returned for Lichfield during that Parliament, must at one time have been a suspect,' and doubtless was compelled to make contrite apology before he was permitted to take his seat, for he was appointed a Collector for Cheshire of Papists' Money (to support King Charles in his expedition to Scotland) in response to the Queen's letter of April 1639, and the recommendation of Sir Kenelm Digby and 'Master William Mountague,' which letter the House sternly repudiated, and brought the unlucky supporters of it upon their knees before them on January 28, 1641-42.

6

Northampton to that House as to this supplied a staunch champion of the people's rights in the person of Richard Knightley, a foe to prerogative and a strong Parliament man, till the progressive spirits of the day went too far for him, and the King's execution caused him to waver in his allegiance, and to fall into the hands of Colonel Pride at the time of the celebrated Purge. With a laudable desire to transmit true patriotic principles to his stock, he married his eldest son to the daughter of the great John Hampden. The experiment does not appear to have proved altogether successful, from a Darwinian point of view. By rights, the present member for South Northamptonshire should have developed into a Bradlaugh, at the very least.

In addition to the above, we have two Bellinghams, Sir Henry and James, and possibly a third, Alan, sitting for Westmoreland, a cadet of whose family settled about this time in Ireland, and originated the present member for county Louth. Sir Henry Bellingham was sent in 1648 to the Earl of Lanark in Scotland with an offer to join the Royalist forces in the north of England to the Scotch army. But the mission was unsuccessful, for Lord Lanark 'durst not accept.'

We also find a Fitzwilliam-the Hon. William-sitting, as at present, for Peterborough, till his father's death in 1644. This, we may remark in passing, is the solitary instance in our catalogue in which both ancestor and descendant are returned by the same borough. After succeeding to the title, Lord Fitzwilliam must have been among the number of those peers before referred to who condescended to the Lower House, for he figures in the list of those who were expelled from the Rump-as also does Robert Clive of Styche, member for Bridgnorth, and ancestor of Lord Powis and Colonel Windsor Clive. Then, as now, a Sir John Ramsden sat in the House, n at that time for Northallerton; a Portman-Sir William-for Taunton (his house at Orchard was the headquarters of the Royalist army under Lord Hertford in the summer of 1643); a Stanhope-the Hon. Ferdinando-for Tamworth; and a Thynne-Sir James-for Wiltshire. These four last named seceded at an early date; Portman and Thynne sat in the Oxford House of Commons, and Stanhope died for the King at Bridgeford in 1643.

Here ends our roll, in all three-and-twenty family names and of these, how many will be found in the Parliaments of the next century? Who shall say? C. W. KENNEDY.

EXCHANGE NO ROBBERY; OR, FATED BY A JEST.

BY M. BETHAM-EDWARDS, AUTHOR OF KITTY' AND 'DOCTOR JACOB.'

VIII.

A

MONTH had passed, the quietest possible, and Hilda and Grettel were getting quite used to their respective parts. Hilda, partly from a love of forming mazy plans and carrying them out, and partly from sheer girlish playfulness, would permit no infringement of the law originally laid down. It was Gnädiges Fräulein' (gracious Miss), as the obsequious Grettel invariably addressed her. She wore, by mutual understanding, her foster-sister's clothes and trinkets, dressed her hair precisely after her fashion, and adopted easily enough certain little mannerisms of the sweet yet not inimitable Hildegarde-modest flutterings, down-dropping of the eyelids, shy blushes, and low timid modulations of the voice. She had outwardly metamorphosed herself more completely than she was aware, and a very strong natural likeness had been thus heightened to a degree that might well have perplexed observers as to the identity of the two. The illusion, indeed, to use Hilda's words, was perfect, and it even began to take hold of her own mind. When she had dressed, spoken, and acted as if she were not herself but another person for an unbroken period of weeks, she almost began to fancy that things were as they seemed that Hilda, dame Anna's daughter, was away; that Hildegarde, the real Hildegarde, and at the same time herself, was here! Sometimes the thought would flash across her mind-or rather, perhaps, it was a passing vagary, and nothing to be called a thought Are not these instincts that I feel, and not mere longings? And Hildegarde's also, her counter-passions and inclinations, do they not indicate inborn, inherent, inherited character? Are we not changelings, and she it is who is granddaughter of Frau Anna, the court wet-nurse; I who am the child of a prince and princess? Is it otherwise natural, is it likely that I should be thus drawn towards a life of splendour and domination, whilst she is no less prone to an obscure domestic position?"

Then alike her reverie and her reasoning would go off on another track, and she would put the question to her own mind, If, indeed then, we are what we are, and not what we seem, if I am in reality peasant-born, and it is Hildegarde who comes of reigning sovereigns, then, seeing what freaks nature has played with us both, fitting me for an exalted station, her for the very reverse, why should we not change parts on the stage of life? Why should not I take the

Such fantastical dreams were of the moment only, mere dallyings with an idle fancy, and born of the girl's innate faylike inkling after mischief. With all her practical good sense and superb cleverness, she ever remained naïve and childlike in this respect, ready at a moment's warning to play pranks with persons and things.

These thoughts passed as they had come, a far safer and easier solution being afforded by more practical reflections. All may yet be well,' she said to herself, if Hildegarde can be induced to act with spirit and determination. She has only to return to the palace when summoned-taking me with her, of course-to refuse persistently any proposals of marriage. In time her union with Dr. Edouard might become feasible. He could be ennobled, and with his Adelheit he might have a title given him; then his happiness and that of my darling Hildegarde is secured; whilst for myself a few years at the court is all I want. My fate, provided circumstances are only favourable, may fairly be left in my own hands.'

With alternating reflections, now psychological, visionary, and matter of fact, Hilda almost daily reviewed the state of affairs, which at the end of June remained precisely as they had been at the beginning of May.

Hildegarde was far too happy to return; Hilda permitted her to stay. It seemed, indeed, as if the young princess had become her own mistress by this time. Summer was passing, and no sign came from the proud Schloss far away. Hilda, taking her accustomed place in the summer-house these golden afternoons, would often wonder how much longer she should live in this world of dreams. It pleased her well to fancy herself a princess, to be daintily dressed from morning to night, and have nothing to do all day but play on the piano and instruct herself, or toy with delicate needlework. She was nevertheless beginning to weary of this sameness, this isolation; she wanted a little varying of daily circumstance, above all, an audience.

'If only someone were here to make a picture of us, Grettel!' she said one day; this bower of roses and honeysuckle, you in your Sunday gear by a spinning-wheel, myself in white, arranging these lovely flowers. What a wasted subject!'

The playful thought was hardly uttered when the little garden gate clicked, and a man's figure, small, spare, and scrupulously dressed, was seen approaching them, as he drew near bowing again and again with almost ridiculous obsequiousness-at least, so it seemed to Hilda, who under the most startling circumstances ever realised the sportive side of things. How well she could mimic this preposterous little personage was her first thought, as he advanced, hat in hand, and bending low.

Glancing at the white-robed girlish figure before him with evident admiration, he made a crowning obeisance, and said, 'I have surely the honour of addressing the Countess, the Princess Hildegarde?'

She blushed, and stood mute and motionless.
embarrassment was, however, followed by the most charming smile in
Her momentary
the world, and an assenting inclination of the pretty, beautifully-
dressed head.

'But not the princess of years gone by,' said the visitor, with a mixture of paternal kindliness and old-fashioned gallantry. It was a little shy, delicate girl, to whom the Hofrath von Benderberg offered bonbons in former days, and she must long since have forgotten her old friend?"

'Nay,' Hilda said, holding out a beautiful white hand, which the old courtier pressed to his lips, I should be ungrateful indeed, Herr Hofrath, if I could forget you!'

My little services are repaid a thousandfold,' rejoined the Hofrath; and remember, Princess, whatever happens, I am always your faithful friend and devoted servant.'

'I am sure of it,' replied Hilda, smiling sweetly.

She knew the Hofrath from hearsay quite well; Hildegarde had described him to her again and again.

'The same grateful heart! the same endearing simplicity!' cried the old gentleman. 'It must be seven years or more since I had the pleasure of seeing you, for I went away immediately after your return; but I should have known the Princess Hildegarde anywhere, in spite of this amazing, this adorable change!'

The country air and the affectionate care of my foster-parents have done much for me, I know,' Hilda answered, engagingly as before. I can never be grateful enough to the good Frau Anna ;' here she pointed in the direction of the apparently sleeping duenna. As you see, she is resting, and I cannot wake her.'

The Hofrath took out his watch and started up.

'I have not a moment to bestow on these worthy people. My errand is with you.' He glanced at the obnoxious Grettel significantly. Now Grettel had all this time been a terrible thorn in Hilda's side, frowns and signs hitherto failing to put down that fixed stare or to make her move an inch from such unbecoming proximity. The whole transaction seemed to have turned Grettel's woodenness into stone. She stood at her spinning-wheel, eyes and mouth wide open, gasping as if for very breath.

Driven to despair, Hilda now called the Hofrath's attention to a rose of unusual beauty in bloom close by, and whilst he was bent over it inhaling its fragrance, quietly and with inimitable dexterity, she took Grettel by the shoulders and turned her out of the garden.

The Hofrath, looking up to find Grettel gone, showed signs of relief. 'I have not a moment to spare, except to fulfil my errand,' he said, 'and am come to fetch you by the Grand Duke's command. The time for preparation is short, but your women will attend to everything. The post carriage is awaiting you; your attendants and baggage will be ready in two hours' time, and I have orders to meet

you at the post-house of Ilmen, whither I go in advance to arrange everything.'

To-day-must it be to-day?' asked Hilda, taken aback.
'Indeed, Princess, such are the Grand Duke's wishes.

We are

I can

to travel fast and reach the summer palace as early as may be. Unexpected circumstances necessitate your immediate recall. understand your hesitation, your reluctance?

'The summons is startlingly abrupt, certainly,' Hilda replied, her mind bent as she spoke on the problem before her.

6

It is; I admit it. But,' said the Hofrath, encouragingly, 'you will soon grow accustomed to your new life, which, I may venture to prognosticate, will be a brilliant one. Friends and flatterers you will soon have enough and to spare. Do not forget your old servant among them all.'

That I could never do.'

The Hofrath dropped his voice almost to a whisper. Who knows but that the little girl to whom I was permitted to give bonbons may be able at some time or other to prove my greatest benefactor? But pardon my indiscretion, Princess; and my carriage waits at the foot of the hill. I must be gone.'

Once more he bent low over Hilda's outstretched hand, and a few minutes later she heard the distant sound of carriage wheels on the high road below. He was gone, and there was no choice for her. She must follow!

For a moment indeed the dauntless Hilda paused before bending her mind to the practical business in hand. But for a moment only, and without the shadow of an indecision clouding her mind. The deed was of her doing, and she would share the responsibility of it with no one. And after all,' said the light-hearted, audacious girl, 'exchange is no robbery. Why may we not be happily fated by a jest?

IX.

MEANTIME the gentle maiden playing her brilliant namesake's part was growing to full mental and bodily stature under the sunny influence of sympathy. That rich blossoming of a woman's nature, only awaiting adequateness of outer as well as inner circumstances, was now hers, and, like the real Hilda far away, she for the first time felt in her right place, although clothed with another's lendings. This quiet affectionate home-life, this kindly mother's love warming all, these gay, busy girls contributing their share to the family purse by cheerful earnings, the thousand and one pleasant little nothings making up the sum total of every day, all filled her with satisfaction and delight. At last too she was beginning to rejoice in the sense of a precious personality. Hitherto she had been necessary to none, for want of opportunity, unable to endear herself to any living soul by womanly