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Then a sudden chill passed through his frame as consciousness returned, and he would fain have dashed the glass from him as a poisoning serpent that was preparing to sting him, but for the company that crowded the rooms. From this state he was aroused by the sweet voice of his young wife, saying, in happy tones–

“So it has not poisoned you, James.”

He smiled an answer, but did not speak. The peculiar expression of that smile, Clara remembered for many years afterwards.

“Come! you must empty your glass with me,” she said, in a moment after. “See! you have scarcely tasted it yet. Now–“

And she raised her glass, and he did the same. When he withdrew his own from his lips, it was empty.

“Bravo!”–exclaimed Clara, in a low, triumphant tone.

“Now, isn’t that delightful wine?”

“Yes, very.”

“Did you ever taste wine before, James?” the bride laughingly said–

“O, yes, many a time. But none so exquisitely flavoured as this.”

“Long abstinence has sweetened it to your taste.”

“No doubt.”

“Clara has been too much for you to-night, Haley,” George Manley said, coming up at this moment, and laughing in great glee.

“He couldn’t refuse me on such an occasion”–the bride gaily responded. “I set my heart on making him drink wine with me on our wedding-night, and I have succeeded.”

“Are you sure he hasn’t poured it slyly upon the floor?”

“O, yes! I saw him take every drop. And what is more; he smacked his lips, and said it was exquisitely flavoured.”

“Here comes the servant again,” George said, at this moment. “Come, James! let me fill your glass again. You must drink with me to-night. You’ve never given me that pleasure yet. Come!–As well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.” Thus importuned, Haley held up his glass which George Manley filled to the brim.

“Health and happiness!” the young man said, bowing.

Haley bowed in return, placed the glass to his lips, and took its contents at a draught.

“Bravely done! Why, it seems to go down quite naturally. You were not always a total-abstinence man?”

“No, I was not.”–While a slight shadow flitted over his face.

“Welcome back again, then, to a truly social, and convivial spirit! After this, don’t let me ever see you refuse a generous glass.”

“What! An empty wine-glass in the hand of young Mr. Incorrigible! Upon my word!” ejaculated old Mr. Manley, coming up at this moment.

“O, yes, pa! I’ve conquered him to-night! He couldn’t refuse to take a glass of wine with me on this occasion!” the daughter said, in great glee.

“He must take one with me, too, then.”

“You must excuse me, indeed, sir,” Haley replied–rallying himself, and bracing up into firmness his broken and still wavering resolutions.

“Indeed, then, and I won’t.”

“O, no. Don’t excuse him at all, pa! He drank with me, and then with brother, and now to refuse to drink with you would be a downright shame.”

“He has taken a glass with George, too, has he? And now wants to be excused when I ask him. Upon my word! Here, George, tell the servant to come over this way.”

The servant came, of course, in a moment or two, with the wine.

“Fill up his glass, George,” the father said.

Haley’s glass was, of course, filled again.

“Now, my boy!–Here’s a health to my children! May this night’s happiness be but as a drop to the ocean of delight in reserve for them.” Drinking.

“And here’s to our father! May his children never love him less than they do now.” Drinking in turn.

“Thank you, my boy!”

“And thank you in return, for your kind wishes.”

“That wine didn’t seem to taste unpleasantly, James?”

“O, no, sir. It is rich and generous.”

“How long is it since you tasted wine?”

“About three years.”

“Are you not fond of it?”

“O, yes. I like a good glass of wine.”

“Then what in the world has made you act so singularly about it?”

“A mere whim of mine, I suppose you will call it. And perhaps it was. I thought I was just as well without it.”