achieved with difficulty his own narrow escape; and finding, from
the attentive ear of his audience, that he had made a favorable
impression, he proceeded to manufacture for them his religious
experience; an art which his general information, and knowledge of
the world enabled him to perform without much difficulty.

But the puritan declamation which pleased all the rest, disgusted
young Hinkley, and increased his dislike for the declaimer. There
was too much of the worldling in the looks, dress, air, and manner
of Stevens, to satisfy the rustic of his sincerity. Something of
his doubts had their source, without question, in the antipathy
which he had formed against him; but William Hinkley was not without
keen, quick, observing, and justly discriminating faculties, and much
of his conclusions were the due consequence of a correct estimate
of the peculiarities which we have named. Stevens, he perceived,
declared his experiences of religion, with the air of one who
expects the congratulations of his audience. The humility which
thinks only of the acquisition itself, as the very perfection of
human conquest, was wanting equally to his language and deportment.
The very details which he gave, were ostentatious; and the gracious
smiles which covered his lips as he concluded, were those of the
self-complacent person, who feels that he has just been saying
those good things, which, of necessity, must command the applause
of his hearers.

A decent pause of half an hour after the supper was finished, which
was spent by the jealous youth in utter silence, and he then rose
abruptly and hurried from the apartment, leaving the field entirely
to his opponent. He proceeded to the house of his neighbor and
cousin, Ned Hinkley, but without any hope of receiving comfort