d in the market-square, and straight in front
of the wooden erection, standing at right angles to it, was a stout
rail dividing the space for the distance of fifty or sixty yards, so
that the supporters of one set of candidates might congregate on one
side, and the supporters of the other candidates on the other side.
In this way would the weaker part, whichever might be the weaker,
be protected from the violence of the stronger. On the present
occasion it seemed that the friends of Mr. Westmacott congregated
with the Conservatives. Moggs's allies alone filled one side of
the partition. There were a great many speeches made that day from
the hustings,--thirteen in all. First the mayor, and then the
four proposers and four seconders of the candidates. During these
performances, though there was so much noise from the crowd below
that not a word could be heard, there was no violence. When old
Griffenbottom got up, supporting himself by an arm round one of the
posts, he was loudly cheered from both sides. His personal popularity
in the borough was undoubted, and his gout made him almost a
demi-god. Nobody heard a word that he said; but then he had no desire
to be heard. To be seen standing up there, a martyr to the gout, but
still shouting for Percycross, was enough for his purpose. Sir Thomas
encountered a very different reception. He was received with yells,
apparently from the whole crowd. What he said was of no matter,
as not a word was audible; but he did continue to inveigh against
bribery. Before he had ceased a huge stone was thrown at him, and
hit him heavily on the arm. He continued speaking, however, and did
not himself know till afterwards that his arm was broken between
the shoulder and the elbow. Mr. Westmacott was very short and
good-humoured. He intended to be funny about poor Moggs;--and perhaps
was funny. But his fun was of no avail. The Moggite crowd had
determined that no men should be heard till their own candidate
should open his mouth.

At last Ontario's turn had come. At first the roar from the crowd was
so great that it seemed that it was to be with him as it had been
with the others. But by degrees, though there was still a roar,--as
of the sea,--Moggs's words became audible. The voices of assent and
dissent are very different, even though they be equally loud. Men
desirous of interrupting, do interrupt. But cheers, though they be
continuous and loud as thunder, are compatible with a hearing. Mog