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After supper the company again returned to the
dancing-room, and again betook themselves to the merry
reel, and wearying jig with new ardor. Sally Myers and
her friend Barry were still talking, though now more
reservedly since the doctor had surprised them; and
seemed disposed to withdraw themselves as much as possible
from the gay crowd.

Doctor Thomas soon surrendered Mrs. Lyttelton to
some one else, and approaching a number of young men
who were assembled at the door, he listened with much
inward mirth to their critical comments on the figures,
dress, and general appearance of the young gentlemen
and ladies then engaged in dancing. Still the doctor's
eye dwelt with profound interest through all, upon the
young man Barry, who was talking with Sally Myers in
a corner a few feet off. The smile would at times disappear
from the stranger's face, and a look of love and
tenderness impossible to describe, light up his countenance
and soften every feature; then he would mutter to
himself, and his old sarcastic smile would return.

The young men after praising or abusing all the young
girls of the company, came to Sally herself who was declared
by universal acclamation, the beauty and darling
of the mountains; now by “darling” much more was
expressed than by the former word. Beauty was a good
thing, and the “beauty” was naturally a much-desired
personage by all, for dancing, berry-hunting, and riding;

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but the “darling” was the loved one, the admired one,
the dear of every body, and privileged to drive every one
to distraction. When Sally was therefore called the
“darling” of the valley, a very high compliment was
intended to be paid her.

We were wrong in saying that she was universally
praised. One young man said that she was “the silliest
looking girl he had ever seen,” a “mere child” and “not
worth making a fuss about.” The stranger saw Barry's
head turn like lightning, and his large brilliant eye
directed its glance toward the group of men. Five minutes
afterward he had left the girl, and was at the young
man's side.

“You were not abusing Sally Myers, gentlemen,” he
said calmly, “I hope I did not hear right just now; but
I thought some one spoke of her as `silly' and `childish.”'

There was nothing threatening in this address—no
anger in the young man's face; and the person who had
uttered the words in question hesitated for a moment;
had Barry spoken threateningly he would have gloried in
repeating them.

In the midst of the pause Doctor Thomas' voice was
heard:

“You address all here I believe, sir,” said he, “and as
that is the case, I reply for myself.”

“Well, sir,” said Barry, his face flushing.

“Not knowing whether you mean or do not mean to
insult me equally with the rest, I would say—”

“You may understand my words as you fancy, sir,”
said the young man with flashing eyes, and lowering his
voice.

The doctor smiled.

“Then of course there is no insult, sir,” he replied;
and turning round he commenced an indifferent conversation
with one of the guests.

Barry went out to cool his flushed forehead, and to

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gaze at the calm quiet moon, though he saw nothing but
the face of the young girl. While thus sunk in thought
he felt a hand upon his shoulder. He turned and saw
Doctor Thomas.

“You insulted me just now, sir,” said that gentleman,
“and if I did not resent it then, I have not forgotten it.”

Barry's face flushed then turned pale.

“Did you dare to say that Sally Myers was silly or
childish?”

As he spoke the young man advanced a step, his form
trembling with passion.

“One moment, sir,” said the doctor, calmly; “I am a
professional man, and I do not wish to fight on small
provocation. Your insult to me, your tone of voice, all,
was much more serious than any criticism of a young
girl could—”

“I ask you if you said it?”

“Suppose I did.”

“Then one of us shall leave this place forever.”

“You are determined then to fight me, are you, sir?”
said Doctor Thomas.

“Yes, I will fight you in any way!”

“Be cool! this red-hot way of talking answers no purpose.
Well, you have insulted me or I have insulted you—
no matter which. We'll fight. What weapons?”

The young man, with flashing eyes and passionate
voice, replied to the doctor's cool words, with a single
word—“Any!”

“Pistols then. I brought a pair with me, luckily.”

“You thought it probable you would be called on to
insult a young girl, I suppose?” said Barry with a sneer.
The doctor muttered something to himself, and looked
admiringly at the young man.

“No,” he said, “I did not. But we are losing time:
the place is the next thing.”

“Any where!” said Barry.

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“Well, say to-morrow morning then, about sunrise, at
the `Moss Rock,' on the side of the Sleepy Creek Mountain—
eh?”

“Or, here and now!” said the young man, grinding his
teeth; “you spy and eaves-drop very well for a professional
gentleman, sir!”

The doctor winced, and a slight smile flitted across his
countenance.

“It is true I heard your appointment with your sweetheart,”
said he, “but I assure you it was unintentional,
sir—wholly.”

“Assure me on your word of honor, sir,” said the
young man, “and perhaps I shall believe you!”

“The devil take him,” muttered the doctor, laughing,
to himself. Then he said to his companion:

“We lose time in all these recriminations, sir, and
should be arranging our affair. I am a good shot, and
shall kill you, I know—let it be at an early day.”

“I shall consider my life well lost, sir,” said the young
man coldly—and suddenly recollecting how useless his
anger was—“well lost, if lost defending a young girl
from insult.”

The doctor seemed to be carried away by admiration
of this sentiment, and was about to hold out his hand,
when he suddenly recollected himself.

“Well, sir,” he said, “we will arrange this matter
satisfactorily within the next few days. These affairs
will always keep; though I remember at Paris—but we
are in Virginia, a much better place, by-the-by. We will
defer, if you please, our arrangements. But remember, I
am the challenged party, and have the choice of weapons.”

Then politely saluting his companion, who scarcely
deigned to move his head in return for the profound
congé of his adversary, the doctor took his way again toward
the house.

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