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Maria Julian. Why, her very name shows you what she is! And do you think that I'd support my Lady this, and my Lady that, and my Lady the t'other, to kick up such boney fide pranks as these! I'd amalgamate 'em all! I wouldn't have 'em! I'd place 'em in the juxtaposition of the French, when Boney went to Bunker's-hill: I'd place 'em horse de combat, and make 'em fight their way through the world for a living. That's how I'd serve 'em. I wouldn't have the locusts! If paupers are paupers, they ought to be treated as paupers."

"But is she a pauper?"

"A pauper! Don't I tell you she's a lady of title? and ain't they all paupers? I say it's a most disgusting shame that these titled drones—these imps of the universe, should be allowed to plunder the people in this way."

"Well, but two thousand pounds—I say that 'll be a bit of a pull, won't it?"

"Oh, they must sell off, you know: safe to be a sale: they can't pay two thousand down without! There'll be an execution in the house, I expect, to-morrow. But when you come to look at it, isn't it disgusting that such a lot of wretches are suffered to breathe!"

"Who gets this money—this two thousand pounds?"

"Why, the husband, of course! Don't your ideas fructify? Can't you perceive that it's all a planned thing? 'I want money,' says he to her, 'and you know this young fellow. Get him to come some night to the house, and I shall gain two thousand pounds.' Don't you see? Ain't it as plain as the nose on your face? This is your aristocracy—your pauper aristocracy! If I'd my will, I'd hang the lot! bishops and parsons and all. They're all alike! and, mark my words, nothing but a flaming revolution will ever do justice to the eternal principles of the people."

He then left Pokey and called upon Bobber, and told the news to all whom he met; and then called upon Snorkins, and then upon Quocks, and thus he went round with this "glorious" news—building as he went, and coining new words to express his contempt for the "pauper aristocracy"—and, as this gave him unspeakable pleasure, he spent a "glorious" day, indeed!

That day Howard dined with Dr. Delolme, and met Scholefield and Tom—with whom he had an interview in the morning—and when the doctor had explained to him a variety of circumstances which tended to prove that not only Sylvester, but Dr. Sound himself, was a somnambulist; he became so perfectly satisfied of the fact, that in the full conviction of the innocence of his wife, he resolved on returning to Borton on the morrow.

The reverend gentleman was of course delighted! He had hoped that Howard, before he left town, would have an interview, through Scholefield, with Sir Charles; but, under existing circumstances, he would not have hinted a wish to detain him for the world.

They remained at the doctor's till eleven, and then returned to the hotel; and, as they left town as early as six the next morning, they arrived at the Hall before twelve.