, which, overspreading his features, half-closed as was his left eye, and swollen as were his cheek and nose, would have made him a queer object to one who had leisure to observe such matters. "And so _this_ is all they say of _me_," he continued. "How do you come to know that I've been doing you mischief? All I did was just to look in, as respectful as possible, to ask how you was, and they very civilly told me you was very well, and we parted"---- "Nay, now, that's a lie, Huckaback, and you know it!" interrupted Titmouse. "It's true, so help me----!" vehemently asseverated Huckaback. "Why, perhaps you'll deny that you wrote and told me all you said," interrupted Titmouse, indignantly, feeling in his pocket for Huckaback's letter, which that worthy had at the moment quite forgotten having sent, and on being reminded of it, he certainly seemed rather nonplussed. "Oh--ay, if you mean _that_--hem!"--he stammered. "Come, you _know_ you're a liar, Huck--but it's no good now: liar or no liar, it's all over." "The pot and kettle, anyhow, Tit, as far as that goes--hem!--but let's spell over this letter; we haven't studied it yet; I'm a hand, rather, at getting at what's said in a letter!--Come"--and they drew their chairs together, Huckaback reading over the letter slowly, alone; Titmouse's eyes travelling incessantly from his friend's countenance to the letter, and so back again, to gather what might be the effect of its perusal. "There's a glimpse of daylight yet, Titty!" said Huckaback, as he concluded reading it. "No! But is there really? Do tell me, Hucky"---- "Why, first and foremost, how uncommon polite they are, (except that they haven't manners enough to spell my name right)"---- "Really--and so they are!" exclaimed Titmouse, rather elatedly. "And then, you see, there's another thing--if they'd meant to give the thing the go-by altogether, what could have been easier than to say so?--but they haven't said anything of the sort, so they don't _mean_ to give it all up!" "Lord, Huck! what would I give for such a head as yours! What you say is quite true," said Titmouse, still more cheerfully. "To be sure, they do say there's an _obstacle_--an obstacle, you see--nay, it's obstacles, which is several, and that"---- Titmouse's face fell.