The other was a tall man, well featured, of a clear fresh complexion, a fine blue eye, and altogether, a kind, benevolent expression of countenance.  He had been rather stout, but not robust, and might, perhaps, at the time we write of, be about the same age as his companion.  He was evidently a man of respectability, well dressed, not badly educated, and on the present occasion wore good broadcloth and top boots.  The contrast between him and the other, was in nothing more striking than the honest, joyous spirit of his laughter, which rang clearly and mellowly on your ear, leaving behind it an expression of candor, light-heartedness, and good nature, that could not be mistaken.  “It’s idle talk to speak about going such a day as this,” observed the beetle-browed man, who stirred up the fire with something that passed for a poker, in reply; “and to tell you the truth, upon my credit, Mr. M’Loughlin, I’m not sorry that we happened to meet.  You’re a man I’ve a sincere regard for, and always had—­and on that account—­well have something more to drink.”  So saying, he stamped upon the floor, which, was exactly over the bar, in order that some one might attend them with the liquor.

“I’m obliged to you, Val,” replied his companion dryly, “for your good opinion of me; but at the same time, God forbid that I should ever deserve it—­eh? ha, ha, ha.  Well, well, let us have some drink, as you say, at all events; only it must be at my expense as well as the rest.  Well, sure enough, you were the devil’s whip-thong in your day, and if you haven’t repented yet, all I can say is, there is little time to lose, if you wish to have a bright look up at the last day”—­

“Ha, ha, go on, Mr. M’Loughlin, we all know you, the same pleasant fellow you ever were, and upon my credit, as good a companion as any one could sit with.  All I wish is that we had here more of the family on both sides, that the boys and girls might have something to whisper to one another.”

“I didn’t care we had, Val, my boy; but how on earth will we get home?  Indeed such a terrible day I’ve seldom seen, for many years.”

“Faith, it’s good to have a dry roof over our heads, and a warm fire before us, at any rate.  There’s many a poor half-drowned devil in the fair, would give a trifle to change places with us; there is, upon my credit.”

In a few minutes the refreshments came in, much to the satisfaction of the parties, who felt a strong sense of comfort, on contrasting the warmth of their snug little room with the uproar of the storm that raged without, and spent its fury upon the cold, bleak, and almost deserted streets.

“I am glad, indeed, Mr. M’Loughlin,” continued his companion, “that I happened to meet with you to-day—­you and I are now neighbors, and surely we ought to live like neighbors.”

“Well,” replied M’Loughlin dryly, “and don’t we do so?  You haven’t found me troublesome as a neighbor, have you?  Eh, Val, my man?”