'No, no. She reads you like a book,' said the other.

'I wish to Heaven she would, if she would hold me like one.'

'And the nice way she qualifies your cleverness, by calling you amusing.'

'She could certainly spare that reproach to her cousin Dick,' said he,
laughing; 'but no more of this sparring. When do you mean to take me down
to the country with you? The term will be up on Tuesday.'

'That will demand a little consideration now. In the fall of the year,
perhaps. When the sun is less powerful the light will be more favourable to
your features.'

'My poor Dick, I cram you with good advice every day; but one counsel I
never cease repeating, "Never try to be witty." A dull fellow only cuts his
finger with a joke; he never catches it by the handle. Hand me over that
letter of your sister's; I like the way she writes. All that about the pigs
and the poultry is as good as the _Farmer's Chronicle_.'

The other made no other reply than by coolly folding up the letter and
placing it in his pocket; and then, after a pause, he said--

'I shall tell Miss Kearney the favourable impression her epistolary powers
have produced on my very clever and accomplished chum, Mr. Atlee.'

'Do so; and say, if she'd take me for a correspondent instead of you, she'd
be "exchanging with a difference." On my oath,' said he seriously, 'I
believe a most finished education might be effected in letter-writing. I'd