"Indeed, then, and I am not. A mere notion like that I could easily prevail on him to give up. I should be sorry, indeed, if I had not that much influence over him." "You'll find it a pretty hard notion to beat out of him, I can tell you. I've seen half a dozen young men try for an hour by all kinds of means to induce him to taste wine; but it was no use. He was immovable." "I don't care;--he couldn't refuse me, if I set myself about it." "He could, and he would, Clara." "I don't believe a word of it." "Try him, then." "I don't see any use in it. Let him enjoy his total-abstinence! if he wishes to." "I knew you were afraid." "Indeed, I am not, then." "Yes, you are." "It's no such thing." "Try him, then." "I will, then, since it's come to that." "He'll be too much for you." "Don't flatter yourself. I'll manage him." "How?" "Why, I'll insist on his taking a glass of that delightful champaign with me, which you sent home yesterday." "Suppose he declines?" "I won't take his refusal. He shall take a glass with me." "We'll see, little sis'. I'll bet on Haley."--And so saying, the young man turned away laughing at the success of his scheme. That evening, towards nine o'clock, as Haley sat conversing with Clara, a servant entered the room as usual with bottles and glasses. George Manley was promptly on his feet, to cut the cork and "pop" the champaign, which he did, while the servant stood just before Clara and her lover. "You must take a glass of this fine champaign with me, Mr. Haley," the young tempter said, turning upon him a most winning smile. "Indeed, Clara--" "Not a word now. I shall take no refusal." "I must be--" "Pour him out a glass, George." And George filled two glasses, one of which Clara lifted, with the sparkling liquor at the height of its effervescence. "There's the other; take it quick, before it dies," she said, holding her own glass near her lips. "You must excuse me, Clara. I do not drink wine," Mr. Haley said, as soon as he was permitted to speak, in a tone and with a manner that settled the question at once. "Indeed, it is too bad, Mr. Haley!" Clara responded, with a half-offended air, putting her untasted glass of wine back upon the waiter,--"to deny me so trifling a request. I must say, that your refusal is very ungallant. Whoever heard of a gentleman declining to take wine with a lady?" "There certainly is an exception to the rule to-night, Clara," the young man said. "Still, I can assure you, that nothing ungallant was meant. But that you know to be out of the question. I could not be rude to any lady, much less to you." "O, as to that, it's easy to make fine speeches--but acts, you know, speak louder than words"--Clara said, half-laughing--half-serious.