rabble always necessary on such occasions; but for himself, he could not at all feel himself a gentleman in any meaner place of resort than the Olive Branch. Indeed, now and then he was compelled to remember the national and patriotic importance of the cause in which he was engaged, to reconcile him heartily to the inconvenience of his usual abiding-place. "There was no real life off the stones of London; but then the condition of the country demanded some sacrifice of every man: why, then, should he complain? No: he would stick to the constitution whilst a plank of it held together. If the ship-he meant the constitution-was doomed to go down, why, he would give three cheers, and go down with it." Such is a sample of the many patriotic sentiments which Mr. Tangle breathed at intervals between tea and toast, and eggs, and fowl, and all the potable and edible varieties that compose a sufficient country breakfast. As again and again he attacked the cold sirloin he became quite eloquent, even pathetic on the danger of the constitution, as though he filled himself at once with beef and inspiration. Mr. Folder was a pleased, though for some time, a silent listener. It was impossible that any man could be a more passionate lover of the glorious British constitution than himself; indeed, he could not help thinking that it was he who had inoculated Tangle; nevertheless, with all his admiration, he was prudent with his fondness, and never talked of the object of his passion at any of the four or five meals that make tolerable the live-long day to sinful man. It was Sunday morning, and the two patriots-full of meat and drink and the good of their country-sank back in their chairs, and looked serenely in each other's face. "We shall have a fine congregation to-day," at length observed Mr. Folder, for it was well known throughout the borough that the casket Lazarus Hall contained the jewel of a lord. “All the fashion and respectability of the neighbourhood, no doubt?" 66 They can't do less," remarked Mr. Tangle, 'twill be only a proper compliment to his lordship." "Nevertheless," observed the ancient tutor, speaking slowly, gravely, "I am a little disappointed. I did think that on his lordship's arrival, they would at least have rung the church bells. Nor was there even a bonfire." "Pardon me; I have my scruples: all men have, or should have. Touching the church bells, I must confess I do not think they ought ever to be employed in any uses that are secular. I have my prejudices," continued Tangle, with the air of a man very proud of the commodity, "and church bells are one. Bonfires are altogether another matter. "And fireworks," added Folder. "And fireworks," consented Tangle. "Though I said nothing at the time, I must own with you, that the absence of so small a mark of respect as a bonfire on the arrival of his lordship, speaks very many volumes against the people. A few years ago, and there'd been a blaze on every hill. Not a schoolboy but what would have had his cap and pockets stuffed with fireworks. Now, painful as it is to a man who loves the constitution, still the truth cannot be disguised, there was not a single squib-not a single squib," and Tangle repeated the words with pathetic emphasis. "I heard none," said Mr. Folder, with the air of a man who, nevertheless, forlornly hopes that he may be mistaken. "Oh no! We must not deceive ourselves. We must look the truth full in the face, ugly as the truth may be; it's the only way to brow-beat it. I learnt that maxim, Mr. Folder, from practice in the courts of law. There, it only wants a brassy look and a big voice, to make an ugly-looking truth seem a shameful impostor. Nothing, sir, like learning to boldly face truth, if you want to get the best of it. And so, sir, though the omission of the bonfires and the fire-works did pain me-how was it to be otherwise ?-nevertheless, I feel all the stronger in our cause for knowing the revolutionary principles that, as I have more than once observed, are beginning to be arrayed against all that is great and titled in this country. "Don't you think, Mr. Tangle," said Folder, "that we had better visit our toilets to be ready for church? We will then walk gently over the fields.” "Walk!" echoed Tangle, looking glumly. 66 Certainly. On the present occasion, it will look better to the people; more condescending; more like themselves. His lordship, depend upon it, will not ride to-day. No: I think my principles will bear a little better fruit ;" and Folder smiled securely. "Of course not: I had forgotten to be sure not ;" answered Tangle. "Undoubtedly, we walk-undoubtedly." This point resolved, the gentlemen retired to their separate chambers—they joined, by the way—to attire themselves for their devotions. The village church-on a high hill, its base girted with magnificent trees-was seen from either window; a simple, rustic, snow-white building shining in the sun, and standing clearly, purely out from the deep blue summer heaven. "A charming view, this," said Tangle as, having arrayed himself, he was about to quit the room, when his companion appeared in the passage. A beautiful landscape!" said Folder, entering the chamber. "I was thinking so, as I looked from my own window. How very nicely the church there shows itself upon the hill!" 66 66 Quite right-nothing but proper;" observed Tangle with a sudden touch of solemnity. "I'd have every church upon a hill; I would, indeed, sir. And for this reason; when upon a hill, everybody can see it. When upon a hill, it seems to stand like a monitor, an adviser to every body. It preaches, as I may say, from a high pulpit to the world below; and so, you will perceive, it's apt to make men pause in their sinful, shabby courses. Many a time-I don't mind confessing so much to you, Mr. Folder-but many a time, that is, sometimes, when I've felt my soul a little slack, for the best of us can't always be braced up like drumswell, when, as I say, I 've been a little slack, the very sight of a church has pulled me up again, and made me think of virtue just as I did before." 66 "A church, Nobody can dispute it," remarked Mr. Folder. as somebody has observed, is sermons in stones.' "My opinion to a letter," observed Tangle; "though it's odd that anybody should have thought the same as myself. Come along. Stay. When I come here, I always look once to see if all be right." Whereupon Mr. Tangle approached a closet, unlocked the door, and pointing to an iron-bound box, observed"All's safe. All new, Mr. Folder, all sparkling and burning from the Mint. What a beautiful substance gold is only to look at, cried Tangle with enthusiasm ; at the same moment, unlocking the box and lifting the lid. “There's a blaze!" he cried, with a voluptuous smacking of the mouth. "How they twinkle!" he added; whereupon the parliamentary agent clutched a handful of bright guineas, and poured them from hand to hand, his eye catching yellow lustre from the golden shower. And thus for some brief minute or two did Tangle play with minted gold. We are told that the snake-charmers of the East are wont to ensnare the reptiles with dulcet music. The snake-Apollo plays a melody upon some magic pipe; whereupon torpid snakes coiled in holes and crannies gradually untwist themselves, and feel their |