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 account!"

He took off his hat, brushed the nap carefully with his sleeve, replaced
it on his head,--not jauntily aside, not like a jeune premier, but with
equilateral brims, and in composed fashion, like a /pere noble/; then,