.

"Rest yourself, my dear," said the Actor, placing Sophy on a couch with
that tender respect for sex and childhood which so specially belongs
to the high-bred. "The room will do, ma'am. I will let you know later
whether we shall require beds. As to dinner, I am not particular,--a
cutlet, a chicken, what you please, at seven o'clock. Stay, I beg your
pardon for detaining you, but where does the Mayor live?"

"His private residence is a mile out of the town, but his counting-house
is just above the Town Hall,--to the right, sir."

"Name?"

"Mr. Hartopp!"

"Hartopp! Ah! to be sure! Hartopp. His political opinions, I think, are"
(ventures at a guess) "enlightened?"

LANDLADY.--"Very much so, sir. Mr. Hartopp is highly respected."

WAIFE.--"The chief municipal officer of a town so thriving--fine shops
and much plate glass--must march with the times. I think I have heard
that Mr. Hartopp promotes the spread of intelligence and the propagation
of knowledge."

LANDLADY (rather puzzled).--"I dare say, sir. The Mayor takes great
interest in the Gatesboro' Athemeum and Literary Institute."

WAIFE.--"Exactly what I should have presumed from his character and
station. I will detain you no longer, ma'am" (ducal bow). The landlady
descended the stairs. Was her guest a candidate for the representation
of the town at the next election? March with the times!--spread of
intelligence! All candidates she ever knew had that way of expressing
themselves,--"March" and "Spread." Not an address had parliamentary
aspirant put forth to the freemen and electors of Gatesboro' but
what "March" had been introduced by the candidate, and "Spread" been
suggested by the committee. Still she thought that her guest, upon the
whole, looked and bowed more like a member of the Upper House,--perhaps
one of the amiable though occasionally prosy peers who devote the teeth
of wisdom to the cracking of those very hard nuts, "How to educate the
masses," "What to do with our criminals," and such like problems, upon
which already have been broken so many jawbones tough as that with which
Samson slew the Philistines.

"Oh, Grandfather!" sighed Sophy, "what are you about? We shall be
ruined, you, too, who are so careful not to get into debt. And what have
we left to pay the people here?"

"Sir Isaac! and THIS!" returned the Comedian, touching his forehead. "Do
not alarm yourself: stay here and repose; and don't let Sir Isaac out of
the room on any accoun