battle!) Whereupon Capstick relented a little in his savage thoughts; believing that pure patriotism did exist in human nature, and had one dwelling-place at least in the heart of Mr. Snipeton.

Turn you out of Parliament, sir; they might chuck you out o' the window, sir, for what he'd care, if it warn't for his spite. I've told you that all along, and you won't see it," said Bright Jem.

"I am sorry, Jem, that in your declining years-for there's no disguising it, James-your 're getting old and earthy-cracking like dry clay, Jem "-said Capstick.

"I don't want to hide the cracks," answered Jem: "why should I? No I'm not afraid to look Time in the face, and tell him to do his worst. He never could spile much, that's one comfort."

"I am sorry, nevertheless, that you have not a little charity. If I don't think well of anybody myself, that 's no reason you shouldn't; on the contrary, it is slightly an impertinence in you to interfere with what I've been used to consider my own privilege." Thus, with dignity, spoke Capstick.

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All I know is this-and I'm sure of it-if Mrs. Snipeton had as big a wart upon her nose as her husband, you'd never have been member for Liquorish," said Jem, with new emphasis.

"Really, Mr. Aniseed"-for Capstick became very lofty indeed I cannot perceive how Mrs. Snipeton's wart-that is, if she'd had one-could in any way interfere with my seat in Parliament."

"In this manner," said Jem; laying one hand flat upon the other. "In this manner. If she'd had a wart upon her nose, young St. James, when he went to borrow money of her husband, would have behaved himself like a honest young gentleman ; wouldn't have written letters, and tried to send presents, and so forth, till old Snipeton-poor old fellow! for though he was a fool to marry such a young beauty, there's no knowing how any on us may be tempted

"You and I are safe, I think, James?" said Capstick, with

a smile.

"I think so; but don't let 's be persumptious. However, that's no reason we shouldn't pity the unfortinate," said Jem. Well, old Snipeton wouldn't have been forced to send his young wife into the country, where his young lordship went after

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her-I've heard all about it. And then Snipeton wouldn't ha’ been jealous of the young gentleman, and then you'd have been at the Tub, happy with the pigs and the geese, as if they was your own flesh and blood; and you'd still ha' been an independent country gentleman, walking about in your own garden, and talking, as you used to do, to your own trees and flowers, that minded you— I'm bound for it-more than any body in the house o' Parliament will do."

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Don't y you be too sure of that, Mr. Aniseed. When the Minister hears my speech"

"Well, I only hope my dream of last night won't come true. I dreamt you'd made your speech, and as soon as you'd made it, I thought you was changed into a garden roller, and the Minister, as you call him, did nothing but turn you round and round. · Howsomever, that's nothing to do with what I was saying,saving your presence, I don't like you to be made a tool on."

"A tool, Mr. Aniseed! A tool-define, if you please, for this is serious. What tool?" and Capstick frowned.

"Well, I don't know what sort of tool they send to Parliament; but, if you'll be so good, just feel here." Saying this, Jem took off his hat, and turning himself, presented the back part of his head to the touch of Capstick.

"Bless my heart! Dear me a very dreadful wound! My poor fellow-good Jem"-and Capstick put his arm upon Jem's neck, and with a troubled look, cried-"Who was the atrocious miscreant ?-eh!-the scoundrel!"

"Oh no he didn't mean nothing. You see, it was last night, while I was waiting for you till the House was up. Taking a quiet pint and a pipe among the other servants, some on 'em begun to talk about bribery and corruption: and didn't they sit there and pull their masters to pieces; I should think a little more than they pulled one another to bits inside. Well, your name come up, and all about the petition; and somebody said you'd be turned out; condemned like a stale salmon at Billingsgate. I didn't say nothing to this: till Ralph Gum-the saucy varmint, though he's my own flesh and blood; that is, as far as marriage can make it ".

"Marriage can do a good deal that way," said Capstick, smiling pensively.

Till Ralph Gum-he was waiting for the Marquis-cried out, What! Capstick, the muffin-maker?'"

"I do not forget the muffins," said Capstick, meekly. "On the contrary; in Parliament I shall be proud to stand upon them."

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"But he said more than that: Why, he's a thing we'll turn out neck and heels; he's only a tool!

"Oh, a tool!” cried Capstick, "I am a tool, am I? Very well: a tool! What said you to this?"

"Nothing-only this. He was sitting next to me, and I said, -You saucy monkey, hold your tongue, or learn better manners,' —and with this, in the softest way in the world, I broke my pipe over his head whereupon, the Marquis's coachman and footmen all swore you was a tool, and nothing but a tool-and they wouldn't see their livery insulted, and I forget how it ended, but there was a changing of pewter-pots, and somehow or other this" and Jem passed his hand over his bruised head—“ this is one on 'em."

For a few minutes Capstick remained silent. At length he said, determinedly-" Jem, I feel that it would be some satisfaction to me to see this Mrs. Snipeton."

"What for?" asked Jem, in his simplicity.

"Why-well-I don't know; but if she is really what people say, there can be no harm in looking on a beautiful woman." "Well, I don't know-but for certain, they'd never do no harm, if they never was looked upon," said Jem.

"Jem, you ought to know me by this time; ought to know that since Mrs. Capstick died I look upon beauty as no more than a painted picture.

"Well, that's all right enough, so long as we don't ask the picturs to walk out o' their frames," answered Jem." But, sir, in this Parliament matter-and I'd sooner die than tell a lie to you, in the same way as I think it my bound duty to tell you all the truth, though you do sometimes call me James and Mr. Aniseed, instead of Jem for doing it-in this Parliament matter, master,"— and Jem paused, and looked mournfully at Capstick. "Out with it," said the Member for Liquorish. hustings, surely I can bear anything. Speak."

"After the

"Well, then, and you'll not be offended? But if ever there was a tool in Parliament, master-now, don't be hurt-you are a tool, and nothing better than a tool. There! When they were

flinging pewter pots about last night, I didn't choose to own as much; now, when we 're together, I must say it. Member for

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. "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

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 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 think."

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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