he Post
Office. There were various interests at Percycross moved, brought
together, weighed against each other, and balanced to a grain,
and finally dovetailed. If Sir Thomas Underwood would prevail on
Lord ---- to appoint Mr. O'Blather to the vacant office, then all
the Givantake influence at Percycross should be used towards the
withdrawal of the petition. Such was the communication now made to
Sir Thomas by a gentleman who signed his name as Peter Piper, and who
professed himself authorised to act on behalf of Mr. Givantake. Sir
Thomas's answer was as follows;--

Southampton Buildings, December 31, 186--.

SIR,--

I can have nothing to do with Mr. O'Blather and the
post-office at Percycross.

I am,
Your obedient servant,

THOMAS UNDERWOOD.

MR. PETER PIPER, Post-office, Percycross.

Christmas had passed,--and had passed uncomfortably enough at Popham
Villa, in which retreat neither of the three young ladies was at
present very happy,--when Sir Thomas was invited by Mr. Trigger
to take further steps with reference to the petitions. It was
thought necessary that there should be a meeting in the conservative
interest, and it was suggested that this meeting should take place in
Sir Thomas's chambers. Mr. Trigger in making the proposition seemed
to imply that a great favour was thereby conferred on Sir Thomas,--as
that country is supposed to be most honoured which is selected
as the meeting-ground for plenipotentiaries when some important
international point requires to be settled. Sir Thomas could not see
the arrangement in that light, and would have shuffled out of the
honour had it been possible. But it was not possible. At this period
of the year Mr. Griffenbottom had no house in town, and Mr. Trigger
explained that it was inexpedient that such meetings should take
place at hotels. There was no place so fitting as a lawyer's
chambers. Sir Thomas, who regarded as a desecration the entrance
of one such man as Mr. Trigger into his private room, and who
was particularly anxious not to fall into any intimacy with Mr.
Griffenbottom, was driven to consent, and at one o'clock on the
29th, Stemm was forced to admit the deputation. The deputation from
Percycross consisted of Mr. Trigger, Mr. Spicer, and Mr. Pile; but
with them came also the senior sitting member. At first they were all
very grave, and Sir Thomas asked them, indiscreetly, whether they
would take a glass of sherry. Pile and