plied Mr Quirk, who was presently seated in the coach with three gentle. men, to whom he minutely explained the person of Mr Nicky Crowbar, and the place at which it was quite certain that Mr Crowbar could not have been at half-past eight o'clock on Tuesday the 9th of July, seeing that he happened at that precise time to be else where, in company with these three gentlemen to wit, at Chelsea, and not at Clapham.

Though Mr Gammon thus sympa. thized with one of the gentle beings who had been "rifled of all their sweetness," I grieve to say that the other, Miss Tag-rag, never occupied his thoughts for one moment. He neither knew nor cared whether or not she was apprized of the destruction of all her fond hopes, by the paragraph which had appeared in the Aurora. In fact, he felt that he had really done enough, on the part of Mr Titmouse, for his early friend and patron, Mr Tag rag, on whom the stream of fortune had set in strong and steady; and, in short, Mr Gammon knew that Mr Tag-rag had received a substantial memento of his connexion with Tittlebat Titmouse. In fact, how truly disinterested a man was Mr Gammon towards all with whom he came in contact! What had he not done, as I have been saying, for the Tag-rags? What for Mr Titmouse? What for the Earl of Dreddlington? What for Mr Quirk, and even Snap? As for Mr Quirk, had he not been put in possession of his long coveted bond for L. 10,000? of which, by the way, he allotted L.1000 only to the man-Mr Gammon-by whose unwearying exertions and consummate ability he obtained so splendid a prize, and L.300 to Mr Snap. Then, had not Mr Quirk also been paid his bill against Titmouse of L.5000 and upwards, and L.2500 by Mr Aubrey? And, governed by the articles of their partnership, what a lion's half of this spoil had not been appropriated to the respectable old head of the firm? Mr Gammon did undoubtedly complain indignantly of the trifling portion allotted to him, but he was encountered by such a desperate pertinacity on the part of Mr Quirk as baffled him entirely, and caused him to abandon his further claim in disgust and despair. Thus, the L.20,000 obtained by Mr

Titmouse, on mortgage of the Yatton property, was reduced at once to the sum of L.5000;-but out of this handsome balance had yet to come, first, L.800, with interest, due to Mr Quirk for subsistence-money advanced to his protegé; secondly, L.500 due to Mr Snap, for monies alleged to have been also lent by him to his friend Titmouse at different times, in the manner that has been already explained to the reader-Snap's demand for repayment being accompanied by verbatim copies of between forty and fifty memoranda,

many of them in pencil,-notes of hand, receipts, I.Ö.U's, &c., in whose handwriting the figures representing the sums lent, and the times when, could not be ascertained, and did not signify: it being, in point of law, good primâ facie evidence for Snap, in the event of a trial, simply to produce the documents and prove the signature of his friend Mr Titmouse. Titmouse discharged a volley of imprecations at Snap's head, on receiving this unexpected claim, and referred it to Mr Gammon; who, after subjecting it to a bona fide and very rigorous examination, found it in vain to attempt to resist, or even diminish it; such perfect method and accuracy had Snap observed in his accounts, that they secured him a clear gain of L.350; the difference between that sum and L.500, being the amount actually and bonâ fide advanced by him to Titmouse. Deducting, therefore, L. 1300, (the amount of the two minor demands of L.800 and L.500 above specified,) there remained to Mr Titmouse out of the L.20,000 the sum of L.3700; and he ought to have been thankful; for he might have got nothing,—or even have been brought in debtor to Messrs Quirk, Gammon, and Snap. I say that Mr Gammon would seem, from the above statement of accounts, not to have been dealt with in any degree adequately to his merits. He felt it so, but soon reconciled himself to it, occupied as he was with arduous and extensive speculations, amidst all the complication of which he never for a moment lost sight of one object, viz.-himself. His schemes were boldly conceived, and he went about the accomplishment of them with equal patience and sagacity. Almost every thing was going as he could wish. He had contrived to place himself in a very con

venient fast-and-loose sort of position with reference to his fellow-partners one which admitted of his easily disengaging himself from them, whenever the proper time arrived for taking such a step. He was absolute and paramount over Titmouse, and could always secure his instant submission, by virtue of the fearful and mysterious talisman which he ever and anon flashed before his startled eyes. He had acquired great influence, also, over the Earl of Dreddlington-an influence which was constantly on the increase; and had seen come to pass an event which he judged to be of great importance to him- namely, the engagement between Titmouse and the Lady Cecilia. Yet was there one object which he had proposed to himself as incalculably valuable and supremely desirable-as the consummation of all his designs and wishes; -I mean the obtaining the hand of Miss Aubrey and in which he had yet a fearful misgiving of failure. But he was a man whose courage rose with every obstacle; and he fixedly resolved within himself to succeed, at any cost. 'Twas not alone his exquisite appreciation of her personal beauty -her grace, her accomplishments, her lovely temper, her lofty spirit, her high birth-objects all of them dazzling enough to a man of such a powerful and ambitious mind, and placed in such circumstances in life as Gammon. There were certain other considerations, intimately involved in all his calculations, which rendered success in this affair a matter of capital importance-nay indispensable. Knowing, as I do, what had passed, at different times, between that proud and determined girl, and her constant and enthusiastic lover, Mr Delamere, I am as certain as a man can be of any thing that has not actually happened, that, though she may possibly not be fated to become Mrs Delamere, she will certainly NEVER become-Mrs Gammon. Loving Kate as I do, and being thoroughly acquainted with Gammon, I feel deep interest in his movements, and am watching them with great apprehension:-she, lovely, innocent, unsuspicious; he, subtle, selfish, unscrupulous, desperate! And he has great power in his hands: is he not silently surrounding his destined prey with unperceived but inevitable

meshes? God guard thee, my Kate, and reward thy noble devotion to thy brother and his fallen fortunes! Do we chide thee for clinging to them with fond tenacity in their extremity, when thou art daily importuned to enter into that station which thou wouldst so adorn?

Gammon's reception by the Aubreys, in Vivian Street-kind and courteous though it had surely been-had ever since rankled in his heart. Their abstaining from a request to him to prolong his stay, or to renew his visit, he had noted at the time, and had ever since reflected upon with pique and discouragement. Nevertheless he was resolved, at all hazards, to become at least an occasional visiter in Vivian Street. When a fortnight had elapsed without any further intimation to Mr Aubrey concerning the dreaded balance due to the firm, Gammon ventured to call in, for the purpose of assuring Mr Aubrey that it was no mere temporary lull; that he might divest his mind of all uneasiness on the subject; and of asking whether he (Gammon) had not told Mr Aubrey truly that he both could, and would restrain the hand of Mr Quirk. Could Mr Aubrey be otherwise than grateful for such active and manifestly disinterested kindness? Again Gammon made his appearance at Mrs Aubrey's tea-table-and was again received with all the sweetness and frankness of manner which he had formerly experienced from her and Miss Aubrey. Again he called, on some adroit pretext or another-and once heard Miss Aubrey's rich voice and exquisite performance on the piano. He became subject to emotions and impulses of a sort that he had never before experienced: yet, whenever he retired from their fascinating society, he felt an aching void, as it were, within-he perceived the absence of all sympathy towards him; he felt indignant-but that did not quench the ardour of his aspirations. 'Tis hardly necessary to say, that on every occasion Gammon effectually concealed the profound and agitating feelings which the sight of Miss Aubrey called forth in him; and what a tax was this upon his powers of concealment and self-control! How he laid himself out to amuse and interest them all! With what racy humour would he describe the vulgar absurdi

ties of Titmouse-the stately eccentricities of the Dreddlingtons! With what eager and breathless interest was he listened to! No man could make himself more unexceptionably agreeable than Gammon; and the ladies really took pleasure in his society; Kate about as far from any notion of the real state of his feelings as of what was at that moment going on at the antipodes. Her reserve towards him sensibly lessened; why, indeed, should she feel it, towards one of whom Dr Tatham spoke so highly, and who appeared to warrant it? Moreover, Mr Gammon took special care to speak in the most unreserved and unqualified manner of the mean and mercenary character of Mr Quirk of the miserable style of business in which he, Mr Gammon, was compelled, for only a short time longer, he trusted, to participate, and which was really revolting to his own feelings; in short, he did his best to cause himself to appear a sensitive and high-minded man, whose unhappy fate it had been to be yoked with those who were the reverse. Mr Aubrey regarded him from time to time with silent anxiety and interest, as one who had it in his power, at any instant he might choose, to cause the suspended sword to fall upon him; at whose will and pleasure he continued in the enjoyment of his present domestic happiness, instead of being incarcerated in prison; but who had hitherto evinced a disposition of signal forbearance, sincere good-nature, and disinterestedness. They often used to speak of him, and compare the impression which his person and conduct had produced in their minds; and in two points they agreed-that he exhibited anxiety to render himself agreeable; and that there was a certain something about his eye which none of them liked. It seemed as though he had in a manner two natures; and that one of them was watching the efforts made by the other to beguile!

While, however, the Fates thus frowned upon the aspiring attempts of Gammon towards Miss Aubrey, they smiled benignantly enough upon Titmouse, and his suit with the Lady Cecilia.

The first shock over-which

no lively sensibilities or strong feelings of her ladyship tended to protract, she began insensibly to get familiar with the person, manners, and character of her future lord, and reconciled to her fate. "When people understand that they must live together," said a very great man," they learn to soften, by mutual accommodation, that yoke which they know that they cannot shake off; they become good husbands and wives, from the necessity of remaining husbands and wives, for necessity is a powerful master in teaching the duties which it imposes." The serene intelligence of Lady Ce. cilia having satisfied her that "it was her fate" to be married to Titmouse, she resigned herself to it tranquilly, calling in to her assistance divers cooperative reasons for the step she had agreed to take. She could thereby accomplish at all events one darling object of her papa's-the re-union of the long and unhappily-severed family interests. Then Yatton was certainly a delightful estate to be mistress of a charming residence, and one which she might in all probability calculate on having pretty nearly to herself. His rent-roll was large and unencumbered, and would admit of a handsome jointure. On her accession to her own independent rank, the odious name of Titmouse would disappear in the noble one of Lady Drelincourt, peeress in her own right, and representative of the oldest barony in the kingdom. Her husband would then become a mere cipher-no one would ever hear of him, or enquire after him, or think or care about him-a mere mote in the sunbeam of her own splendour. above all, thank Heaven! there were many ways in which a separation might be brought about-never mind how soon after marriage-a step which was becoming one quite of course, and implied nothing derogatory to the character, or lessening to the personal consequence of the lady-who indeed was almost, as of course, recognized as an object of sympathy, rather than of suspicion or scorn.

But,

These were pow

erful forces, all impelling her in one direction-and irresistibly. How could it be otherwise with a mere creature of circumstance like her? Notwith

standing all this, however, there were occasions when Titmouse was presented to her in a somewhat startling and sickening aspect. It sometimes almost choked her to see him-ridiculous object!-in the company of gentlemento witness their treatment of him, and then reflect that he was about to become her-lord and master. One day, for instance, she accompanied the Earl in the carriage to witness the hounds throw off, not far from Yatton, and where a very brilliant field was expected. There were, in fact, about two hundred of the leading gentlemen of the county assembled—and, dear reader, fancy the figure Titmouse must have presented among them, his quizzing glass screwed into his eye, and clad in his little pink and leathers! What a seat was his! How many significant and scornful smiles, and winks, and shrugs of the shoulders did his appearance occasion among his bold and high bred companions! And only about four or five minutes after they had gone away-this unhappy little devil was thoroughly found out by the noble animal he rode; and who equally well knew his own business, and what he had on. In trying to take a dwarf wall, on the opposite side of an old green horse-pond by the road-side, he urged his horse with that weak and indecisive impulse which only disgusted him; so he suddenly drew back at the margin of the pond,over head and heels flew Titmouse, and descended plump on his head into the deep mud, where he remained for a moment or two, up to his shoulders, his little legs kicking about in the air

"Who's that?" cried one-and another-and another-without stopping, any more than the Life Guards would have stopped for a sudden individual casualty in the midst of their tremendous charge at Waterloo,till the very last of them, who happened to be no less a person than Lord de la Zouch, seeing, as he came up, the desperate position of the fallen rider, reined up, dismounted, and with much effort and inconvenience aided in extricating Titmouse from his fearful, yet ludicrous position,-and thus preserved to society one of its brightest ornaments. As soon as he was safea dismal spectacle to gods and men,his preserver, not disposed, by discovering who Titmouse was, to supererogatory courtesy, mounted his horse,

leaving Titmouse in the care of an old woman whose cottage was not far off, and where Titmouse, having had a good deal of the filth detached from him, remounted his horse and turned its head homewards-heartily disposed, had he but dared, cruelly to spur, and kick, and flog it; and in this picklestupid, and sullen, and crestfallen-he was overtaken and recognised by Lord Dreddlington and Lady Cecilia, returning from the field!

This was her future husband

Then again-poor lady Cecilia!— what thought you of the following, which was one of the letters he addressed to you?-Well might Miss Aubrey exclaim, "how I should like to see their correspondence!".

on Acct. of Customers Out of Town, "Dearest love You Are the Girl of "My Heart As I am Of Your's and "am particular Lonely Alone Here "and wish to be There where she Is "how I Long to Fold My dearest girl "in My Arms hope You Don't For"get Me As soon As I am Absent do "You often Think of me wh. I do indeed "of you. and looking Forward to The "Happy Days When We are United "in the Happy bonds of Hymmen, "never To part Again dearest I Was "Driving yesterday In my New Cabb "In the park, where whom Shd. I "Meet but That Miss Aubrey Wh "they say (Between you And Me and "The post) is Truly in a Gallopping "Consumption on Acct. Of my Not "Having Her A likely thing in"deed That I Ever car'd for Such an "individule whh. Never Did Only of you, Dearest What shall I Send

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you As A Gift Shall it Be In The "cloathing Line, For there Is a "Wonderful Fine and Choice As"sortmt. of Cashmere Shawls and "Most Remarkable Handsome Cloaks, "All Newly arriv'd fr. Paris, Never "Think Of The price wh. Between "Lovers Goes For Nothing. However "Large the Figure Only Say what You "Shall have and Down It shall Come "And Now dearest Girl Adieu. "Those Can't meet Again who Never Part.'"

"dearest Your's to command till "death. T. TITMOUSE."

"P.T.O.-Love and Duty To My "Lord (of Course) whom shall Feel "only Too happy to Call My Father"In-Law, the Sooner The better."

When poor Lady Cecilia received this letter, and had read over only half a dozen lines of it, she flung it on the floor, and threw herself down on the sofa, in her dressing-room, and remained silent and motionless for more than an hour; and when she heard Miss Macspleuchan knock at her door for admittance, Lady Cecilia started up, took the letter from the floor, and put it into her dressing-box, before admitting her humble companion.

A succession of such letters as the above might have had the effect upon Lady Cecilia's "attachment" to Titmouse, which the repeated affusion of cold water would have upon the thermometer; but the Fates favoured Mr Titmouse, by investing him with a character, and placing him in a position calculated to give him personal dignity, and thereby redeem and elevate him in the estimation of his fastidious mistress-I mean that of candidate for a seat in Parliament, for the representation of a borough in which he had a commanding influence.

After a national commotion commensurate with the magnitude of the boon that was sought for, the great

BILL FOR GIVING EVERY BODY EVERY

THING had passed into a law, and the people were frantic with joy. Its first fruits were of a sort that satisfied the public expectation; viz. three or four earls were turned into marquises, and two or three marquises into dukes, and deservedly; for these great men had far higher titles to the gratitude and admiration of the country, in exacting this second Magna Charta from King

than the stern old barons

in extorting the first from King Johnnamely, they parted with vast substantial political power, for only a nominal quid pro quo, in the shape of a bit of riband or a strawberry leaf. Its next immediate effect was to cleanse the Augean stable of the House of Commons, by opening upon it the floodgates of popular will and popular opinion; and having utterly expelled the herd of ignorant and mercenary wretches that had so long occupied and defiled it, their places were to be

supplied by a band of patriots and statesmen, as gifted as disinterested— the people's own enlightened, unbiased, and deliberate choice. Once put the government of the country-the administration of affairs-into hands such as these, and the inevitable result would be, the immediate regeneration of society, and the securing the greatest happiness to the greatest number. It was fearfully apparent that, under the old system, we had sunk into irredeemable contempt abroad, and were on the very verge of ruin and anarchy at home. So true is it, that when things come to the worst, they begin to mend. In short, the enlightened and enlarged constituencies began forthwith to look out for fit objects of their choice-for the best men; men of independent fortune; of deep stake in the welfare of the country; of spotless private and consistent public character; who, having had adequate leisure, opportunity, inclination, and capacity, had fitted themselves to undertake, with advantage to the country, the grave responsibilities of statesmen and legislators. Such candidates, therefore, as Mr Tittlebat Titmouse became naturally in universal request; and the consequence was, such a prodigious flight of Titmice into the House of Commons-but whither am I wandering? I have to do with only one little borough-that of Yatton, in Yorkshire. The great charter operated upon it, by extending its boundary-Grilston, and one or two of the adjacent places, being incorporated into the new borough. I have ascertained from a very high quarter-in fact, from a deceased Cabinet Minister-a curious and important fact; that had Mr Titmouse failed in recovering the Yatton property, or been of different political opinions, in either of these cases, the little borough of Yatton was doomed to utter extinction a circumstance which shows the signal vigilance, the accurate and comprehensive knowledge of local interests and capabilities evinced by these great and good men who were remodelling the representation of the country. And little did my hero suspect that his political opinions, as newly-installed owner of Yatton, formed a topic of anxious discussion at more than one Cabinet meeting, previous to the passing of the Great Bill! As its boundary was extended, so the constituency