ticipations as sanguine as any the poor man could ever
appear to indulge in. And there was, in fact, the greatest stamping
and cheering there had yet been, perhaps in compliment to the M.P.'s
young bride--at least, so Lady Tyrrell whispered, adding that
everybody was trying to see her.

Then Mr. Charnock Poynsett himself took up the exposition of the
third branch of the subject, the support of the poor families thrown
out of work at the beginning of winter. There could be no
employment at the paper-mills till they were repaired; and after the
heavy losses, they could not attempt to keep their people together
by any payment. It had been suggested that the readiest way of
meeting the difficulty, would be to employ the subscriptions already
promised in laying in a stock of material to be made up into
garments, and then dispose of them out to the women at their homes;
and appointing a day once a week when the work should be received,
the pay given, and fresh material supplied, by a party of volunteer
ladies.

This was, in fact, what he had been instructed to propose by the
kindly souls who ordinarily formed the St. Nicholas bureau de
charite, who had instructed him to be their mouthpiece. There was
due applause as the mayor seconded his resolution; but in the midst
a clear, rather high-pitched voice rose up close to Cecil, saying,
"Mr. Chairman, allow me to ask what sale is anticipated for these
garments?"

"I am told that there is a demand for them among the poor
themselves," said Raymond, judiciously concealing how much he was
taken aback by this female interference.

"Allow me to differ. A permanent work society numbering a few women
otherwise unemployed may find a sufficient sale in the neighbourhood
under the patronage of charitable ladies; but when you throw in
ninety-five or one hundred pair of hands depending on their work for
their livelihood, the supply must necessarily soon go beyond any
demand, even fictitious. It will not do to think of these women
like fancy knitters or embroiderers whose work is skilled. Most of
them can hardly mend their own clothes, and the utmost that can be
expected of them is the roughest slop work."

"Do you wish any expedient to be proposed?" asked the chairman, in a
sort of aside.

"Yes, I have one. I spent yesterday in collecting information."

"Will Captain Duncombe move it?" suggested Raymond.

"Oh no! he is not here. No, it is no use to instruct anybody; I
wil