Everybody seemed very glad of this, and applauded more than ever. "But I hope my Honourable Friend," said the gentlemanly member-of course he added, ‘if he will allow me to call him so,' and of course Mr. Pecksniff bowed-" will give me many opportunities of cultivating the knowledge of him; and that I may have the extraordinary gratification of reflecting in after time that I laid on this day two first stones, both belonging to structures which shall last my life!" Great cheering again. All this time Martin was cursing Mr. Pecksniff up hill and down dale. "My friends!" said Mr. Pecksniff, in reply. "My duty is to build, not speak; to act, not talk; to deal with marble, stone, and brick: not language. I am very much affected. God bless you!" This address, pumped out apparently from Mr. Pecksniff's very heart, brought the enthusiasm to its highest pitch. The pocket handkerchiefs were waved again; the charity children were admonished to grow up Pecksniffs, every boy among them; the corporation, gentlemen with wands, member for the Gentlemanly Interest, all cheered for Mr. Pecksniff. Three cheers for Mr. Pecksniff! Three more for Mr. Pecksniff! Three more for Mr. Pecksniff, gentlemen, if you please! One more, gentlemen, for Mr. Pecksniff, and let it be a good one to finish with! In short, Mr. Pecksniff was supposed to have done a great work, and was very kindly, courteously, and generously rewarded. When the procession moved away, and Martin and Mark were left almost alone upon the ground, his merits and a desire to acknowledge them formed the common topic. He was only second to the gentlemanly member. "Compare that fellow's situation to-day, with ours!" said Martin, bitterly. 66 'Lord bless you, sir," cried Mark, "what's the use! Some architects are clever at making foundations, and some architects are clever at building on 'em when they're made. But it'll all come right in the end, sir; it'll all come right!" "And in the meantime —” began Martin. "In the mean time, as you say, sir, we have a deal to do, and far to go. So sharp's the word, and jolly!" "You are the best master in the world, Mark," said Martin, "and I will not be a bad scholar if I can help it, I am resolved! So come! Best foot foremost, old fellow!" Charles Dickens. XIV. BURNING OF DRURY LANE THEATRE,1 SURVEY this shield, all bossy bright; These cuisses 2 twain behold! Look on my form in armour dight3 Of steel inlaid with gold; My knees are stiff in iron buckles, Stiff spikes of steel protect my knuckles, These once belong'd to sable prince, He slew the vaunting Gaul. THE NIGHT. On fair Augusta's 5 towers and trees Which from the moon-tipp'd plumage cast When, as night's lamp unclouded hung, From Knightsbridge, Pancras', Camden Town, To Redriffe, Shadwell, Horsleydown, No voice was heard, no eye unclosed, But all in deepest sleep reposed. They might have thought, who gazed around, Amid a silence so profound, It made the senses thrill, That 'twas no place inhabited, But some vast city of the dead, All was so hush'd and still. THE BURNING. As Chaos, which, by heavenly doom, Started with terror and surprise In bedgown woke her dames; For shouts were heard 'mid fire and smoke, And twice ten hundred voices spoke, "The playhouse is in flames!" And lo! where Catherine Street7 extends, A fiery tail its lustre lends To every window-pane ; Blushes each spout in Martlet Court, And Barbican, moth-eaten fort, Nor these alone, but far and wide, It seemed that nations did conspire, Some vast stupendous sacrifice! The summon'd firemen woke at call, Then jacket thick, of red or blue, The engines thunder'd through the street, And one, the leader of the band, |