ders, who suffer?--why, the tradesman and the operative.
Partiality, loss of custom, tyrannical demands for house rent, notices
to quit,--in a word, the screw!"

"Hear, hear!" and "Give us the Ballot!"

"The Ballot--with all my heart, if I had it about me! And if we had the
Ballot, I should like to see a man dare to vote Blue. [Loud cheers from
the Yellows.] But, as we have not got it, we must think of our families.
And I may add, that though Mr. Egerton may come again into office, yet
[added Dick solemnly] I will do my best, as his colleague, to keep him
straight; and your own enlightenment (for the schoolmaster is abroad)
will show him that no minister can brave public opinion, nor quarrel
with his own bread and butter. [Much cheering.] In these times the
aristocracy must endear themselves to the middle and working class; and
a member in office has much to give away in the Stamps and Excise, in
the Customs, the Post Office, and other State departments in this
rotten old--I mean this magnificent empire, by which he can benefit his
constituents, and reconcile the prerogatives of aristocracy with the
claims of the people,--more especially in this case, the people of the
borough of Lausmere. [Hear, hear!]

"And therefore, sacrificing party inclinations (since it seems that
I can in no way promote them) on the Altar of General Good Feeling, I
cannot oppose the resignation of my nephew,--honourable relation!--nor
blind my eyes to the advantages that may result to a borough so
important to the nation at large, if the electors think fit to choose my
Right Honourable brother--I mean the Right Honourable Blue candidate--as
my brother colleague. Not that I presume to dictate, or express a wish
one way or the other; only, as a Family Man, I say to you, Electors and
Freemen, having served your country in returning me, you have nobly won
the right to think of the little ones at home."

Dick put his hand to his heart, bowed gracefully, and retired from the
balcony amidst unanimous applause.

In three minutes more Dick had resumed his place in the booth in his
quality of candidate. A rush of Yellow electors poured in, hot and fast.
Up came Emanuel Trout, and, in a firm voice, recorded his vote, "Avenel
and Egerton." Every man of the Hundred and Fifty so polled. To each
question, "Whom do you vote for?" "Avenel and Egerton" knelled on the
ears of Randal Leslie with "damnable iteration." The young man folded
his arms across his br