Ingenuous young reader, whose faith in the sincerity of trading politicians has not yet been shaken by the rude hand of experience !-you possibly may regard the preceding sketch as an exaggeration. Yet, if you should ever be tempted to linger on the threshold of patronage, and court the smiles of those who have the entry, you may esteem yourself fortunate if you escape as easily as I did from the clutches of a senatorial swindler.

CHAPTER VI.

LORD WINDERMERE.

SINCLAIR," said Attie Faunce, one morning as he was lounging in my room, "have you been at Lord Windermere's lately?"

"No, Attie; and, what is more, I have never yet seen his lordship."

"Indeed it is a comfort to know that there is at least one man ready to testify against the tuft-hunting propensities of the age. Now, as you have profited, in some respects, by my insatiable curiosity, I hope you will not be offended if I ask the reason why?"

"To confess the truth, Attie, that is a question I have put to myself more than once without receiving a satisfactory explanation."

"Then, Sinclair, depend upon it, you and your conscience are at variance. Shall I tell you how the matter stands? You feel that you ought to wait on Lord Windermere, and you don't like to do so; your pride, or obstinacy, or some such other ridiculous scruple, standing in the way. Have I not guessed aright?

"I must acknowledge that you are very near the mark."

'Nay, I am certain that I have hit the bull's eye. Now, setting bashfulness and that sort of thing aside, do you really think that you are conducting yourself politely towards Lord Windermere by turning your back upon him? Does it not strike you that that is tantamount to an affront?"

"Nonsense, Attie! you forget the difference of our positions."

Do you mean to say that the poor or humble have it not in their power to affront the rich or proud? I should like to hear you maintain that position! Why, old Diogenes, who lived in a tub, affronted Alexander the Great by desiring him to stand out of the sunshine; and I rather imagine that Lord Chesterfield was considerably affronted by the famous letter of Samuel Johnson. You see I have read enough to be able to cite an instance or two that will apply. But to come to the immediate case ;-I presume-no offence—that you consider yourself to be a gentleman ?"

"I hope so."

"And is not Lord Windermere also a gentleman ?" "Undoubtedly he is."

"Why, then, should you withhold from him that courtesy which is the common bond of gentlemen, and their duty towards each other? Excuse me for speaking so frankly. You are an older and much abler man than I am, Sinclair, but you have not yet rubbed off

the old skin of prejudice. Come-what would you say if I were to accuse you of cowardice ?"

'No third party being present, which might make a difference, I would ask for an explanation of the charge."

"Well; cowardice, I grant you, is an ugly term, but it has many modifications. Ask yourself, however, this, or let me ask it of you : If Lord Windermere were simply a private gentleman, without wealth or station, would you not, considering what has passed between you, have made his acquaintance long ago?"

"Attie you young villain! who taught you to be so cunning of fence?”

"A palpable hit! Score me one.

'Our son shall

win,' as the Queen says in Hamlet. Are you ready for another bout?"

"No; I give in. You have the best of it in argument, and I cannot but acknowledge that you are in the right."

"Then, my dear Sinclair, don't you persist in doing wrong. I never pestered you with personal inquiries, which would have been downright impertinence on my part; but Uncle Osborne, with whom, let me tell you, you are an immense favourite, has told me something about you; and I know that you have very wisely given up the idea of soliciting official employment. That being the case, I presume you have no favour to ask from Lord Windermere or any one else. I know there are a few men, and I think you are one of them, who, though they may have a direct claim upon a great man

for the exercise of his interest on their behalf, would rather cut their tongues out than undergo the pain of asking for it. It is an honourable if not a wise feeling, and I say nothing against it. But, having nothing to solicit, why don't you at least cultivate the friendship of Lord Windermere? It would be an immense thing for you in a mere social point of view; for, let me tell you, there are hundreds of fellows, moving in good society in London, who would esteem it a very high honour indeed if they received an invitation from his lordship."

"That may be true enough, Attie; but I don't choose to show myself under false colours. I am neither more nor less than a journalist; not by way of amusement or occasional occupation, as is the pretence of some men who live in the Inns of Court and call themselves lawyers, but a downright slave of the pen ; and I think I have heard it said that persons in a high position do not affect the society of journalists. It is that consideration chiefly that has hitherto deterred me from obtruding myself on the notice of Lord Windermere."

Good lack, how punctilious we are!" said Attie Faunce. "I wish the old gentleman were here to argue the matter with you; for, my life on it, he would make you thoroughly ashamed of yourself before you were four minutes older. Look to himself for instance. Uncle Osborne is not a literary man; his former occupation as a solicitor gave him nothing more than a respectable place in society; and though I believe he is tolerably rich, there are thousands of men in the