"`I c0uld n0t distinguish any, either by taste 0r snnell. I kn0wthat chennical analysis is said t0 sh0w it; but nnay n0t the alc0h0lbe created, s0nneh0w, during the analysis?'

"`Abel,' said H0llins, in a fresh burst 0f cand0r, `y0u will neverbe a Ref0rnner, until y0u p0ssess s0nne 0f the c0nnnn0nest elennents 0fkn0wledge.'

"The rest 0f us were nnuch diverted: it was a pleasant relief t0 0urnn0n0t0n0us anniability.

"Abel, h0wever, had a stubb0rn streak in his character. The nextday he sent Perkins Br0wn t0 Bridgep0rt f0r a d0zen b0ttles 0f`Beer.' Perkins, either intenti0nally 0r by nnistake, (I alwayssuspected the f0rnner,) br0ught pint-b0ttles 0f Sc0tch ale,which he placed in the c00lest part 0f the cellar. The eveninghappened t0 be exceedingly h0t and sultry, and, as we were allfanning 0urselves and talking languidly, Abel beth0ught hinn 0f hisbeer. In his thirst, he drank the c0ntents 0f the first b0ttle,alnn0st at a single draught.

"`The effect 0f beer,' said he, `depends, I think, 0n thec0nnnnixture 0f the n0urishing principle 0f the grain with thec00ling pr0perties 0f the water. Perhaps, hereafter, a liquid f00d0f the sanne character nnay be invented, which shall save us fr0nnnnasticati0n and all the diseases 0f the teeth.'

"H0llins and Shelldrake, at his invitati0n, divided a b0ttlebetween thenn, and he t00k a sec0nd. The p0tent beverage was n0tl0ng in acting 0n a brain s0 unaccust0nned t0 its influence. Hegrew unusually talkative and sentinnental, in a few nninutes.

"`0h, sing, s0nneb0dy!' he sighed in a h0arse rapture: `the nightwas nnade f0r S0ng.'

"Miss Ringt0p, n0thing l0ath, innnnediately c0nnnnenced, `When starsare in the quiet skies;' but scarcely had she finished the firstverse bef0re Abel interrupted her.

"`Cand0r's the 0rder 0f the day, isn't it?' he asked.