Soon after, our hero was observed to get more and more uneasy and unhappy-shifting his place-fanning the air with his hands, and growling at intervals until some one made a remark that the odour of musk was stronger than ever.

66

Yes," said Alexander, advancing with a most demure face towards Widget, "it really gets quite unbearable."

"Unbearable; I should say so," cried our hero; "it's worse it's abominable,-I can't endure it much longer. Oh, if I could only find out the wretch that brings such detestable stuff into the place."

At this juncture several others crowded round, probably imagining that there must be some fun going on wherever Alexander Macedon was, and possibly observing every now and then an expressive twinkle on his face,

"Upon my word, Mr. Widget, it appears to me that there is more of the fragrance in your neighbourhood than anywhere else." Widget looked at him without attempting to gainsay what he knew to be a fact, but without the smallest suspicion.

As a dernier ruse Alexander took his own handkerchief from his pocket and clapped it to his nose, saying, in tones of sincerity, Really, Mr. Widget, I quite sympathise with you; this is too much I can't stand it any longer. It is"-here the speech was buried in the handkerchief, but from the quivering symptoms outside, Macedon seemed to be very strangely and acutely affected.

Strong is the principle of imitation, on which the crafty Alexander was working. Almost without knowing it, Whibby's hand stole to his pocket, in order that he too might enjoy the alleviation practically suggested by his companion!

All the spectators gazed on-some intuitively suspecting there was mischief afloat-alternately looking at Macedon, and our hero, who with an amount of innocence perfectly delightful, carried the unfortunate bandanna to his nose, and held it there in the certainty of experiencing relief from the overpowering odour. There it remained for some time-even minutes as it appeared to the intensely anxious group-Widget's eyes dilating, his face positively growing paler, and the queerest and most puzzled expression coming over that part of it which could be seen, that yon can imagine.

On the other hand, the individual to whom the scented bandanna appertained, was no less lost in astonishment and perplexity than Whibbleton himself,-scarcely believing his own eyes, he commenced an examination of his pockets.

As for Macedon, his two enquiring orbs became visible, shortly (above the white handkerchief he still held up to his face) directed

with a doubtful gaze at Widget, as if he was bent on mesmerising him.

At last, with a furious exclamation, Widget suddenly tore the bandanna away, dashing it to the ground with such force, that had it been made of lead it would hardly have fallen faster, and looking at it in a perturbed manner, as if it was some enchanted thing at least.

Then came the full burst of laughter-the explanations, the recriminations; vows on Macedon's part that Whibbleton should be the last person to complain of scents, when he himself was the true culprit,-indignant denials from our friend-anxious questions from the owner of the bandanna, which of course resulted in worse difficulties than ever;-no, we cannot weather all this storm, it is neither profitable or necessary, we will quicken the pace of the clock a little, according to the license from time immemorial granted to historians,-from the morning we will jump to the evening, and to a far different scene. Not that we intend to forsake our hero, though; on the contrary, it is to introduce him to the reader, in the bosom of his family, that we have leapt over time and space.

In the bosom of his family, gentle reader, at Ranelagh Lodge, where a solemn conclave was being held, on the memorable occasion of our friend having returned home rather earlier than usual from the duties of the office, with the astonishing intelligence that in consideration of his faithful services, these gentlemen had presented him with a holiday of some ten days, and a ten pound note to defray his expenses!

Whibbleton had been revolving in his mind all the way home on the top of the omnibus, the knotty and interesting question, which was the most pleasing gift, the money or the holiday; but light dawned upon him metaphysically, just as the real light was beginning to think of taking its departure from the sky-and the omnibus was stopping at the gates of Ranelagh Lodge. "By Jupiter," thought our friend, "they do admirably well together, for all the world like damson pie and custard.”

There are people in the world "fast" enough, if they arrived at such a conclusion as this by the severe mental labour which Widget had undergone, to be vexed that such a crowning thought should not have burst upon them at once. Not so our Widget; the brilliancy of the idea struck him so forcibly that he actually hesitated, taking the longest cut round the gravel walks, in order that he might have a little time to consider whether it would not be advisable to communicate immediately with the editors of Punch. The

T

servant, who had heard his footsteps, opened the door however, provokingly, without waiting for his rap, so poor Whibbleton had to postpone the matter for future consideration, and to content himself with bringing forth the glorious joke as a bonne bouche, just when the smoking tea-urn and hot cakes made their appearance in the little parlour.

Assisted by the genial influence of that refreshing beverage, which cheers but not inebriates, the conclave of which I have before spoken was in the midst of its deliberations.

66

My dear Whibbleton," said Mrs. Widget, adjusting her spectacles, "what a capital opportunity for going to see your old uncle at Clapham, Wheezy Whibbleton, Esq."

This was a relative who had retired after squeezing, or rather hammering out, an independency from the nail trade. The Whibbleton arms may be seen at Herald's Hall any day-two spikes crossant, a hob-nail rampant, a mallet d'or-the motto, “Righte as ane Trivet," but this is en paranthese.

"Blow Whibbleton," said the hopeful young gentleman, with an easy, nonchalant air, adjusting his left thumb into the arm-hole of his blue vest, with a degagé, not to say graceless whistle, “do you think I'm a-going to coop myself up there in his Clapham monastery, a great big old-fashioned place, to be poisoned with his laboratory, and cups, and bottles, (for be it known, Wheezy Whibbleton was an amateur chemist); no mother, excuse my remarking that I've other fish to fry."

"Well, my dear, there's no occasion that I see for you to be so shockingly vulgar - now this visit to your uncle would really be just the thing, and you would be sure to enjoy it after all.”

"No, no! I want some fun, do you understand—nothing half so slow—I think I shall go and take lodgings close to Cremorne for a week. There's a performance every day now, besides dancing and I hardly know what; then, if I stopped late, too, you know I should not incommode you."

"Whibbleton!" said old Widget with emphasis, "I am astonished at you, and positively forbid your doing anything of the kind !”

"That's a smasher !" ejaculated our hero," as the steam-engine observed to the excursion train when he ran into it.”

“Suppose you were to go and see your aunt at Wandsworth, Whibby?" proposed his mother, "she has got into her new house by this time, and would be quite ready to receive you.”

“She may be ready, but, by Jove, so bean't I; as the old goose said when the cook ran after him.”

"Well," interrupted his father, "you are uncommonly difficult to please; we have mentioned several things, and now tell us seriously what your own plan is; but mind, that Cremorne scheme won't do."

"No-o, Governor-probably it would not wash, I suppose. Now, speaking confidently, being a citizen of the world it don't much matter to me where I go; being of an accommodating disposition, I am not particular how I go; but there is one trifling necessity which I shall stick up for, and no mistake-that Rosa Buggins goes with me! I called at the house on my road home this evening, and I've got a sort of half promise from her-so now the cat's out of the bag, as they say at the pie-shop.

Why, Whibby," said Mrs. Widget, holding up both her hands, "that would be decidedly improper; really not to be thought of,

"Stop! stop! my dear and much-respected mother, against all such difficulties and contingencies I have made a provision, as Grubb, the attorney, remarked t'other day to old Nayle, our senior partner, Bob Buggins will accompany us-we're all going together; won't we have some fun? I'll believe you, my boy!" cried Whibby, answering himself with an exuberance of glee and satisfaction quite delightful to witness.

"Ah!" began Widget, Senior, snuffing the candles with a resigned air, "I don't see any impropriety at all in this last plan of yours, and the principal consideration will be, when to start, and where to go."

"And," interrupted Mrs. Widget, "you have not got a button on that clean shirt of yours, and your 'stockings must be properly aired, and if you go to an hotel, pray take especial care to charge them not to put you in a damp bed."

Buggins wants me to go to Hastings, said our hero, disregarding his mother's observations, "he thinks there is a good deal to be seen there; but I want to see Eastbourne, near Beachy Head. Macedon was telling me about the rocks and the sea gulls. Hurrah for the rail!—I shall start the day after to-morrow."

"Impossible, Whibby,-your carpet-bag could never be packed in time."

"If you really think of Eastbourne," said his father, "let us have a look at the Gazetteer, to find out what sort of a place it is." "Never mind the Gazetteer,—its like reading the preface before going through the book, moral before the fable,-spoils all the fun. Have you got a Bradshaw, Governor ?"

"Yes, Whibby, here is one," replied his mother; "but you will never be able to understand it. Doctor Knumbskull, who was

here the other day, said he would rather have to treatise in Chinese, than endeavour to find out Bradshaw !"

read a whole one train in

Humph, con

"What can you expect from a pig but a found that London and Nor-Western Railway, wherever I turn, up it comes, where can the Hastings line be?"

"Are you sure there is one, Whibby ?"

"Sure! are you sure that's a candlestick? Ah! here it isLondon to Horsham, Lewes, &c., &c., and Hastings-leaves London at eight in the morning-a very good hour-and arrives at Hastings at 7 a.m. !"

"What! in one hour less than no time ?"

"Eh !—no, why, bless me, I have made a beefstake. Stop, gets to Hastings-not at all. Confound this Bradshaw, the train don't go any further than Newhaven,-what's the use of a guide like this,"

"Here, Whibby, let me look," cried Widget, Senior, "why, here it is plain enough,-leaves London at 7, and reaches Hastings at 10.35."

"You hear that, my dear mother," said Widget, "in the very face of it, I will intimate to you that the train may go,—may go,' sang our friend, throwing himself back in his chair, "to Hong Kong for me, if it does not go to Eastbourne, not Hastings. We had all forgotten that part of the question, and I do not wish to deprive the pretty little village of the honor of my visit, much proud' as it will be, no doubt, in consequence."

"While you have been talking," said his father, “I have found the Eastbourne line,-train starts at 7 and arrives at Eastbourne 10.20."

will

"The very thing, that's the ticket, that's the line for my money. Bradshaw's a brick after all; now, Governor, of course you come to take care of us ?"

“Not I, indeed, I like my easy chair better,—there would be no hot-rolls at that time in the morning ;—perhaps I should miss my Times, and then the dressing early, and hurrying to the railway, it would quite upset my equanimity to travel by a seven o'clock train. No such wild goose exploits for your mother and myself. We leave them all to Young England."

"Well, Governor, perhaps you're right; Young England, indeed, you awake the slumbering echoes of my patriotism,when far away from my native hearth I roam, I'll think of thee when on the foam,—and, eh! what is it ?— England, Home, and Beauty,' as Sims Reeves' sings!"