"With whatever comes, I will strive to be content."
"And even say, thank God for nothing! if nothing comes."
There was something insolent in the young lawyer's manner which was felt by Hudson, and against which his fine spirit rebelled.
"One thing is plain," he said, speaking in a voice changed from its former tone, and looking somewhat sternly at Dunbar, "that you and I have different principles, and that these lead us in the present, and will lead us in the future, into different practices. There is no harmony between these principles, and, therefore, can be no sympathy between us. It is therefore better, perhaps, that we should not meet, for we cannot meet as friends."
"As you please," said Dunbar, with an offended air, rising as he spoke. "I rather think I shall lose nothing. Good morning!"
"Good morning," returned Hudson, bowing with cold politeness.
And thus the two young men parted. They met for a brief season, but to sunder their friendship for ever.
[CHAPTER VI.]
GENEROUS SELF-DEVOTION.
THE day on which Lloyd Hudson was to pass his examination was one of considerable interest and anxiety at home. Old Mr. Hudson, equable in temper as he was, found it impossible to fix his mind upon business, or to give it anything beyond the most formal attention. The mother and sisters spent most of the time sitting in each other's rooms, and talking of Lloyd. The girls—Martha and Ella—were sanguine about the result; but Mrs. Hudson had her fears.