The reading of the above produced a great sensation. That man's name will be enrolled among the Sidneys and the Hampdens of his country!" said Viper, with a "Ah, papa!" exclaimed Miss Quirk, in a mournful grim and excited air. "That letter deserves to be carved tone, and, leaning back in the sofa, raised her handker-on a golden tablet! The last four lines are sublime! He chief to her eyes.

take wine; and he constantly filled his glass. In fact | "Well! If it must be," and with what a graceful inGammon, recollecting a scene at his own chamber, soon clination—with what a pointed manner, and fascinating perceived that, unless be interfered, Titmouse would be smile did she exchange courtesies with Titmouse! He drunk long before dinner was over. He had not ima- felt disposed to take wine with her a second time imgined the earth to contain so exquisite a drink as cham- mediately; but Gammon restrained him. Mr. Toady pagne; and he could have fallen down and worshiped it, Hug, having become acquainted with the brilliant prosas it came fizzing and flashing out of the bottle. Gam- pects of Titmouse, earnestly desired to exert his little mon earnestly assured him that he would be ill if he talents to do the agreeable, and ingratiate himself with drunk so much-that many eyes were upon him-and Mr. Titmouse; but there was a counteracting force in that it was not the custom to do more than merely sip another direction, an attorney, a Mr. Flaw, who had the from his wine-glass when challenging or challenged. But greatest practice at the Clerkenwell sessions, sat beside Titmouse had taken a considerably greater quantity on him, and received his most respectful and incessant atboard, before Gammon thus interfered, than that gentle- tentions; speaking ever in a low confidential whisper, man was aware of, and began to get very voluble. Guess constantly casting a furtive glance towards Bluster and the progress he had made, when he called out with a Slang, to see whether they were observing him. Hug, confident air-" Mr. Alderman! your health!"—whether in strict confidence, assured Mr. Flaw how his case, the more to that great man's astonishment or disgust I can- other day, might have been won, if such and such a not undertake to say: but after a steady stare for a mo- course had been adopted," which would have been the ment or two at Titmouse, " Oh! I shall be very happy, line he" (Hug) "would have taken;" and which he exindeed, Mr. Gammon," he called out, looking at the lat-plained with anxious energy. "I must say, Flip reguter gentleman, and drinking with him. That signified larly threw the case away-no doubt of it! By the nothing, however, to Titmouse, who, indeed, did not see way, what became of that burglary case of yours on Friany thing at all pointed or unusual, and gulped down his day?" wine as eagerly as before.

46

That don't make him less a puppy-nor a brute," interrupted the ruffled alderman, still more indignant; for his own forty thousand pounds, the source of all his social eminence, sunk into insignificance at the sound of the splendid income just about to drop into the lap of Titmouse. Mr. Bluster, who headed the table on Miss Quirk's left-hand side, and who felt that he ought to be, but knew that in the presence of the alderman he was not, the great man of the day, observing the irritation under which his rival was suffering, immediately raised bis threatening double-glasses to his eyes, and in a tone of ostentatious condescension, looking down the table to Titmouse, called out, “Mr. Titmash-may I have the honour of drinking your health?”

"Ya-as, brother Bumptions," replied Titmouse, who could never bear to hear his name mis-pronounced, and he raised his glass to his eye; "was just going to ask you!" All this was done in such a loud and impudent tone and manner, as made Gammon still more uneasy for his young companion. But his sally had been received by the company as a very smart retort, and produced a roar of laughter, every one being glad to see Mr. Bluster snubbed, who bore it in silent dignity, though his face showed his chagrin and astonishment; and he very heartily agreed, for once in his life, with the worshipful person opposite to him in his estimate of our friend Tit

"Found guilty, poor fellows!"
"You don't say so?"

"Fact, by Jove, though!"

64

"How could Gobble have lost that verdict? I assure you I would have bet ten to one on your getting a verdict; for I read over your brief as it lay beside me, and upon my honour, Mr. Flaw, it was most admirably got up. Every thing depends on the brief”—

"Glad you thought so, sir," replied Flaw, wondering how it was that he had never before thought of giving a brief to Mr. Hug.

"It's a grand mistake of counsel not to pay great attention to their briefs. For my part," continued Mr. Hug, in a still lower tone, "I make a point of reading every syllable in my brief, however long it is." "It's the only way, depend on it, sir. We attorneys see and know so much of the case”—

66

Ay, and beyond that. Your practical suggestions are often-Now, for instance, in the brief I was allading to, there was an uncommonly acute suggestion."

"Which was it, sir?" inquired the attorney, his countenance showing the progress of Hug's lubricating process.

"Oh-why-a-a-bem! No; it would hardly be fair to Gobble, and I'm sorry indeed"—

"Well, well-it can't be helped now-but I must say that once or twice latterly I've thought that Mr. Gobble has rather-By the way, Mr. Hug, shall you be in town this week, till the end of the sessions?"

"Ye-e-s!" hastily whispered Hug, after glancing guiltily towards his brethren, who, though they did not seem to do so, were really watching him closely.

"I'm happy to hear it. You've heard of Aaron Doodle, who was committed for that burglary at Well, I defend him, and shall be happy to give you the brief. Do you lead Mr. Dolt?" Hug nodded. Then he will be your junior. Where are your chambers, Mr. Hug?"

66

"

No. 4 Sly Court, Gray's Inn. When does it come on?"

"Thursday-perhaps Wednesday."

66 Then do come and breakfast with me, and we can talk it over together."

This little stroke of business over, the disengaged cou- [the land. By these means Snap had, to a certain exple were at liberty to attend to the general conversation ent, succeeded; but the few melting glances which had of the table. Mr. Bluster and Mr. Slang kept the com- fallen upon Titmouse's sensitive bosom from the eyes of pany in almost a constant roar, with descriptions of scenes Miss Quirk, were beginning to operate a slight change in court, in which they had, of course, been the principal in his feelings. The old alderman, on an intimation actors; and, according to their own accounts, they must that the "ladies were going to withdraw," laid violent be wonderful fellows. Such botherers of judges!—such hands on Miss Quirk, (he was a "privileged" old fool,) bafflers and browbeaters of witnesses!-such bambooz-and insisted on her singing his favourite song.-"My lers of juries! Friend and Pitcher."

You should have seen the sneering countenance of Hug all the while. He never once smiled or laughed at the sallies of his brethren, and did his best to prevent his new patron, Mr. Flaw, from doing so-constantly putting his hand before his mouth, and whispering into Mr. Flaw's ear at the very point of the joke or story-and the smile would disappear from the countenance of Mr. Flaw.

The alderman laughed till the tears ran out of his little eyes, which he constantly wiped with his napkin. Amidst the general laughter and excitement, Miss Quirk, leaning her chin on her hand, her elbow resting on the table, several times directed soft, languishing looks to wards Titmouse, unobserved by any one but himself; and they were not entirely unsuccessful, although Titmouse was wonderfully taken with the stories of the two counsellors, and believed them to be two of the greatest men he had ever seen or heard of, and at the head of their profession.

"I hope, sir, you'll have those two gents in my case?" said he earnestly to Gammon.

Mr. Quirk had been soured during the whole of dinner, for he had anxiously desired to have Titmouse sit beside him at the bottom of the table; but in the little hubbub attendant upon coming down to dinner and taking places, Titmouse slipped out of sight for a minute; and when all were placed, Quirk's enraged eye perceived him seated in the middle of the table, beside Gammon. Gammon always got hold of Titmouse. Old Quirk could have flung a decanter at his head-in his own house!-at his own table! Always anticipating and circumventing him.

His request was so warmly seconded by the rest of the company, Titmouse as loud and eager as any, that she was fain to comply. She sung with considerable sweetness, and much self-possession. She carried Titmouse's feelings along with her from the beginning, as Gammon, who was watching him, perceived.

Have patience, my dear Titmouse," said Gammon, in a low whisper, " in a few months' time you'll soon be thrown into much higher life than this-among really beautiful, and rich, and accomplished women”—[and, thought Gammon, you'll resemble a monkey that has found his way into a rich tulip bed!]

Fancy Miss Tag-rag standing beside her."

"Ha, ha!" gently laughed Gammon-" both of them, in their way, are very worthy persons; but"-Here the ladies withdrew. 'Twas no part of Gammon's plans that Titmouse should become the son-in-law of either Quirk or Tag-rag.

As soon as Quirk had taken the head of the table, and the gentlemen drawn together, the bottles were pushed round very briskly, accompanied by no less than three different sorts of snuff-boxes, all belonging to Mr. Quirk

all of them presents from clients. One was a huge affair of Botany Bay wood, with a very inflaming inscription on the inside of the lid; from which it appeared that its amiable donors, who were trying the effect of a change of climate on their moral health, at the expense of a grateful country, owed their valuable lives to "Mr. Quirk, I don't think we've taken a glass of wine the professional skill and exertions of "Caleb Quirk, together yet, have we?" said Gammon, with a bland and Esq." In short, the other two were trophies of a similar cordial manner, at the same time pouring himself out a description, of which their possessor was very justly not glass of wine. He perfectly well knew what was an a little proud; and as he saw Titmouse admiring them, noying his respected partner, whose look of quaint em- it occurred to him as very possible that, within a few barrassment, when so suddenly assailed, infinitely amused months' time, he should be in possession of a magnifi. him. "Catch me asking you here again, Master Gam- cent gold snuff-box, in acknowledgment of the services mon," thought Quirk, "the next time that Titmouse he should have rendered to his distinguished guest and ,dines here!" The reason why Mr. Snap had not been client. Titmouse was in the highest possible spirits. asked was, that Quirk had some slight cause to suspect This, his first glimpse into high life, equaled all his exhis having conceived the notion of paying his addresses pectations. Round and round went the bottles-crack to Miss Quirk-a thing at any time not particularly went joke after joke. Slang sung song upon song, of, palatable to Mr. Quirk; but in the present conjuncture however, so very coarse and broad a character as infiniteof circumstances quite out of the question, and intolerable ly disgusted Gammon, and apparently shocked the aldereven in idea. Snap was not slow in guessing the reason man ;-though I greatly distrust that old sinner's sinof his exclusion, which had greatly mortified, and also cerity in the matter. Then Ghastly's performances comnot a little alarmed him. As far as he could venture, menced. Poor fellow! he exerted himself to the utmost he had, during the week, endeavoured to "set" Titmouse to earn the good dinner he had just devoured: but when "against" Miss Quirk, by such faint disparaging remarks he was in the very middle of one of his most impassioned and insinuations as he dared venture upon with so diffi-scenes-undoubtedly "tearing a passion to rags,”-incult a subject as Titmouse, whom he at the same time terrupted Mr. Quirk, impatiently—" Come, come, Ghastinflamed by representations of the splendid matches hely, we've had enough of that sort-it don't suit at allmight very soon command among the highest women of don't roar so, man!"

Pour Ghastly instantly resumed his seat, with a cha-" too much of a good thing" for old Quirk-but there grined and melancholy air.

was no remedy. Foreseeing that Titmouse would be Give us something funny," said the alderman. thrown constantly, for some time to come, into Miss Let's have the chorus of Pigs and Ducks," said Quirk's company, her prudent parent enjoined upon Mrs. Quirk; "you do that remarkable well. I could fancy Alias, his sister, the necessity of impressing on his daughthe animals were running and squealing and quacking ter's mind the great uncertainty that, after all, existed as all about the room." The actor did as he was desired, to Titmouse's prospects; and the consequent necessity commencing with a sigh, and was much applauded. At there was for her to regulate her conduct with a view to length Gammon happened to get into a discussion with either failure or success-to keep her affections, as it Mr. Bluster upon some point connected with the habeas were, in abeyance. But the fact was, that Miss Quirk corpus act, in which our friend Gammon, who never had so often heard the subject of Titmouse's brilliant got heated in discussion, and was very accurate in what- expectations talked of by her father, and knew so well ever he knew, had glaringly the best of it. His calm, smiling self-possession almost drove poor Bluster frantic. The less he knew, of course, the louder he talked, the more vehement and positive he became; at length offering a bet that he was right; at which Gammon bowed, smiled, and closed the discussion. While engaged in it, he bad of course been unable to keep his eye upon Tit mouse, who drunk, consequently, like a little fish, never letting the bottle pass him. Every one about him filled Lis glass every time-why should not he?

his habitual prudence and caution, that she looked upon Titmouse's speedy possession of ten thousand a-year as a matter almost of certainty. She was a girl of some natural shrewdness, but of an early inclination to maudlin sentimentality. Had she been blessed with the vigilant and affectionate care of a mother as she grew up, (her mother having died when Miss Quirk was but a child.) and been thrown among a different set of people from those who constantly visited at Alibi House-and of whom a very favourable specimen has been laid before the reader-Miss Quirk might really have become a very sensible and agreeable girl. As it was, her man.

Hug sat next to Viper; feared him, and avoided dis. cussion with him; for, though they agreed in their po-litics, which were of the loosest and lowest radical de-ners had contracted a certain coarseness, which at length scription, they had a personal antipatby each to the other. In spite of their wishes, they at length got entangled in a very virulent controversy, and said so many insulting things to each other, that the rest of the company, who had for some time been amused, got at length-not disgusted but alarmed, for the possible results. Mr. Quirk, therefore, interfered.

overspread her whole character; and the selfish and mercenary motives by which she could not fail to perceive all her father's conduct regulated, infected herself. She resolved, therefore, to be governed by the considerations so urgently pressed upon her by both her father and her aunt.

It was several days before Titmouse was allowed, by his medical man, to quit his bedroom; and it is impossible for any woman not to be touched by the sight of a sudden change effected in a man by severe indisposition and suffering-even be that man so poor a creature as Titmouse. He was very pale, and considerably reduced by the severe nature of his complaint, and of the powerful medicines which had been administered to him. When he made his first appearance before Miss Quirk,

"Bravo! bravo! bravo!" he exclaimed, as Viper concluded a most envenomed passage, "that will do Viper -whip it into the next Flash-'twill be a capital leader! It will produce a sensation! And in the mean time, gentlemen, let me request you to fill your glassesbumpers-for I've a toast to propose, in which you'll all feel interested when you hear who's the subject of it. It is a gentleman who is likely soon to be elevated to a station which Nature has formed him-hem! hem!-one afternoon, with somewhat feeble gait, and a languid to adorn"

"Mr. Quirk's proposing your health, Titmouse!" whispered Gammon to his companion, who, having been very restless for some time, had at length become quite silent; his head resting on his hand, his elbow on the table-his eyes languidly half open, and his face exceedingly pale. Gammon saw that he was in truth in a very ticklish condition.

air, that mitigated, if it did not obliterate, the foolish and conceited expression of his features, she really regarded him with considerable interest; and, though she might hardly have owned it even to herself, his expected good fortune invested him with a kind of subdued radiance. Ten thousand a-year!-Miss Quirk's heart fluttered! By the time that he was well enough to take his departure, she had, at his request, read over to him nearly "I-wish-you'd let me go out-I'm-devilish half of that truly interesting work-the Newgate Calenill!" said Titmouse, faintly. Gammon made a signal dar; she had sung to him, and played to him, whatever to Quirk, who instantly ceased his speech; and coming he had asked her; and, in short, she felt that if she down to Titmouse, he and Gammon hastily led him out could but be certain that he would gain his great lawof the room, and to the nearest bed-chamber, where he suit, and step into ten thousand a-year, she could love began to be very ill, and so continued for several hours. him. She insisted, on the day of his quitting Alibi Old Quirk, who was a long-headed man, was delighted House, that he should write in her album; and he very by this occurrence; for he saw that if he insisted on readily complied. It was nearly ten minutes before be Titmouse's being put to bed, and passing the night could get a pen to suit him. At length he succeeded, and perhaps the next day-at Alibi House, it would en- and left the following interesting memento of himself, in able Miss Quirk to bring her attractions to bear upon the very centre of a fresh page: him effectively, by exhibiting those delicate and endearing attentions which are so soothing, and indeed necessary to an invalid. Titmouse continued severely indisposed during the whole of the night; and, early in the morning, it was thought advisable to send for a medical man, who pronounced Titmouse to be in danger of a bilious, fever, and to require rest, and care, and medical attendance for some days to come. This was rather

"Tittlebat Titmouse Is My name,
England Is My Nation,
London Is My dwelling-Place,
And Christ Is My Salvation.

46

TITTLEBAT TITMOUSE, "halibi lodge."

Miss Quirk turned pale with astonishment and vexa

tion on seeing this elegant and interesting addition to and it was no use knowing him. He made many desher album. Titmouse, on the contrary, looked at it with perate efforts, both personally and by letter, to renew no little pride; for having had a capital pen, an his his acquaintance with Titmouse, but in vain. I may as heart being in his task, he had produced what he con- well mention, by the way, that as soon as Snap got ceived to be a very superior specimen of penmanship; scent of the little money transaction between his friend in fact, the signature was by far the best he had ever and Huckaback, he called upon the latter, and tenderwritten. When he had gone, Miss Quirk was twenty ing him twelve shillings, demanded up the document times on the point of tearing out the leaf which had been so dismally disfigured; but on her father coming home in the evening, he laughed heartily" and as to tearing it out," said he, "let us first see which way the ver dict is."

which he had extorted from Titmouse. Huckaback held out obstinately for some time-but Snap was too much for him, and talked in such a formidable strain about an indictment for a conspiracy (!) and fraud, that Huckaback at length consented on receiving twelve shillings, to deliver up the document to Snap, on condition of Snap's destroying it on the spot. This was done, and so ended all intercouse-at least on this side of the

Titmouse became, after this, a pretty frequent visiter at Alibi House; growing more and more attached to Miss Quirk, who, however, conducted herself towards him with much judgment. His inscription on her album grave-between Titmouse and Huckaback. had done a vast deal towards cooling down the ardour with which she had been disposed to regard even the future owner of ten thousand a-year. Poor Snap seemed to have lost all chance, being treated with greater coldness by Miss Quirk on every succeeding visit to Alibi House. At this he was sorely discomfited; for she would have whatever money her father might die possessed of, besides a commanding interest in the partnership business. 'Twas a difficult thing for him to preserve bis temper in his close intimacy with Titmouse, who had so grievously interfered with his prospects.

The sum allowed by Messrs. Quirk and Gammon to Titmouse, was amply and sufficient to have kept him in comfort; but it never would have enabled him to lead the kind of life which I have described-and he would certainly have got very awkwardly involved had it not been for the kindness of Snap in advancing him, from time to time, such sums as his exigencies required. In fact, matters went on as quietly and smoothly as possible for several months-till about the middle of November, when an event occurred that seemed to threaten the total demolition of all his hopes and expectations.

The indisposition I have been mentioning, prevented He had not seen or heard from Messrs. Quirk or Titmouse from paying his promised visit to Satin Lodge. Gammon for nearly a fortnight; Snap he had not seen On returning to his lodgings, from Alibi House, he found for nearly a week. At length he ventured to make his that Tag-rag had either called or sent every day to en- appearance at Saffron Hill, and was received with a quire after him with the most affectionate anxiety; and startling coldness-a stern abruptness of manner, that one or two notes lying on his table, apprised him of the frightened him out of his wits. All the three partners lively distress which the ladies of Satin Lodge were en- were alike—as for Snap, the contrast between his preduring on his account, and implored him to lose not a sent and his former manner was perfectly shocking; he moment in communicating the state of his health, and seemed quite another person. The fact was, that the personally assuring them of his safety. Though the full statement of Titmouse's claims had been laid before image of Miss Quirk was continually before his eyes, Mr. Subtle, the leading counsel retained in his behalf, Titmouse, nevertheless, had cunning enough not to drop for his opinion, before actually commencing proceedings; the slightest hint to the Tag-rags of the true state of his and the partners were indeed thunderstruck on receivfeelings. Whenever any inquiry, with ill-disguised ing that opinion: for Mr. Subtle pointed out a radical anxiety, was made by Mrs. Tag-rag concerning Alibi deficiency of proof in a matter which, as soon as their House and its inmates, Titmouse would, to be sure, attention was thus pointedly called to it, Messrs. Quirk mention Miss Quirk, but in such a careless and slighting and Gammon were amazed at their having overlooked, way as gave great consolation and encouragement to and still more at its having escaped the notice of Mr. Tag-rag, his wife, and daughter. When at Mr. Quirk's, Tresayle, Mr. Mortmain, and Mr. Frank pledge. Mr. he spoke somewhat unreservedly of the amiable inmates Quirk hurried with the opinion to the first two gentleof Satin Lodge. These two mansions were almost the men: and, after a long interview with each, they owned only private residences visited by Titmouse, who spent their fears that Mr. Subtle was right, and that the defect his time much in the way which I have already de- seemed incurable; but they showed their agitated cli. scribed. How he got through his days I can hardly tell. ents, that they had been guilty of neither oversight nor At his lodgings, he got up very late, and went to bed ignorance, inasmuch as the matter in question was one very late. He never read any thing excepting a Song- of evidence only-one which a nisi prius lawyer, with a book lent him by Snap, or a novel, or some such book full detail of "proofs" before him, could hardly fail to as "Boxiana," from the circulating library. Dawdling light upon---but which, it would be found, had been asover his dress and his breakfast, then whistling and hum-sumed and taken for granted in the cases laid before ming, took up so much of every day as he passed at his conveyancers. They promised to turn it over in their lodgings. The rest was spent in idling about the town, minds, and to let Messrs. Quirk and Gammon know if looking in at shop windows, and now and then going to any thing occurred to vary their impression. Mr. Tresome petty exhibition. When evening came, he was sayle and Mr. Mortmain, however, preserved an omingenerally joined by Snap, when they would spend the ous silence. As for Frank pledge, he had a knack, some. night together in the manner I have already described. how or another, of always coming to the conclusion As often as he dared, he called at Messrs. Quirk, Gam-wished and hoped for by his clients; and, after prodimon, and Snap's office at Saffron Hill, and worried gious pains, wrote a very long opinion, to show that them not a little by inquiries concerning the state of his there was nothing in the objection. Neither Mr. Quirk affairs, and the cause of the delay in commencing pro- nor Mr. Gammon could understand the process by ceedings. As for Huckaback, by the way, Titmouse cut which Mr. Frank pledge arrived at such a result; but, him entirely; saying that he was a devilish low fellow, in despair, they laid his opinion before Mr. Subtle, in