cynical Forester alone refused his sympathy. He looked at the flower-pot
with marked disdain. Archibald, who delighted to contrast himself with
the unpolished Forester, and who remarked that Flora and her brother were
both somewhat surprised at his unsociable silence, slyly said, "There's
something in this flower-pot Miss Campbell, which does not suit Mr.
Forester's correct taste; I wish he would allow us to profit by his
criticisms."

Forester vouchsafed not a reply.

"Don't you like it, Forester?" said Henry.

"No, he does not like it," said Flora, smiling; "don't force him to say
that he does."

"Force me to say I like what I don't like!" repeated Forester; "no, I
defy any body to do that."

"But why," said Dr. Campbell, laughing, "why such a waste of energy and
magnanimity about a trifle? If you were upon your trial for life or
death, Mr. Forester, you could not look more resolutely guarded--more as
if you had 'worked up each corporal agent' to the terrible feat!"

"Sir," said Forester, who bore the laugh that was raised against him with
the air of a martyr, "I can bear even your ridicule in the cause of
truth." The laugh continued at the solemnity with which he pronounced
these words. "I think," pursued Forester, "that those who do not respect
truth in trifles, will never respect it in matters of consequence."

Archibald Mackenzie laughed more loudly, and with affectation, at this