with any critical observations that have ever presented themselves to your reflective faculties, on "Cain: a Mystery," by the Right Honourable Lord Byron?

`I am, Sir,
`Yours (forgive me if I add, soaringly),



He had scarcely got through this correspondence when Captain Kedgick, the landlord, kindly came up- stairs to see how he was getting on. The Captain sat down upon the bed before he spoke; and finding it rather hard, moved to the pillow.

`Well, sir!' said the Captain, putting his hat a little more on one side, for it was rather tight in the crown: `You're quite a public man I calc'late.'

`So it seems,' retorted Martin, who was very tired.

`Our citizens, sir,' pursued the Captain, `intend to pay their respects to you. You will have to hold a sort of le-vee, sir, while you're here.'

`Powers above!' cried Martin, `I couldn't do that, my good fellow!'

`I reckon you must then,' said the Captain.

`Must is not a pleasant word, Captain,' urged Martin.

`Well! I didn't fix the mother language, and I can't unfix it,' said the Captain coolly: `else I'd make it pleasant. You must re-ceive. That's all.'

`But why should I receive people who care as much for me as I care for them?' asked Martin.

`Well! because I have had a muniment put up in the bar,' returned the Captain.

`A what?' cried Martin.

`A muniment,' rejoined the Captain.

Martin looked despairingly at Mark, who informed him that the Captain meant a written notice that Mr. Chuzzlewit would receive the Watertoasters that day, at and after two o'clock which was in effect then hanging in the bar, as Mark, from ocular inspection of the same, could testify.

`You wouldn't be unpop'lar, I know,' said the Captain, paring his nails. `Our citizens an't long of riling up, I tell you; and our Gazette could flay you like a wild cat.'


`In Heaven's name let them come, then.'

`Oh, they'll come,' returned the Captain. `I have seen the big room fixed a'purpose with my eyes.'

`But will you,' said Martin, seeing that the Captain was about to go; `will you at least tell me this? What do they want to see me for? what have I done? and how do they happen to have such a sudden interest in me?'

  By PanEris using Melati.
