I have had that name or appellation in my books, but
I cannot, at this instant of time, recall to my recollection the exact
date and circumstance of my professional services to the gentleman so
designated, styled, or, I may say, termed."

"Can't say, I am sure, sir," said Harrison; "lived with my master many
years; never had the pleasure of seeing you before, nor of travelling
this road,--a very hilly road it is, sir. Miss, this negus is as bright
as your eyes and as warm as my admiration."

"Oh, sir!"

"Pray," said Mr. Merrylack, who like most of his tribe was a bit of a
politician; "is it the Mr. Linden who made that long speech in the House
the other day?"

"Precisely, sir. He is a very eloquent gentleman, indeed: pity he speaks
so little; never made but that one long speech since he has been in
the House, and a capital one it was too. You saw how the prime minister
complimented him upon it. 'A speech,' said his lordship, 'which had
united the graces of youthful genius with the sound calculations of
matured experience."'

"Did the prime minister really so speak?" said Jeremiah "what a
beautiful, and noble, and sensible compliment! I will examine my
books when I go home,--'the graces of youthful genius with the sound
calculations of matured experience'!"

"If he is in the Parliament House," quoth the landlady, "I suppose he
will know our Mr. Mordaunt, when the squire takes his seat next--what do
you call it--sessions?"

"Know Mr. Mordaunt!" said the valet. "It is to see him that we have come
down here. We intended to have gone there to-night, but Master thought
it too late, and I saw he was in a melancholy humour: we therefore
resolved to come here; and so Master took one of the horses from the
groom, whom we have left behind with the other, and came on alone. I
take it, he must have been in this town before, for he described the inn
so well.--Capital cheese this! as mild,--as mild as your sweet smile,
miss."

"Oh, sir!"

"Pray, Mistress Merrylack," said Mr. Jeremiah Bossolton, depositing his
pipe on the table, and awakening from a profound revery, in which
for the last five minutes his senses had been buried, "pray, Mistress
Merrylack, do you not call to your mind or your reminiscence or
your--your recollection, a young gentleman, equally comely in his aspect
and blandiloquent (ehem!) in his address, who had the misfortune to
have his arm severely contused and afflicted by a violent kick from Mr.
Mordau