DILEMMA. 255 



duties at half-past seven to-morrow morn- 

 ing, which is about the time, I imagine, 

 you would require my company at Chalk 

 Farm, or some neighbouring spot." 



" Most certainly." 



" Well, Sir," I continued, " I have a wife 

 and eight children you surely would not 

 have me put their welfare upon the stake 

 for the very small offence I have unwit- 

 tingly given you." 



" You should have thought of that before 

 you committed the offence." 



Finding that nothing could appease him, 

 I held my tongue, and sat musing on the 

 dilemma I was in, and wondering how I 

 should extricate myself. I could not leave 

 the room like a cur if I did I felt assured 

 some personal indignity would be offered 

 me I could not deride him, nor would I 

 apologise any further. 



As I sat twirling the spoon in my 

 empty glass, a thought suddenly struck me, 

 or rather came back on me, as thoughts 



