m, and did so accordingly.

He found a little hard old gentleman seated at a table covered with
every variety of sealing-wax, blotting-paper, envelopes, despatch-boxes,
green tapers, etc. etc. An immense fire was blazing in the grate, an
immense sheet-almanack hung over that, a screen, three or four chairs,
and a faded Turkey carpet, formed the rest of the furniture of this
remarkable room--which I have described thus particularly, because in
the course of a long official life, I have remarked that such is the
invariable decoration of political rooms.

"Well, John," said the little hard old gentleman, pointing to an
arm-chair, "I'm told you've been here since eleven. Why the deuce do you
come so early?"

"I had important business," answered Mr. Perkins, stoutly; and as his
uncle looked up with a comical expression of wonder, John began in a
solemn tone to deliver a little speech which he had composed, and which
proved him to be a very worthy, easy, silly fellow.

"Sir," said Mr. Perkins, "you have known for some time past the nature
of my political opinions, and the intimacy which I have had the honour
to form with one--with some of the leading members of the Liberal
party." (A grin from Mr. Crampton.) "When first, by your kindness, I was
promised the clerkship in the Tape and Sealing-Wax Office, my opinions
were not formed as they are now; and having taken the advice of the
gentlemen with whom I act,"--(an enormous grin)--"the advice, I say,
of the gentlemen with whom I act, and the counsel likewise of my own
conscience, I am compelled, with the deepest grief, to say, my dear
uncle, that I--I--"

"That you--what, sir?" exclaimed little Mr. Crampton, bouncing off his
chair. "You don't mean to say that you are such a fool as to decline the
place?"

"I do decline the place," said Perkins, whose blood rose at the word
"fool." "As a man of honour, I cannot take it."

"Not take it! and how are you to live? On the rent of that house of
yours? For, by gad, sir, if you give up the clerkship, I never will give
you a shilling."

"It cannot be helped," said Mr. Perkins, looking as much like a martyr
as he possibly could, and thinking himself a very fine fellow. "I have
talents, sir, which I hope to cultivate; and am member of a profession
by which a man may hope to rise to the very highest offices of the
State."

"Profession, talents, offices of the State! Are you mad, John Perkins,
that you come to me with such insuff