talk; all wobbling with speeches you can make nothin' on-and you'll soon wish yourself a mushroom, a toadstool, anything to be well in the country agin."

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Jem," said Capstick, "you mean well; but you 're an enthusiast."

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"You may call me what names you like," said Jem, very resignedly, "but you'll never be happy away from the Tub." You'll lay the breakfast," observed Capstick, peremptorily ending the conversation as he turned from the garden to the house, whilst Jem-as if he had a new quarrel with the soil-dug his spade into the earth with increased energy.

In a few minutes a hen broke out into the customary proclamation of a new egg." Well, I know," cried Jem, pettishly, "I know you 're like a good many people, you are; can't even give poor folks an egg without telling all the world about it. Humph! he may as well havo 'em fresh while he can ; and Jem bent his way to the hen-roost-" poor soul! he 'll get nothin' o' the sort when he's a member of parliament.'

In very dumpish spirits did Jem prepare the breakfast. But when he saw Capstick, habited in his very best, issue from his chamber, Jem groaned as though he looked upon a victim arrayed for the sacrifice. Capstick would not hear the note of tribulation, but observed-" You'll go with me, Jem."

"I'd rather not," said Jem; "but I 'spose I must go in the mob, to see as nobody pelts you. Humph! I wonder what any Jew will give for that coat when you come home. But I 'spose it's all right. People put their best on when they 're hanged, and why, shouldn't you ? All right, o' course."

Capstick managed to laugh, and tried to eat his breakfast with even more than customary relish-but it would not do: he had no appetite. He felt himself on the verge of greatness. And his heart was so big it left him no stomach. Suddenly was heard the sound of distant music. "6 'Heaven save you!" cried Jem, "they 're coming after you."

"Don't be a fool," said the philosophic Capstick, and the music and the shouting seemed to enter his calm bosom like flame, for he suddenly observed, "It's very warm to-day, Jem."

"Nothin' to what it will be," said Jem. "Here they come. Afore it's too late, will you hide under the bed, and I'll say you're out?" Jem rapidly put the proposal as a last desperate

resource.

"Don't be a fool," again cried Capstick, and with increased vehemence. Open the door."

"It's all over-too late," groaned Jem, and almost immediately the music came clanging to the window, and the mob huzzaed, and Rasp, and others of Capstick's committee, filled the cottage. "Hurrah!” cried Rasp, "three cheers for Capstick! Capstick and the Constitution!" and the mob roared in obedience. "Now, Mr. Capstick; all right I can tell you. His lordship hasn't a toe to stand upon-not a single toe. This blessed night you 'll sleep Member for Liquorish! Down with the Blues! The Constitution and Capstick! Hurrah! Why, Jem"-cried the barber, suddenly astounded-"you havn't got no colour. Here's one."

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'Well, if I must make myself a canary," cried Jem, and he took the proffered riband, and shook his head.

Now, then, strike up, and three more cheers for Capstick and the Constitution," roared Rasp. The trumpets sounded-the drums beat-the mob roared, and amidst the hubbub, Capstick suffered himself to be carried off by the committee to one of the three carriages drawn up at the end of the lane, whilst Bright Jem, as though he walked at a funeral, pensively followed.—In a few moments the line was formed; and musicians and mob, taking new breath, gave loudest utterance to their several instruments. And Capstick, the philosopher, smiled and bowed about him with all the easy grace of an old candidate. Bright Jem gazed at him with astonishment. Could it be possible that that smiling, courteous, bending man was the rigid muffin-maker? After that, there was nothing true, nothing real in humanity. At once, Jem gave the world up.

The procession reached the Town Hall. Hurrahs and hootings met Capstick; who felt warm and cold at the salutations. It was plain, however, that Capstick and the Constitution-as Rasp would couple them-must triumph. The great confidence in young St. James had, somehow, been severely shaken. It was known even to the little children of the borough that the mysterious chest of gold had been carried off; and as the customary donation to the electors was not forthcoming, it was believed that young St. James would rashly trust to purity of election. Tangle, secure in his belief that there would be no opposition to his lordship, had said no word of the robbery; hence, he had suffered very valuable time to be lost-time that had been improved

to the utmost by the agents of Snipeton, who, though he scarcely appeared himself, laboured by means of his mercenaries, with all the ardour that hatred and gold could supply in the cause. When, however, it became certain that his lordship would be opposed, Tangle felt the dire necessity-dire, indeed of telling the truth. And then he felt he had not the courage to carry him through so unusual a task. Whereupon, he sneaked to his inn, ordered a post-chaise, placed himself and portmanteau therein, and late at night secretly drove towards London. Ere, however, he departed, he left a letter for the noble candidate. We give a correct copy.

"MY LORD,-Deeply, indeed, do I regret that a circumstancea tender circumstance-to which it is needless more particularly to allude (for what-what right have I, at such a time, to force my domestic sorrows on your lordship's attention?)-a tender circumstance, I say, compels my immediate attendance in London. You may judge of the importance of the event from the very fact that, at such a time, it can sever me from your lordship. I leave you, however, in the full assurance of your triumph-in the full belief that parliament, which has received so many ornaments from your noble house, has yet to obtain an unparalleled lustre in the genius of your lordship. With the profoundest respect, I am your lordship's most devoted servant,

"LUKE TANGLE."

"P. S.-We are all, in this mortal world, liable to accidents. My good friend, Mr. Folder, will inform your lordship of a eircumstance that has given me much pain: a circumstance, however, that when I shall have the honour of next meeting your lordship, I doubt not I shall be able most fully to explain to your lordship's most perfect satisfaction."

"There is great villany in this, great villany, my lord," said Doctor Gilead, possessed of the contents of the letter" but it isn't so much the money that 's lost; that may be remedied— it's the time, the precious time. There is no doubt that the other side have taken the most unprincipled advantage of the calamity, and have bribed right and left. Nevertheless, we must not despair. No; certainly not. We must look the difficulty in the face like men, my lord-like men." The Doctor, too, spoke like one determined to fight to the last minute, and the last guinea. And the Doctor was not merely a man of words. No. With a fine decision of character, he immediately drew a cheque for a much

larger amount than was ever dreamt of by all the apostles, and confiding it to a trusty servant, he shortly but emphatically said to him—“Gold.” The man smilingly acknowledged the magic of that tremendous monosyllable, and departed blithely on his errand. Nevertheless, there was a strong sense of honour in the hearts of the majority of the patriots of Liquorish; for although some took double bribes-although some suffered themselves to be gilt like weather-vanes, on both sides, the greater number remained true to the first purchaser. It was the boast-the consolation that made so many of the Yellows walk upright through the world that they stuck to their first bargain. The double fee would have been welcome, to be sure, but as some of them touchingly observed, they had characters to take care of. Besides, the same candidate might come again.

66 • Can you have any notion of the cause of the motives of this man, Snipeton?" asked Doctor Gilead of young St. James, who slightly coloured at the home question.

started a candidate ?"

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Why should he have

"Possibly I can't tell-but I say possibly he has strong political feelings. But, 'tis no matter, 'twill only add to the excitement at the most, 'twill only be a joke. A muffin-maker sitting for Liquorish! For our borough! 'Tis too ridiculous to imagine," and young St. James laughed.

"A very contemptible person, certainly," said Doctor Gilead; "nevertheless, he 's twenty a-head of your lordship, and as there is not above another hour for polling, and we know the number of votes, matters do look a little desperate." Such was the opinion of Doctor Gilead, very dolorously pronounced at an advanced period of the day; and young St. James-although he had combated the notion like a man and a lord-began to give ground: it no longer seemed to him among the impossibilities of the world that the family borough of Liquorish might be usurped by a muffin-maker. And then St. James-thinking of Clarissameditated a terrible revenge upon her husband.

In the meanwhile, the contest raged with every variety of noise and violence consequent upon the making of a member of parliament. Songs were sung ;-how the poet was so suddenly found, we know not; but discovered, he was potently inspired by ready gold and ale, and in no time enshrined the robbery of the money-box in verse. Every line, like a wasp, had a sting at the end of it, aimed at the corruption of the Blues. The concluding stanza too, breathed an ardent wish for the future prosperity and

happiness of the thief-and an expression of kindness that Tom Blast, as he mingled among the mob, received with the silence of modesty. Tom's only regret was that Jingo, his own child, had not been entrusted with the ballad, as the melody and the sentiment of the song were beautifully adapted to the voice and intelligence of the young minstrel. Besides, there would have been something droll-very droll, a matter to be chuckled over with private friends-had Jingo chaunted the satirical lament for the stolen gold; he being, above all others, peculiarly fitted for the melodious task. And where could he be once or twice thought the father, and then the paternal anxiety was merged in the deep interest of the hour; for Tom Blast with all his might roared and cheered and hooted in the cause of the Yellows. Much, we think, would it have abated the patriotic zeal of Capstick, had he known how vociferously he was lauded by the thief of Hog Lane. But at such a time, applause must not be too curiously analysed.

And now both parties began to number minutes. A quarter of an hour, and the poll would close. The Blues had for the past twenty minutes rallied; and Doctor Gilead rubbed his hands and declared that, in spite of the corrupt practices of the Yellows, in spite of the soul-buying bribery that had been resorted to by unchristian men, the rightful seat of St. James would not be usurped by a muffin-maker. Poor Jem hung about the Committee-rooms and secretly exulted when Capstick receded; as secretly mourned when he advanced. At length the final numbers were exhibited; and to the joy of the Yellows, the despair of the Blues, and to the particular misery of Jem himself, Matthew Capstick, Esq., was declared twenty votes ahead of his opponent !

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"Three cheers for Capstick, our member," cried Rasp from the window of the Yellow Committee-room. Three cheers for Capstick and the Constitution!

"Give it him," cried Flay from an opposite house, and the obedient loyal mob of Blues discharged a volley of mud and stones and other constitutional missiles in use on such glorious occasions. Crash went the windows; and, on the instant, the two factions in the street engaged in a general fight; all moving, they combatted, towards the Town Hall, already beset by a roaring mob.

A few minutes, and Mr. Capstick appeared. Whereupon, the high bailiff declared him duly elected a knight burgess, and