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Liquorish! La, bless you! as I said afore, you're Member for Spite and Revenge, and all sorts of wickedness.

“I certainly will see Mrs. Snipeton,” said Capstick, “and tomorrow, Jem; yes, to-morrow.

In pursuit of this determination, Mr. Capstick-with no forewarning of his intended visit to the master of the house-opened the garden gate, and proceeded up the path to the cottage, followed by Bright Jem ; who in his heart was hugely pleased at the unceremonious manner in which his master stalked, like a sheriff's officer, into the sanctuary of wedded love, or what is more, of wedded jealousy: calm, authoritative, self-contained, as though he came to take possession of the dove-cote. Even Dorothy Vale was startled by the abrupt intrusion ; and looking from the door, and rubbing her arms with quickened energy, begged to know “ what they wanted there ?" Ere, however, Capstick could descend to make due answer, Becky ran from the door, with many a voluble “ dear heart !” and “who'd ha' thought it !" and " is your honor well ?”

“Very well, my maid ; very well," said Capstick. 66 I should like to see Mrs. Snipeton.”

“ La ! now, what ill luck,” cried Becky, " she's gone out a horseback with master ; but she won't be long, if you'll only be so good as to walk in, and wait a little while ; she's such a sweet lady, she 'll be glad to see you.

Dorothy said nothing ; but hugging and rubbing her arms, looked sidelong at the new maid ; looked at her, as one, whose glib tongue had in one minute talked away her place ; for assuredly did Dorothy, even in her dim vision, see Becky with her bundle trundled from the house, as soon as Mr. Snipeton should learn the treason of his handmaid.

" I'll walk about the garden till they come back," said Capstick ;

“ I'm fond of flowers ; very fond.”

They won't come back together; for Master 's gone to Lunnun; but the young man, the new servant

“ Ha! the young man that took you from St. Mary-Axe,” said Jem ; and Becky nodded and coloured.

“ Both of you new together, it seems,” observed Capstick, meaning nothing ; though Becky, colouring still deeper, thought she saw a world of significance in the careless words of the Member of Parliament. But then it was a Member of Parliament who spoke; and there must be something in every syllable he uttered. That

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think."

he should couple herself and St. Giles was very odd : quite a proof that he knew more than most people.

Capstick had lounged up the garden, Dorothy marvelling at his ease ; whilst Jem held short discourse with Becky. “ And he's a good honest young man, eh? Well, he looks like it,” said Jem.

“ « I never goes by looks, I don't,” said Becky. “ Talking about looks, how is that dark young man you knocked in the gutter? Your nevey, sir, isn't he? How is he?" “ Why, I may say, my dear, he's in the gutter still, and there

I let him be. But as for your fellow-servant, I think”-said Jem “ I think he's an honest young

fellow." “ I should break my heart do you know I mean—I should be so sorry-in course I should—if he wasn't. He's so good tempered;

— so quiet-spoken; so willing to give a helping hand to anybody. And yet for all this ; somehow or t’other, he doesn't seem himself. One minute he 'll be merry as a Sultan ; and afore you can speak, his face will go all into a shadow. Can't be happy, I

Perhaps, not,” said Jem; “I wasn't myself when I was about his time of life. Perhaps, Becky, perhaps he 's in love."

“ Don't know, I'm sure ; how should I,” said Becky, turning short upon her heel ; whilst Jem followed his master, at length resolved to narrate to him the history of St. Giles. Again and again Jem had attempted it; and then stopt, huddling up the story as best he could. For the new dignity of Capstick had

. made him-as Jem sometimes thought-cold and cautious: and after all, it might not be proper to bring together a returned transport and a member of parliament. The garden was winding and large ; but Jem could not well miss his master, inasmuch as the orator was heard very loudly declaiming ; and Jem, following the sound, speedily came up with Capstick, who, with his hat upon the ground, his right arm outstretched, and his left tucked under his left coat-tail, was vehemently calling upon “the attention and the common-sense, if he was not too bold in asking such a favour," of a triple row of tall hollyhocks, representing for the time the Members of the House of Commons, and unconsciously playing their parts with great fidelity, by nodding-nodding at every sentence that fell from the honourable orator. “ There is nothing like exercising the lungs in the pure air,” said Capstick, slightly confused ; and picking up his hat, and falling into his

usual manner. “ I think I should know what it was,” said Jem, “calling

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coaches in a November fog ; jest like hallooing through wet blankets.”

“ Demosthenes—you never heard of him—but that's no matter : Demosthenes," said Capstick, “ used to speak to the sea.?

Well; he'd the best on it in one way, said Jem ; "the fishes couldn't contradict him. But surely, now upon your word, sir—you don't really mean to make a speech in Parliment!” Capstick's eye glistened. — “You do ? Lord help you ! when, sirwhen ? Why, Jem, I can't answer for myself. Ι

Perhaps, to-nightperhaps, to-morrow. If I'm provoked, Jem."

“ Provoked, sir ! Who's to provoke you, if you 're determined to sit with your mouth shut ? said Jem.

“ The truth is, Jem, I had resolved to sit a whole session, and not say a syllable. But I shall be aggravated to speak, I know I shall. The fact is, I did think I should be abashed--knocked clean down—by the tremendous wisdom before, behind me, on all sides of me.

Now-it isn't so, Jem," and Capstick looked big. “ I did think my great difficulty would be to speak ; whereas, hearing what I do hear, the difficulty for me is to hold my tongue. In this way—I feel it-I shall be made an orator of against my will. By the way, Jem, talking of oratory, just sit down in that arbour, and fancy yourself the House of Commons.”

“ Couldn't do it, sir.” Capstick imperatively waved his arm. “ Well, then,—there, sir,” said Jem; and he seated himself bolt upright in a honeysuckle bower, and took off his lat, and smoothed down his few speckled hairs; and put on a face of gravity.

“ That won't do at all," cried Capstick. “ I just want to try a little speech, and that 's not a bit like the House of Commons. No ; roll yourself about ; and now whistle a little bit; and now put on your hat; and now throw your legs upon the seat ; and, above all, seem to be doing anything but listening to me. seem to attend to what I say, you 'll put me out at once. Not ati all parliamentary, Jem.”

“Shall I shuffle my legs, and drum my fingers upon the table ? Will that do ?” cried Jem.

Pretty well : that will be something,” answered Capstick. “Or I tell you what, sir,—if, while you was making your oration, I was to play upon this Jew's-harp”-and Jem produced that harmonious iron from his waistcoat pocket—"would that be Parliamentary and noisy enough?”

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If you:

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“We'll try the Jew's-harp,” replied Capstick, "for I have heard much worse noises since I sat for Liquorish. Wait a minute"-for Jem began to preludise— "and let me explain. The motion I am going to make, Jem, is to shorten the time in the pillory.” Jem shook his head hopelessly. “ According to the law, as at present operating, the time of the pillory is one hour. Now, I don't want to be called a revolutionist, Jem ; I don't want to array

1 all the respectability and all the property of the land against me

“Don't, sir, don't ; if you love your precious peace of mind, don't think of it,” cried Jem.

“ Therefore, I do not at present intend to move the total abolition of the pillory," said Capstick. “ You 'd be stoned in the streets, if you did.

People will bear a good deal, sir; but they won't have their rights interfered with in that manner.

Do take care of yourself, pray do. I shouldn't like to see you in the Tower,” said Jem, with genuine tenderness. “Let the pillory alone, sir ; touch that, and folks will swear you're going to lay your hands upon the golden crown next; for it's wonderful what they do mix up with the crown sometimes, to be sure.”

“Fear not, Jem. I shall respect the wholesome prejudices of my countrymen; and therefore shall only move that the time in the pillory shall henceforth be reduced from one hour to half. That's gentle, I think?”

Jem stroked his chin-shook his head, “I know what they 'll call it, sir: interfering with the liberty of the subject. No, they 'll say, ,—our forefathers, and their fathers afore 'em,

all stood an hour, and why shouldn't we?”

“ I'm prepared for a little opposition, Jem; but, just fancy yourself the House, while I speak my speech. Make as much noise, and be as inattentive as possible, and then I shall get on. Jem obediently buzzed—buzzed with the Jew's harp, shambled with his feet, rocked himself backwards and forwards; and, to the extent of his genius, endeavoured to multiply himself into a very full House.

Capstick took off his hat-held forth his right arm as before, with the supplementary addition of a piece of paper in his hand, and again with his other arm supported his left coat-tail.

-said Capstick, looking as full as he could at Jem, who rocked and shifted every minute"Sir, it was an observation of a Roman emperor'

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" Which one ?" asked Jem.

“ That's immaterial," answered Capstick. “A question that will certainly not be asked in debate. I take a Roman emperor as something strong to begin with—of a Roman emperor that Qui facit per alium

“Hallo!” cried Jem, holding the Jew's-harp wide away from his mouth

;

66 what's that-Latin ? Latin,” answered Capstick.

Well-my stars!”-said Jem-—“I never knowed that you knowed Latin.

“Nor did I, Jem,” replied Capstick smilingly. “But I don't know how it is : when a man once gets into Parliament, Latin seems to come upon him as a matter of course. Now go on with your Jew's-harp, and make as much noise as you like, but don't speak to me. 'Tisn't parliamentary. Now then," and Capstick resumed the senator-“6it was an observation of a Roman emperor

“If you please, sir, I've laid some bread and cheese and ale in the parlour," said Becky, breaking in upon the debate. “It's a hot day, sir, and I thought you might be tired.”'

“Humph! Well, I don't know. What, Jem,”-asked Capstick, smacking his lips-—"what do you propose ? " “Why,” answered Jem, rising, " I propose that the House do

Ι now adjourn.

Capstick returned the paper to his pocket, and taking up his hat, said-“I second the motion. After very short pause, he added—“ And it is adjourned accordingly.” Whereupon, he and Jem turned to follow Becky, who had run on before them, down another path. In less than a minute, however, a shriek rang through the garden.

• Why, that is the gall she's hurt, surely,” cried Jem.

“ Pooh, nonsense,” said Capstick, quickening his pace, “it's nothing ; taken a frog for a crocodile-or something of the sort. Women love to squall ; it shows their weakness. It can't be anything"

Oh, sir-sir-sir-” cried Becky, flying up the garden, and rushing to Capstick,—“they 've stole her-carried her off-my

dear, dear missus!”

Carried off! Mrs. Snipeton—the lady"-exclaimed Capstick. “ Stole her away by force-oh, my poor master-oh, my dear missus—the young man will tell you all-master's heart will