f books and occupation for a literary genius like
Mr. Arthur, who required but a cigar and a sheet of paper or two to make
the night pass away pleasantly. In truth, in two or three days he had
found the society of Sir Francis Clavering perfectly intolerable; and
it was with a mischievous eagerness and satisfaction that he offered
Clavering the little pecuniary aid which the latter according to his
custom solicited, and supplied him with the means of taking flight from
his own house.

Besides, our ingenious friend had to ingratiate himself with the
townspeople of Clavering, and with the voters of the borough which he
hoped to represent; and he set himself to this task with only the more
eagerness, remembering how unpopular he had before been in Clavering,
and determined to vanquish the odium which he had inspired amongst the
simple people there. His sense of humour made him delight in this task.
Naturally rather reserved and silent in public, he became on a sudden as
frank, easy, and jovial as Captain Strong. He laughed with everybody who
would exchange a laugh with him, shook hands right and left, with what
may be certainly called a dexterous cordiality; made his appearance at
the market-day and the farmers' ordinary; and, in fine, acted like a
consummate hypocrite, and as gentlemen of the highest birth and most
spotless integrity act when they wish to make themselves agreeable to
their constituents, and have some end to gain of the country-folks. How
is it that we allow ourselves not to be deceived, but to be ingratiated
so readily by a glib tongue, a ready laugh, and a frank manner? We know,
for the most part, that it is false coin, and we take it we know that it
is flattery, which it costs nothing to distribute to everybody, and
we had rather have it than be without it. Friend Pen went about
at Clavering, laboriously simple and adroitly pleased, and quite a
different being from the scornful and rather sulky young dandy whom the
inhabitants remembered ten years ago.

The Rectory was shut up. Doctor Portman was gone, with his gout and his
family, to Harrogate,--an event which Pen deplored very much in a letter
to the Doctor, in which, in a few kind and simple words, he expressed
his regret at not seeing his old friend, whose advice he wanted and
whose aid he might require some day: but Pen consoled himself for the
Doctor's absence by making acquaintance with Mr. Simcoe, the opposition
preacher, and with the two partne