ing that there ensued was a
determination on the part of Algernon to repair immediately to W----.

CHAPTER LXXVI.

The commons here in Kent are up in arms.--Second Part of Henry VI.

When Mordaunt arrived at W----, he found that the provincial deities
(who were all assembled at dinner with the principal inhabitants of the
town), in whose hands the fate of the meeting was placed, were in great
doubt and grievous consternation. He came in time, first to balance the
votes, and ultimately to decide them. His mind, prudent and acute, when
turned to worldly affairs, saw at a glance the harmless though noisy
nature of the meeting; and he felt that the worst course the government
or the county could pursue would be to raise into importance, by
violence, what otherwise would meet with ridicule from most and
indifference from the rest.

His large estates, his ancient name, his high reputation for talent,
joined to that manner, half eloquent and half commanding, which rarely
fails of effect when deliberation only requires a straw on either side
to become decision,--all these rendered his interference of immediate
avail; and it was settled that the meeting should, as similar assemblies
had done before, proceed and conclude, undisturbed by the higher powers,
so long as no positive act of sedition to the government or danger to
the town was committed.

Scarcely was this arrangement agreed upon, before Lord Ulswater, who had
hitherto been absent, entered the room in which the magisterial conclave
was assembled. Mr. Glumford (whom our readers will possibly remember as
the suitor to Isabel St. Leger, and who had at first opposed, and then
reluctantly subscribed to, Mordaunt's interference) bustled up to him.

"So, so, my lord," said he, "since I had the honour of seeing your
lordship, quite a new sort of trump has been turned up."

"I do not comprehend your metaphorical elegances of speech, Mr.
Glumford," said Lord Ulswater.

Mr. Glumford explained. Lord Ulswater's cheek grew scarlet. "So Mr.
Mordaunt has effected this wise alteration," said he.

"Nobody else, my lord, nobody else: and I am sure, though your
lordship's estates are at the other end of the county, yet they are much
larger than his; and since your lordship has a troop at your command,
and that sort of thing, I would not, if I were your lordship, suffer any
such opposition to your wishes."

Without making a reply to this harangue, Lord Ulswater stalked ha