laughed at it.

"Pooh, Alick," said he, "what does it signify? Have we not been annoyed
for years by these senseless broils and empty threats? Don't think of
them."

"I, father!" replied his son; "do you imagine that I ever bestow a
second thought upon them? Not I, I assure you. However, there is one
thing would most unquestionably gratify me, and that is, an opportunity
of cudgelling Buck English; because, upon second consideration,
horse-whipping would be much too gentlemanly a style of chastisement for
such a vulgar and affected ruffian."

"I regret very much, however," said his sister Julia, "that I have been
the cause of all this; but really, as Mary here knows, the absurdity of
his language was perfectly irresistible."

"Yes," replied her sister; "but, in fact, he is constantly annoying and
persecuting her, and very few would bear such nonsense and absurdity
from him with so much good-humor as Julia does. I grant that it is very
difficult to be angry with so ridiculous a fool; but I do agree with
Julia, that it is better to laugh at him, for two seasons: the first is,
because he is a fit object for ridicule; and the second, because it is
utterly impossible to resist it."

"I don't think he will annoy Julia again, however," said Alick.

"Not until the next opportunity," observed his brother, "when, you may
take my word for it, he will be as ridiculously polite and impudent as
ever."