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'I court the Old Countree's ear-I stay by her decree! The Committee of the Undone Vortex endorsed the Swindle, and, ye Vampyres you netted your hundreds of thousands of pounds out of it. Some are gone to their last account, there to meet the heart-broken widow and the despoiled orphan face to face! But you Members of the Vortex who remain who had ought to do with that vile transaction; and you Committee who supported it by the weight and influence of your Great Names, are responsible for the fall of one of Eve's fairest, loveliest daughters! for you despoiled her father—you broke his heart-you caused his deathand thus by your united villany you ruined that girl's prospects in life! You have blighted her existence, and her lot becoming too heavy for her—ah! you know the rest!'

A cold shiver ran through their midst, but not a note of applause was heard, nor one word of encouragement given.

'Behold her now! the idol of the hour!-flattered, courted, caressed for a season!'

His gaze was rapt; his arm was raised toward heaven, as with an involuntary burst of passion he exclaimed:

‘Ah, mon infortunée! with thy short day passed—with the stern reality to face-uncared for, and-alone! Pauvre malheureuse, take heart! thou shalt not be forgotten! Many a manly bosom, unseen to mortal eye, at the mere mention of thy wrongs, gives vent to griefs to which for years it had been a stranger! Thou art not without hope! Who shall deny to thee some fragment of a position sufficient to enable thee to pass the remainder of thy sorrowful life tranquilly-nobly! Ab, who indeed! Faith! -Hope!-Charity! But the glorious blending of the Three

I hail Thee!-Grand, Triune Sublimity!"

Ralph stood transfixed. Old men approved; young men were silent. The women wept, or sat with downcast eyes, but only for a moment. There was a smile beneath that shadow-a living, loving voice behind those tears! It came forth like the mountain torrent in summer tide! In one instant all-all were rending the air with wild and passionate vociferations. Noble fellow!' they A throng of people surrounded him, and took him by the hand. Young girls were hanging about his neck, while he stood as in a dream.

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'What can it be?' thought he. 'SHE told me so. You all shall soon know her. Oh, Birdie is so good!' he said in a simple, unaffected manner.

Again I trembled for my safety. A burst of wild applause, swelling into a perfect roar of human voices, rent the air. Rising higher and higher, it culminated in one clear, mighty, ringing

cheer for Birdie! Birdie! Birdie !' 6 The air was full of nothing else for several minutes. When it had subsided Lady Beatrice Playfair stood up, looking at them all; and Birdie blushed, and then she pouted-ah, so prettily! and then she smiled upon them all, and they cheered the more. At length there was complete silence.

'Oh, why do you do all this for me?' she asked; 'it's very kind of you;' and then she trembled, and looked at Ralph, and he looked back at her, and she exclaimed in earnest manner, 'I do so love you all! I really cannot help it.'

And Ralph laughed, which made her laugh too.

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'You have all heard Ralph Osborne,' said she at length. Each voice was hushed, and every eye bent forward, for her attitude was striking, and her accents tender. 'He has been a naughty boy, but he has promised to be better in future!' The laughter which followed was deafening. 'I do love him so!' she continued. Everybody cheered, her words were so simple; and as he sat beside her, she continued, Whether he behaves better or no, I shall always love him!' The effect was irresistible, Sir Manfred Locock coming forward to declare he felt he could embrace her and love her as a daughter,' he said. Amidst the general laughter, he stooped and was about to kiss her hand, when the next remark she made convulsed her hearers completely. Perhaps I am speaking to other lunatics!' said Birdie. The roar of laughter accompanying these words so disconcerted Sir Manfred that he rose instantly, and hobbled away arm in arm with Ralph. 'Ah!' said she, if your eye has lost its lustre, if the joyous, happy laugh of youth is gone' (she paused and looked around), 'if that throbbing hand which once was full of life is now listless; and, feeling life to be a burden, you cannot shake off your apathy and stupor, then, -follow me! I invite such as you. Avenge the fates of Fathers!' (she paused for a second) Mothers! and Sisters dear! Come, follow me!'

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And in an instant she was gone! No one saw her go. Everybody looked at the place where only the moment before she had stood, but there Lady Beatrice Playfair was not! There was another blank in their number.

Ralph came forward and said to the awe-stricken multitude, 'My dear friends, Birdie is safe! Will you follow her?'

CHAPTER VIII.

'The Commons, faithful to their system, remained in a wise and masterly inactivity.'-SIR J. MACKINTOSH.

'Measures, not men, have always been my mark.'-GOLDSMITH.

RALPH OSBORNE was in the saddle the moment after the mysterious disappearance of Lady Beatrice mentioned in the foregoing chapter, accompanied by Slasher and all his numerous friends, with the exception of Somers, who was nowhere to be found. Sir Manfred, fearful lest a too sudden movement of a gaily-inclined steed might seriously injure the slowly-healing cap, which he rejoiced to think that day was where knee-caps ought to be, drove in his brougham.

In the days I'm speaking of the Queen of the Old Countree, unlike many former Monarchs, was one with the People.

She had several Royal Palaces, and had left one of these, and was proceeding quietly along, the second day of the Great Meeting in Loud Park, when Ralph spied Her coming.

'Birdie is all right,' said he, 'I know, and Harry and she are bent upon some extraordinary project, or else she would have told ine. It will be a surprise!'

Her Majesty had gained the road by the side of Loud Park, when She presently saw one of Her Subjects right before Her, standing quietly in the middle of the road, hat in hand, and with a body of gentlemen on horse ranged on either side. His earnest, thoughtful manner, florid colour, and unusual mien, at once attracted the sympathy of Her Gracious Noble Heart. She did not order Ralph to ' move on,' although it was an unusual proceeding! This consideration, however, did not weigh much with Ralph Osborne when he had made up his mind.

Her Majesty stopped Her Royal carriage, as Ralph was standing there watching his Sovereign with unmoved countenance, and quiet; respectful interest. Her Majesty all at once turned to Her faithful North Countree follower and said,

'John Frown, get off and see what that gentleman wishes.' 'Well,' thought Ralph, 'I've often said I love the Queen-I wonder whether She loves me !'

'I would address my Queen,' said Ralph. John stepped aside. Her Majesty then bade Ralph proceed. Bowing profoundly, he said,

'Most Royal, Noble-Hearted Queen of the Old Countree! Monarch of half the globe! Urged on by recollections of Your

Majesty's real love for all Your People, I venture to plead in their behalf the cause of the Widow, the Orphan's misery, and the Ruin of Victims far and wide! Such, I humbly think, cannot fail to

enlist the sympathies of their Queen !'

The Queen, who had been smiling before, looked all at once thoughtful and grave, and told him She had not heard one word about it! Thanking him very much for enlightening Her, She gave him a pleasant smile, waved Her hand, and said,

off.

'Good-morning, Ralph; I am so much obliged!' and drove

At that moment a terrible explosion in the direction of Undone city rent the air, and shook all Undone for many miles round. People shouted as the atmosphere all at once became charged with a thick, sulphurous smoke. Report followed report, the very heavens reverberating them. Leaving Ralph to do the best he could, I flitted to the spot whence it proceeded, where a most exciting spectacle presented itself.

The Vortex was in flames. Books, ledgers, telegrams, 'contracts,' accounts, bonds, shares, scrip, &c., were scattered on the pavement, or flying in the air half consumed, and the whole atmosphere was darkened with ashes from the burning contents.

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'The Bubble's burst!' cried a voice I at once recognised as Fid-fad Lukewarm's. He looked the picture of misery and despair, having lost his eye-glass in the rush, and narrowly escaped with his life. Forty-seven Sternites were missing already, having been engaged at the moment of the explosion in heavy transactions' in 'Fleasaway' bonds, of which, as it had not yet collapsed, they were 'bulls' to a frightful extent; but 'bulls,' and orderbooks, and 'contracts,' and' bears,' were all scattered to the winds of heaven! Now and then a boot, with a bit of a leg in it, shot up high in the air, or an arm in the attitude of making a bid for some wretched Swindle; but that was all that ever was seen of them.

Owing to the instantaneous nature of the catastrophe, the amount of the destruction to life and property was awful to contemplate. A huge wave of Retribution had shot in one moment from its centre to a distance of many miles before its force was wholly expended. It was now known that the whole of the vaults of the Vortex had exploded with terrific effect. After one tremendous shock, while the minds of the stoutest were trembling in the balance, the roar of falling houses, bridges and viaducts, with vehicles and trains passing upon them, appalled the ears of the boldest, causing them to think that the end of all things was at hand! It seemed to be one long, fearful sound and awful

reverberation. The horrified inhabitants darted wildly to and fro, many dying with fright on the spot. There was hardly a bridge whose iron and masonry or solid stone structure was not dislodged, turned awry, and rendered impassable.

In the middle of the consternation Ralph arrived. The heat and suffocation were fearful. He had been obliged to change horses four times, and take a circuitous route to reach the Vortex so as to avoid the intense heat, for the wind had suddenly veered to the East, and was bringing dense volumes of sulphurous smoke right in his teeth. People had already left Undone city by thousands, thinking themselves lucky enough if they escaped with their lives. Many of the inhabitants were to be seen wearing sackcloth on their bodies, and mourning with ashes upon their heads. As Ralph was looking up, the headless trunk of a thorough-paced villain fell with a heavy thud upon the pavement. For a few seconds it quivered with the most horrible contortions. A little further on he found the gory head that belonged to it.

Raskall's teeth were Clenched in death; nevertheless there issued out therefrom, in screeching tones, 'I am damned !'

Hurrying off in a nervous state, he now saw two forms high in the air, midst clouds of fire, holding flaming swords in their right hands. They descended rapidly; as they approached, the noise in the vaults of the Vortex increased, Vulcan seeming to be in possession, and holding demoniacal revelry amongst the iron safes stored there. Now a door would burst from its hinges and fly off with a report like a cannon high over the heads of the affrighted inhabitants; and then a safe, bent like a scroll, would be hurled in a wild, uncertain course, scattering and destroying as it went. Bags of gold shot up, flying for miles, and coming down amidst the awe-stricken people, their contents crumbling to powder when touched.

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In the midst of the fear and dismay the two forms alighted. Ralph!' cried a voice. He started; Birdie stood by his side in white and shining garments. Somers was slightly behind; he was dressed in a black, close-fitting tunic, while a dark flowing robe came over his shoulders and reached to the ground. In large red characters on his breast were inscribed the letters U.V.V. Advancing their swords, Lady Beatrice pronounced the word Forward!' and Ralph instantly becoming changed like Somers, and feeling a sword in his hand like theirs, all of which appeared very strange to him, he heard Somers beckon him to follow in a most mysterious manner. They all three now felt themselves lifted in the air, and were speedily joined by at least

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