"No, no, Councillor," he said, in answer to the invitation of Joris to

come outside. "No, no, I'll not risk my health, maybe my vera life, oot

on the stoop after sunset. 'Warm,' do you say? Vera warm, and all the

waur for being warm. My medical man thinks I hae a tendency to fever,

and there's four-fourths o' fever in every inch o' river mist that a

man breathes these warm nights."

"Well, then, neighbours, we'll go inside," said Joris. "Clean pipes, and

a snowball, or a glass of Holland, will not, I think, be amiss."

The movement was made among some jokes and laughter; and they gathered

near the hearthstone, where, in front of the unlit hickory logs, stood a

tall blue jar filled with feathery branches of fennel and asparagus.

But, as the jar of Virginia was passed round, Lysbet looked at Dinorah,

and Dinorah went to the door and called, "Baltus;" and in a minute or

two a little black boy entered with some hot coals on a brass

chafing-dish, and the fire was as solemnly and silently passed round as

if it were some occult religious ceremony.

The conversation interrupted by Semples entrance was not resumed.

It had been one dealing out unsparing and scornful disapproval of

Governor Clinton's financial methods, and Clinton was known to be a

personal friend of Semple's. But the elder would perhaps hardly have

appreciated the consideration, if he had divined it; for he dearly loved

an argument, and had no objections to fight for his own side

single-handed. In fact, it was so natural for him to be "in opposition,"

that he could not bear to join the general congratulation to De Vries on

his fortunate voyage.

"You were lang awa', Captain," was his opening speech. "It would tak' a

deal o' gude fortune to mak' it worth your while to knock around the

high seas for three years or mair."

"Well, look now, Elder, I didn't come home with empty hands. I have

always been apt to get into the place where gold and good bargains were

going."

"Hum-m-m! You sailed for Rotterdam, I think?"

"That is true; from Rotterdam I went to Batavia, and then to the coast

of Africa. The African cargo took me to the West Indies. From Kingston

it was easy to St. Thomas and Surinam for cotton, and then to Curaçoa

for dyeing-woods and spices. The 'Great Christopher' took luck with her.

Every cargo was a good cargo."




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