with them as friends than defy them as enemies, seeing the many must govern, and—"

"I deny the assertion; the many cannot govern, never have governed, never will govern—diffusion implies weakness, as concentration does strength: but I never talk politics; I eschew them in toto; but at fancy fairs I will take a fillip so long as I live, more especially for the benefit of a stranger."

With these words the old gentleman departed, making a low bow to Lord Meersbrook, and a profound shake of the head to the lawyer.

"Sir Robert Akhurst is a good man, a very good man, notwithstanding his philippic; but he is an old one, which makes all the difference."

"And they get his money out of him at the bazaar it seems?"

"By a kind of imposition; otherwise, he is the last man in the world to grumble. A better landlord, a kinder neighbour, or a more generous donor than Sir Robert, it would be difficult to meet with: but we all have our prejudices, and the longer we have cherished them the more warmly we defend them; there is no more possibility of putting a young head on old shoulders than the reverse."

"Where is the shop where fancy-fair things can be bought?"

Being informed on this head, Lord Meersbrook stepped into his cab and drove directly to the place, really believing that there was a great deal of truth in all the observations of the old baronet, for all his