He shook his head with that look, mingled of feeling and irony, which was very perplexing.  The tone in which he spoke was really so full of tenderness for the girl, that Hope, who heard every word and felt every tone, was sure that Lawrence Newt pitied the prospective bride sincerely.

“I beg pardon, Mr. Newt, and Miss Wayne,” said Arthur Merlin; “but how can a man have a high respect for women when he sees his sister do what Fanny Newt has done?”

“Why should a man complain that his sister does precisely what he is trying to do himself?” asked Lawrence.

CHAPTER XLI.

A LITTLE DINNER.

When Mrs. Dinks told her husband of Alfred’s marriage, the Honorable Budlong said it was a great pity, but that it all came of the foolish fondness of the boy’s mother; that nothing was more absurd than for mothers to be eternally coddling their children.  Although who would have attended to Mr. Alfred if his mother had not, the unemployed statesman forgot to state, notwithstanding that he had just written a letter upon public affairs, in which he eloquently remarked that he had no aspirations for public life; but that, afar from the turmoils of political strife, his modest ambition was satisfied in the performance of the sweet duties which the wise Creator, who has set the children of men in families, has imposed upon all parents.

“However,” said he, “Mr. Newt is a wealthy merchant.  It’s all right, my dear!  Women, and especially mothers, are peculiarly silly at such times.  Endeavor, Mrs. Dinks, to keep the absurdity—­which, of course, you will not be able to suppress altogether—­within bounds.  Try to control your nerves, and rely upon Providence.”

Therewith the statesman stroked his wife’s chin.  He controlled his own nerves perfectly, and went to dress for dinner with a select party at General Belch’s, in honor of the Honorable B. J. Ele, who, in his capacity as representative in Washington, had ground an axe for his friend the General.  Therefore, when the cloth was removed, the General rose and said:  “I know that we are only a party of friends, but I can not help indulging my feelings, and gratifying yours, by proposing the health of our distinguished, able, and high-minded representative, whose Congressional career proves that there is no office in the gift of a free and happy people to which he may not legitimately aspire.  I have the honor and pleasure to propose, with three times three, the Honorable B. Jawley Ele.”

The Honorable Budlong Dinks led off in gravely pounding the table with his fork; and when the rattle of knives, and forks, and spoons, and glasses had subsided, and when Major Scuppernong, of North Carolina—­who had dined very freely, and was not strictly following the order of events, but cried out in a loud voice in the midst of the applause, “Encore, encore! good for Belch!”—­had been reduced to silence, then the honorable gentleman who had been