did they ever send to the Sugar Loaf. I'm not
frightened at the Debarrys: there's no man more independent than me. I'll plump
or I'll split for them as treat me the handsomest and are the most of what I
call gentlemen; that's my idee. And in the way of hacting for any man, them are
fools that don't employ me.«
    We mortals sometimes cut a pitiable figure in our attempts at display. We
may be sure of our own merits, yet fatally ignorant of the point of view from
which we are regarded by our neighbour. Our fine patterns in tattooing may be
far from throwing him into a swoon of admiration, though we turn ourselves all
round to show them. Thus it was with Mr Chubb.
    »Yes,« said Felix, dryly; »I should think there are some sorts of work for
which you are just fitted.«
    »Ah, you see that? Well, we understand one another. You're no Tory; no more
am I. And if I'd got four hands to show at a nomination, the Debarry's shouldn't
have one of 'em. My idee is, there's a deal too much of their scutchins and
their moniments in Treby church. What's their scutchins mean? They're a sign
with little liquor behind 'em; that's how I take it. There's nobody can give
account of 'em as I ever heard.«
    Mr Chubb was hindered from further explaining his views as to the historical
element in society by the arrival of new guests, who approached in two groups.
The foremost group consisted of well-known colliers, in their good Sunday
beavers and coloured handkerchiefs serving as cravats, with the long ends
floating. The second group was a more unusual one, and caused Mr Chubb to
compress his mouth and agitate the muscles about it in rather an excited manner.
    First came a smartly-dressed personage on horseback, with a conspicuous
expansive shirt-front and figured satin stock. He was a stout man, and gave a
strong sense of broadcloth. A wild idea shot through Mr Chubb's brain: could
this grand visitor be Harold Transome? Excuse him: he had been given to
understand by his cousin from the distant borough that a Radical candidate in
the condescension of canvassing had even gone the length of eating
bread-and-treacle with the children of an honest freeman, and declaring his
preference for that simple fare. Mr Chubb's notion of a Radical