," said the father, whilst his round, red, convivial features
became more inflamed, "you are super-critical this morning."

"Not at all, sir; but you will excuse me for saying, that I think a man
who is seeking to ingratiate himself with the government, what is more,
to receive substantial favors from it, ought not, from principles of
self-respect, to suffer these stereotyped paragraphs to appear from
time to time. Government is not so blind, sir, but they will at once see
through the object of such paragraphs."

"Staryrayotyped! What the devil, sir, do you mane by staryrayotype?
Do you mane to make a staryrayotype of me? That's dutiful, Mr.
Fergus--filial duty, clane and clear--and no doubt about it. But I tell
you, sir, that in spite of your staryrayotypes, it is such articles as
the able one of my friend Swiggerly that constitutes the force of public
opinion. Government! Why, sir, the government is undher more obligations
to me than I am to them. It was my activity and loyalty that was the
manes, principally, of returnin' the son of the gustus ratalorum of the
county for the borough of Addleborough. He was their own candidate; and
if that wasn't layin' them undher an obligation to me, I don't know what
was. You may say what you like, but I repate, it's a right good, thing
to have the force of public opinion in your favor."

"Yes, of public opinion, I grant you; but surely you cannot pretend,
father, that such gross and barefaced flattery as that can be termed
public opinion?"

"And why not, sir? Upon my honor and conscience, things is come to a
pretty pass when a man--a magistrate--like me, must be lectured by his
own son! Isn't it too bad, Catherine?"

"I am no politician, you know, but I think he doesn't mean to lecture
you, papa; perhaps you ought to say to reason or remonstrate with--"

"Raison! remonstrate! And what right has he aither to raison or
remonstrate with a man--or rather a magistrate--such as I am known
by the government to be. He calls that paragraph gross and barefaced
flattery, and myself a staryrayotype! but I tell him now that it is no
flattery, nor anything at all but the downright naked thruth, and no man
ought to know that better than I do, for this good raison, that it was
myself wrote every line of it, and got Swiggerly only to correct it."

A deep and crimson blush overspread his daughter's face on hearing this
mean and degrading admission; and Fergus, who was in the act of bringing