Thanks for your faith in my taste, and you've had
my opinion !"

Poor Charles could hardly conceal his wrath. He
hated personal remarks of any kind, and the imputa-
tion of having called twice in two days on Mrs. Brand,
whom he was inclined to patronize, one day with a
beard and one without, for her opinion, was terribly
galling. He did not attempt to explain, however,
but stayed out his short call, with an awkward stiff-
ness of manner and evident ill-temper, which, com-
bined with the foregoing circumstances, made Mrs.
Brand think he had turned extremely queer.
^^Did you see Mrs. Brand ?" Tom asked, with much
interest, on his return.
" Yes, Mrs. Brand was at home."

^' Did you — enjoy your call ?"

" It seems to me high time for you to go about
your undertaking," said Charles. *'I am obliged for
this signal proof of your ability to succeed in it that
you have just given, and feel no need of further dem-
onstrations."

"I am fully prepared," said Tom, mocking his
testy manner, *^ to conduct it to a successful issue."

Two days later he set out, delighted with the nov-
elty and excitement of his adventure, with plenty of
money in his pocket and a sense of having done a
good thing; for his brother and the pretty widow
were friends again, and let him understand that he
had brought about that happy result.
