, and acts
of Parliament, the learned counsel was sitting at his breakfast.

"It was but last night late, Mr. Hammond," said he, advancing with
his very frankest manner, "that we caught sight of your name as having
arrived here, and you see I have lost no time in profiting by the
intelligence. I have come thirty Irish miles this day to catch and carry
you off with me to Mr. Cashel's, at Tubbermore."

"Most kind, indeed--very flattering--I am really overpowered," said the
lawyer, actually reddening with pleasure; and he said the exact truth,
he was "overpowered" by a compliment so little expected. For, although
high in his profession, and in considerable repute among his brethren,
he had never been admitted into that peculiar class which calls itself
the first society of the metropolis.

"I assure you," resumed Linton, "it was by a vote of the whole house I
undertook my mission. The Kilgoffs, the MacFarlines, the Chief Justice,
Meek, and, in fact, all your friends, are there, and we only want _you_
to make the party complete."

"I cannot express the regret--the very deep regret--I feel at being
obliged to decline such an honor; one which, I am free to confess,
actually takes me by surprise. But, my dear Mr. Linton, you see these
weighty papers--that formidable heap yonder--"

"Meek said so," said Linton, interrupting, and at the same time assuming
a look of deep despondency. "'Hammond will refuse,' said he. 'There's no
man at the Irish bar has the same amount of business; he cannot give his
friends even one hour from his clients.'"

"I 'm sure I scarcely suspected the Right Honorable Secretary knew of
me," said Hammond, blushing between pleasure and shame.

"Downie not know of you!--not know Mr. Hammond!--come, come--this may do
for a bit of quiz in those Irish newspapers that are always affecting to
charge English officials with ignorance of the distinguished men here;
but I cannot permit Mr. Hammond himself to throw out the aspersion, nor,
indeed, can I suffer Meek, one of my oldest friends, to lie under the
obloquy. I need not tell one so much more capable of appreciating these
things than myself how every administration comes into office with
a host of followers far more eager for place, and infinitely more
confident of high deservings, than the truly capable men of the party.
These 'locusts' eat up the first harvest, but, happily for humanity,
they rarely live for a second."

Linton leaned back in his chair