Eiph. TABLE OF Arranged under the Names of the Works from which they are taken. MUSEUM OF Foreign Literature, Science and Art. From Blackwood's Magazine. TEN THOUSAND A-YEAR. (Continued.) PART VII. "FORTUNA Sævo læta negotio, et Nunc mihi, nunc alii benigna. [Thus nobly rendered by Dryden, whose version I here give, several lady readers of their Magazine, for a translation of the in consequence of applications made to Messrs. Blackwood, from Latin motto.] "Fortune, that, with malicious joy, Does man, her slave, oppress, Proud of her office to destroy, Is seldom pleased to bless: Still various, and inconstant still, I can enjoy her while she's kind; And shakes her wings, and will not stay, I puff the prostitute away: The little or the much she gave. is quietly resign'd. AND VIRTUE, THOUGH IN RAGS, WILL KEEP ME WARM." terse and clear account of the matter as I imagine myself to have given to my reader; but still he told quite enough to put Mr. Gammon in full possession of the true state of the case. Good: but then-instantly reflected Gammon-what are we now to do without Titmouse?-where was that troublesome little ape to be caged, till it suited the purposes of his proprietors (as Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap might surely be called, for they had caught him, as, however, they might fail to tame him) to let him loose upon society, to amuse and astonish it by its antics? That was the question occupying the thoughts of Mr. Gammon, while his calm, clear, gray eye was fixed upon Titmouse, apparently very attentive to what he was saying. Tittlebat had first told the story of his wrongs to Snap, who instantly, enwell sessions-an idea which infinitely delighted Titrubbing his hands, suggested an indictment at the Clerkmouse, but was somewhat sternly" pooh-pooh-poohed!" by Mr. Gammon as soon as he heard of it-Snap thereat shrugging his shoulders with a disconcerted air, but a bitter sneer upon his sharp, hard face. Like many men of little but active minds, early drilled to particular callings, Snap was equal to the mechanical conduct of business-the mere work of the machinery-but, as the phrase is, could never see an inch beyond his nose. Every petty conjuncture of circumstances that admitted of litigation, at once suggested its expediency, without reference to other considerations, or connection with, or subordination to, any general purpose or plan of action. A creature of small impulses, he had no idea of foregoing a momentary advantage to secure an ulterior object which, in fact, he could not keep for a moment before his thoughts, so as to have any influence on his movements. What a different man, now, was Gammon! Would you have believed it? Notwithstanding all that had happened between Titmouse and Tag-rag, they positively got reconciled to one another-a triumphant result of the astute policy of Mr. Gammon. As soon as he had heard Titmouse's infuriated account of his igno- To speak after the manner of physiologists, several of minious expulsion from Satin Lodge, he burst into a fit my characters-Titmouse, Tag-rag, (with his amiable of hearty but gentle laughter, which at length subsided wife and daughter,) Huckaback, Snap, and old Quirk into an inward chuckle that lasted the rest of the day; himself-may be looked on as reptiles of a low order in and which was occasioned, first, by gratification at the the scale of being, whose simple structures almost one impression which his own sagacity had evidently pro- dash of the knife would suffice to lay thoroughly open. duced upon the powerful mind of Titmouse; secondly, Gammon, however, I look upon as of a much higher by an exquisite appreciation of the mingled meanness order; possessing a far more complicated structure, and stupidity of Tag-rag. I don't mean it to be under-adapted to the discharge of superior functions; and who, stood, that Titmouse had given Mr. Gammon such a consequently, requireth a more careful dissection. But MUSEUM.-May & June, 1840. 2 1 let it not be supposed that I have yet done with any of my characters. Gammon saw that Tag-rag, under proper management, might be made very useful. He was a moneyed man; and, after his sort, an ambitious man. He had an only child, a daughter, and if Titmouse and he could only be by any means once more brought together, and a firm friendship cemented between them, Gammon saw several very profitable uses to which such an intimacy might be turned, in the happening of any of several con"tingencies which he contemplated as possible. In the event, for instance, of larger outlays of money being required than suited the convenience of the firm-could not Tag-rag be easily brought to accommodate his future son-in-law of £10,000 a year? Suppose, for instance, that after all, their case should break down, and all their pains, exertions and expenditure be utterly thrown away. Now, if Tag-rag could be quietly brought, some fine day, to the point of either making some actual advance, or entering into security for Titmouse-ah! that would do -that would do, said both Quirk and Gammon. But then Titmouse was a very unsafe instrument-an incalculable fool, and might commit himself too far." "You forget, Gammon," said Quirk, "I don't fear this girl of Tag-rag's-because only let Titmouse seehem," he suddenly paused, and looked a little confused. "To be sure I see," replied Gammon quietly, and the thing passed off. "If either Miss Quirk or Miss Tag-rag becomes Mrs. Titmouse," thought Gammon, "I am not the man I take myself for. "And pyramids are pyramids in vales,” without thinking for a moment, with a kind of proud sympathy, of certain other characters in this history?— Well! but let us pass on. Soon after Titmouse had got settled in his lodgings, Mr. Gammon called upon him, in the evening, and took a cup of tea with him. Their conversation very naturally turned upon Tag-rag. He is a stupid, vulgar brute, I own," said Gammon; "I never came near his equal." "Oh, particular-uncommon-devilish!" "But, ha, ha! the beauty of such things is, that men of superior mind make such creatures as Tag-rag their mere puppets and playthings-and always get what they want out of them in spite of themselves." "Ah-yes-to be sure! Clever fellows! Ha, ha! Do 'em-fools-quite! Nasty fellow Tag-rag-I were too much for him, 'pon my soul, ha, ha!" ""Twas certainly admirably managed, my dear sir! But how could it be otherwise between Mr. Titmouse and such a fellow as Tag-rag?" "Ah! did him hollow!-Glad I've done with him, though." No, no, my dear Titmouse-not if there's a single grain to be got out of him." A few days after Titmouse's expulsion from Satin Lodge, without his having ever gone near Tag-rag's premises in Oxford street, or, in short, seen or heard any thing about him, or any one connected with him, he removed to small but very respectable lodgings in the neighbourhood of Hatton Garden, provided for him by Mr. Quirk. Mrs. Squallop was quite affected while she "I am a little surprised, Mr. Titmouse," said Gamtook leave of Titmouse, who gave her son sixpence tomon, gravely, "that you have not yet learned how to take take his two boxes down stairs to the coach drawn up opposite to the entrance of Closet Court. "I've always felt like a mother towards you, sir, in my humble way," and Mrs. Squallop in a very respectful manner, and curtsying profoundly. "A-I've not got any small silver by me, my good woman," said Titmouse, with a fine air, as he drew on his white kid glove. "You're a devilish-impudent-woman-'pon my soul!" exclaimed Titmouse, his features filled with amazement at the presumption of which she had been guilty; and he strode down the stairs with an air of offended dignity. "Well-I never!-That for you, you little brute," said Mrs. Squallop, snapping her fingers as soon as she had heard his last step on the stairs-" kind or cruel, it's all one to you; you're a nasty jackanapes, only fit to stand in a tailor's window to show his clothes-and I'll be sworn you'll come to no good in the end! Let you be rich as you may, you'll always be the fool you always were!" "Ah! I don't know, sir; brute-vulgar brute! Give a pound to a big fellow to lick him." a real and effectual revenge on such wretches." Only you show me how to be revenged on him, and I'll learn fast enough; 'pon honour, I will!" replied Titmouse, eagerly. "Could I make him bankrupt?" My dear sir, the scheme I have in view will effect even that object, if we choose; and also one much more important-and, at the same time, benefit you.” "What is it, sir?" inquired Titmouse, quickly. "You see the old sinner dotes on his daughter-and, indeed, so I suspect does some one else," added Gammon, with a sly smile, but glancing through it very keenly at Titmouse. "Meaning me, sir, I suppose. which, 'pon honour, is not the fact! Eugh! Don't like her. Better women in the market, if one's only money enough to go to market with." "Ha, ha, ha!—Capital! Admirably said, my dear Titmouse! But now, suppose you were to pretend a passion for her?" But if I make love in sham, he'll make me marry in earnest-eh? Won't he? Isn't that the law?" "Indeed, indeed, it is not! Leave that to me! I feel towards you as towards a younger brother-and have ever since I first took up your cause, I assure you-I would rather lay down a thousand pounds than see you marry that little wretch; but you see, if you could only make Mr. Tag-rag think you loved and would marry her, we could turn it to some advantage-we could work it for your advantage-but all would depend upon your discretion. I'm sure you understand me, my dear |