"'Yes you have—it is what every man owes to your sex.'
"'You are very good, sir; but I am sure I can make the inquiry for myself.'
"'No, it is a tavern, where you cannot properly go alone! Remain here, and I will ascertain for you.'
"Before I could repeat my thanks, the gentleman was half across the street.
"Hoping to facilitate matters, I followed him to the opposite pavement, and stood where he would observe me upon coming out of the door I had seen him enter. I held the note and my porte-monnaie ready in my hand.
"'There is a box here,' said my kind friend, returning, 'if you will intrust me with your letter, I will deposit it for you.'
"'You are very good, sir; I would like to pay it,' I answered, opening my porte-monnaie.
"He took the letter quickly, and prevented my intended offer of the postage so decidedly, that I did not dare insist. But, by this time, I really could not refrain from the expression of more than an ordinary acknowledgment:
"'I have to thank you, sir,' said I, 'not only for a real kindness to a stranger, but for a pleasant memory, which I shall not soon lose. Such courtesy is too unusual to be soon forgotten! 'How far one little candle sometimes throws its rays!'—many thanks and good evening, sir!'
"I had still one more errand in Canal street, but I stayed on the 'unfashionable side' of the street, and went up, to avoid the awkwardness of re-crossing with the gentleman, and the possibility of imposing any further tax upon his politeness—bless him! I wasn't half as weary after I met him, and my heart has been in a glow ever since!"