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rcastically。
Peter made no reply； but his neck seemed to swell and his face to be getting purple。
〃And he's a friend of yours？ I can't even play a little joke on him。〃 〃Play your joke on him！〃 exclaimed Peter； 〃and when my time comes； I'll play mine。〃 〃When he sent the bundle here yesterday morning I could have returned it straight to her。 I locked it in that closet！ 'You'll never go to the ball with her；' I said； 'if I have to keep her away。' I set my trap。 To…day I hunted up Joseph Holden。 'Come by the office； as you are on your way to the party to…night；' I said。 'I want to talk to you about a piece of land。 Come early； then we can go together。' When he camejust before you didI said； 'Look here； did you know that Amy wouldn't be at the ball？ She lost her clothes as she was coming to town the other day； and somebody has just sent them here to be advertised。 I think I'd better take them around to her yet： it's not too late。' 'I'll take them！ I'll go with her myself！' he cried；jumping up。
〃So she'll be there； he'll be there； I'll be there； we'll all be therebut your John can hear about it in the morning。〃 And O'Bannon arose slowly； but unexpectedly sat down again。
〃You think I won't be there；〃 he said threateningly to Peter。 〃You think I'm drunk。 I'll show you！ I'll show you that I can walkthat I can dancedance by myself do it allby myselffurnish the music and do the dancing。〃
He began whistling 〃Sir Roger de Coverley；〃 and stood up； but sank down again and reached for the bottle。
〃Peter；〃 he said with a soft smile； looking down at his gorgeous swan's…down waistcoat and his well…shaped dove…coloured legs： 〃ain't I a beauty？〃 〃Yes； you are a beauty！〃 said Peter。
Suddenly lifting one of his bare feet； he shot O'Bannon as by the action of a catapult against the printing…press。
He lay there all night。
IV
HOW fine a thing it would be if all the faculties of the mind could be trained for the battles of life as a modern nation makes every man a soldier。 Some of these； as we know； are always engaged in active service； but there are times when they need to be strengthened by others； constituting a first reserve； and yet graver emergencies arise in the marchings of every man when the last defences of land and hearth should be ready to turn out： too often even then the entire disciplined strength of his forces would count as a mere handful to the great allied powers of the world and the devil。
But so few of our faculties are of a truly military turn； and these wax indolent and unwary from disuse like troops during long times of peace。 We all come to recognize sooner or later； of course； the unfailing little band of them that form our standby； our battle…smoked campaigners； our Old Guard； that dies； neversurrenders。 Who of us also but knows his faithful artillery； dragging along his big gunsand so liable to reach the scene after the fighting is over？ Who when worsted has not fought many a battle through again merely to show how different the result would have been； if his artillery had only arrived in time！ Boom！ boom！ boom！ Where are the enemy now？ And who does not take pride in his navy； sweeping the high seas of the imagination but too often departed for some foreign port when the coast defences need protecting？
Beyond this general dismemberment of our resources do we not all feel the presence within us of certain renegades？ Does there not exist inside every man a certain big； ferocious…looking faculty who is his drum majorloving to strut at the head of a peaceful parade and twirl his bawble and roll his eyes at the children and scowl back at the quiet intrepid fellows behind as though they were his personal prisoners？ Let but a skirmish threaten； and our dear； ferocious； fat major！ not even in the rearnot even on the field！ Then there is a rattling little mannikin who sleeps in the barracks of the brain and is good for nothing but to beat the cerebral drum。 There is a certain awkward squadtoo easily identifiedwho have been drafted again and again into service only to be in the way of every skilled manoeuvre； only to be mustered out as raw recruits at the very end of life。 And； finally； there is a miscellaneous crowd of our faculties scattered far and near at their humdrum peaceful occupations； so that if a quick call for war be heard； these do but behave as a populace that rushes into a street to gaze at the national guard already marching past； some of the spectators not even grateful； not even cheering。
All that day John had to fight a battle for which he had never been trained； moreover he had been compelled to divide his forces： there was the far…off solemn battle going on in his private thoughts； and there was the usual siege of duties in the school。 For once he would gladly have shirked the latter； but the single compensation he always tried to wrest from the disagreeable things of life was to do them in such a way that they would never fester in his conscience like thorns broken off in the flesh。
During the forenoon； therefore； by an effort which only those who have experienced it can understand； he ordered off all communication with larger troubles and confined himself in that stifling prison…house of the mind where the perplexities and toils of childhood become enormous and everything else in the world grows small。 Up under the joists there was the terrible struggle of a fly in a web； at first more and more violent； then ceasing in a strain so fine that the ear could scarce take it； a bee came in one window； went out another； a rat； sniffing greedily at its hole； crept toward a crumb under a bench； ran back； crept nearer； seized it and was gone； a toiling slate…pencil grated on its way as arduously as a wagon up a hill； he had to teach a beginner its letters。 These were the great happenings。 At noon the same child that had brought him a note on the day before came with another：
〃Kitty is going to the ball with Horatio。 I shall be alone。 We can have our talk uninterrupted。 How unreasonable you are！ Why don't you understand things without wanting to have them explained？ If you wish to go to the ball； you can do this afterwards。 Don't come till Kitty has gone。〃
Duties in the school till near sunset； then letters。 O'Bannon had told him that Mr。 Bradford's post…rider would leave at four o'clock next morning； if he had letters to send； they must be deposited in the box that night。 Gray had letters of the utmost importance to writeto his lawyer regarding the late decision in his will case； and to the secretary of the Democratic Club in Philadelphia touching the revival of activity in the clubs throughout the country on account of the expected treaty with England。
After he had finished them； he strolled slowly about the dark townpast his school…house； thinking that his teaching days would soon be overpast Peter's blacksmith shop； thinking what a good fellow he always waspast Mr。 Bradford's editorial room； with a light under the door and the curtain drawn across the window。 Two or three times he lingered before show…windows of merchandise。 He had some taste in snuff…boxes； being the inheritor of several from his Scotch and Irish ancestors； and there were a few in the new silversmith