ed filling his glass, "let's have a
toast--Confusion to Capital."

"That's your sort," said Mick. "Come, Caroline; drink to your partner's
toast, Miss Harriet. Money's the root of all evil, which nobody can
deny. We'll have the rights of labour yet; the ten-hour bill, no fines,
and no individuals admitted to any work who have not completed their
sixteenth year."

"No, fifteen," said Caroline eagerly.

"The people won't bear their grievances much longer," said Devilsdust.

"I think one of the greatest grievances the people have," said Caroline,
"is the beaks serving notice on Chaffing Jack to shut up the Temple on
Sunday nights."

"It is infamous," said Mick; "aynt we to have no recreation? One might
as well live in Suffolk, where the immigrants come from, and where they
are obliged to burn ricks to pass the time."

"As for the rights of labour," said Harriet, "the people goes for
nothing with this machinery."

"And you have opened your mouth to say a very sensible thing Miss
Harriet," said Mick; "but if I were Lord Paramount for eight-and-forty
hours, I'd soon settle that question. Wouldn't I fire a broadside into
their 'double deckers?' The battle of Navarino at Mowbray fair with
fourteen squibs from the admiral's ship going off at the same time,
should be nothing to it."

"Labour may be weak, but Capital is weaker," said Devilsdust. "Their
capital is all paper."

"I tell you what," said Mick, with a knowing look, and in a lowered
tone, "The only thing, my hearties, that can save this here nation,
is--a--good strike."

Book 2 Chapter 11

"Your lordship's dinner is served," announced the groom of the chambers
to Lord de Mowbray; and the noble lord led out Lady Marney. The rest
followed. Egremont found himself seated next to Lady Maud Fitz-Warene,
the younger daughter of the earl. Nearly opposite to him was Lady Joan.

The ladies Fitz-Warene were sandy girls, somewhat tall, with rather good
figures and a grand air; the eldest very ugly, the second rather pretty;
and yet both very much alike. They had both great conversational
powers, though in different ways. Lady Joan was doctrinal; Lady Maud
inquisitive: the first often imparted information which you did not
previously possess; the other suggested ideas which were often before
in your own mind, but lay tranquil and unobserved, till called into
life and notice by her fanciful and vivacious tongue. Both of them were
endowed with a very remarkabl