"You know that I am to be married next month?"
"So I have heard," replied Wallingford.
"You will stand my groomsman? Don't say no!"
He had seen an instant negative in the young man's face.
"Almost any thing else, but not that!" replied Henry, speaking with
some feeling. He was thrown off his guard by so unexpected a
request.
"Come now, my good friend, don't take the matter so much to heart!"
said Dewey, in a light way. "Plenty of good fish in the sea yet--as
good as ever were caught. You must forgive the girl for liking me
the best."
"You jest on a grave subject," said Wallingford, his face growing
pale, but his eyes, a little dilated, riveting his companion's where
he stood.
"No, I am in earnest," said Dewey, with something in his manner that
was offensive.
"Jest or earnest, your familiarity is out of place with me,"
retorted Wallingford, with a sternness of manner, that quickened the
flow of bad blood in Dewey's heart.
"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.
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