“Oh, you needn't take on airs!” replied the other with a sneer of contempt. Then muttering to himself, yet loud enough to be heard,--“I didn't suppose the puppy would growl at a familiar pat on the head.” This was too much for Wallingford. At another time, he might have borne it with a manly self-possession. But only an hour before he had met Miss Floyd in the street, and the look she then gave him had stirred his heart, and left a tinge of shadowy regret on his feelings. He was, therefore, in no mood to bear trifling, much less insult. Scarcely had the offensive words passed Dewey's lips, when a blow in the face staggered him back against the wall. Instantly recovering himself, he sprang towards Wallingford in blind rage, and struck at him with a savage energy; but the latter stepped aside, and let his assailant come, with stunning force, against the wall at the other side of the office, when he fell to the floor. At this instant, Judge Bigelow came in. “Henry! Ralph!” he exclaimed--“what is the meaning of this?” “Your nephew insulted me, and in the heat of anger I struck him in the face. In attempting to return that blow, he missed his aim, and fell against the wall, as you see.” Wallingford spoke without excitement, but in a stern, resolute way. By this time, Dewey was on his feet again. The sight of his uncle, and the unflinching aspect of the person he had ventured to insult, had the effect to cool off his excitement many degrees. “What is the meaning of this, young men?” sternly repeated Judge Bigelow, looking from one to the other. “I have answered your question as far as I am concerned,” replied Henry. “Ralph! Speak! Did you offer him an insult?” To this demand, the nephew replied, with no abatement of his originally offensive manner-- “If he chooses to consider my words as an insult, let him do so. I shall in no case take them back.” “What did you say?” There was an imperative force in the Judge's manner. Dewey was silent. “What did he say,”--Judge Bigelow turned to Wallingford, “that you should answer it with a blow?” “If he is satisfied with the answer,” replied the latter, “the case can rest where it is. If not, I am ready to meet him on any appeal. I He will find me no trifler.” The Judge turned again to his nephew. “Ralph! I insist upon having this matter explained. I know Henry too well to believe that he would strike you, unless there had been strong provocation.” “Perhaps he regarded it as such; I did not,” said Dewey. “If he is satisfied with his chastisement, there is no occasion to press him farther, Judge.” Wallingford was provoked to this by the young man's cool impertinence. Dewey made a movement as if about to rush upon Wallingford, but the Judge interposed his body to keep them apart. The appearance of a fourth party at this juncture, in the person of Squire Floyd, the prospective father-in-law of one of the belligerents, changed materially the aspect of affairs.