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tions were so violent that far greater loss and ruin inevitably ensued. As everything in the Vortex was conducted within closed doors, and with the utmost secrecy, no one could ever tell whether what they heard was true or false. They never could satisfy themselves by going into the Vortex-that was not allowed. The 'insiders' grew very rich; and the 'outsiders,' many of them, very poor indeed!

The Vortex possessed a committee to regulate its affairs; but as it was composed of brokers and jobbers, everything they did was to their own exclusive benefit, and not at all to that of 'outsiders' in Undone city, or of the Old Countree round; except in particular cases-when they had friends!

There were rules and regulations to guide the conduct of members of the Vortex. Many of them were very simple, and if not stringent enough to satisfy the requirements of a rigorous martinet, were yet capable, if faithfully and properly adminis tered, of affording redress in certain cases to injured and despoiled 'outsiders,' and of satisfying the ends of justice.

Owing, however, to the system of secrecy which prevailed it was next to impossible for an aggrieved and pertinacious 'outsider' to prove their infraction. If by superhuman effort he succeeded in doing so, the committee refused to be bound by its own rules, owing to the conviction that any day it might be their turn to be summoned for infringement. It is true if a member did anything very flagrant they would expel him, especially if he ran away from being examined when summoned to appear, or if he did anything by which the committee themselves would suffer loss or detriment. Then the committee would be very quick to act. Sometimes brokers passed 'transactions' through their books by means of which 'large illegitimate profits' were made out of an 'outsider,' and he was ruined in consequence. But nobody ever got to hear a word about it in the great city of Undone, or in the Old Countree round, as was always the case when a fraudulent transaction took place upon the cotton or other marts. all the newspapers in the city and the countree round would have given an accurate and what was called a 'sensational' account of it, by means of which the offenders would have been held up to ridicule and contempt, the evil-doers being sent to prison.

Thus the wrong-doers on the Vortex were privileged.

Then

Again, if a poor, despoiled, but infuriated and indignantly desperate outsider' attempted to prosecute those evil-doers which the committee had justly condemned and 'posted' within the walls of the 'House' as being robbers, and connivers at spoliation, that

committee, which was supposed to exist for the purpose, among other things, of administering justice, stepped in and interfered, thus affording their powerful protection and shielding the dearlyloved, much-cherished Spoilers because they were members of the Undone Vortex, and they never knew when it might be their own turn! One was,

'Outsiders' used to ask themselves questions. Would committee-men on the Undone Vortex try to aid a pickpocket to escape? No! Then are villains in gentlemanly caskets different in essence and in character in the eyes of the Undone Vortex Committee from robbers of the pavement, and must these be allowed to walk at large, erect, untouched?

CHAPTER XI.

'Take her up tenderly,

Lift her with care;
Fashioned so slenderly,

Young, and so fair.'-HOOD.

LITTLE Haini had never met such a gaze as Ralph Osborne's in her life. And when he was gone she felt more miserable and lonely than ever she had done before.

'Walter, do you know Colonel Trevosa?' asked Ralph, when they were leisurely descending a mountain en route for Middletown, enjoying the magnificent prospect and a smoke at the same time.

'I have met him, but why?' asked Walter.

'Because he is Haini's father, and I wouldn't be in his shoes. Why, that girl has a soul! See how she stepped the ground along! said the impetuous Ralph.

'Not bad action,' was the cool rejoinder.

You were born for reforming a man of You'll have enough

'Bad! why, I could trace blood in all she did and said.' 'Don't go into heroics over her, Ralph. the Church! Are you going to set about the world because he is a man of the world? on hand presently.'

But Ralph did go into heroics over the little daughter of the Old Countree officer, who lived with her mother at the native village they had just left.

Think of little Haini,' said he; her soul is as yet unsoiled, but I tremble when I think of her warm, passionate nature-so tender, so fragile a thing is woman !'

YE VAMPYRES! A LEGEND.

25

'She has her mother, you know,' said Walter unconcernedly. 'And a father, too; and her father I will see.'

'Ha! you would never have done for the army. The world is round, Ralph; no preaching will ever make it square; I rather like its roundness myself. Act on the square is well enough in theory. Put it into practice, and where would you be?'

Ah, but with a gentle girl! With a man it is different,' said Ralph excitedly.

Well, well, 'tis bad, I admit,' replied Walter.

'I'm mad on the army, Walter, but yet I denounce those defenders of liberty when I find them guilty of having tarnished that honour which has ever attached to a soldier's name! Bravery in the field is certainly not rendered more desperate by being allied with such a consciousness!'

The lads soon arrived at the Black Horse Hotel in Middletown. Getting an introduction to the Colonel at a ball given by the Governor whom the Queen of the Old Countree had despatched to keep the natives of Fernland in order, Ralph waited his opportunity. One after another the guests were departing. Ralph helped the Colonel with his cloak. The boy admired his soldierly bearing. Trevosa liked the youth. They had exchanged cards. 'Do you walk my way, Osborne-Kiaro? a walk so refreshes you after a hop.'

They stept briskly along the broad quay in silence. The sun had just caught Himataka's silvern top; soon it was half way down the grand old mountain.

'Gorgeous in sunshine, frowning at night,
E'en after gloaming radiant with light,'

muttered the boy abstractedly. Ralph was unusually quiet.

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The Colonel turned and said, Where did you find those lines, Osborne ?

'I fear they escaped me,' said Ralph, quietly smiling at his companion.

'Oh! pray go on,' urged Trevosa.

" True beacon to mariners caught in the storm,

And the traveller's landmark far, far from his home,'

said Ralph, eyeing the distant peak with youthful admiration. 'Oh, but give me your refrain, my boy.'

Ralph looked at the soldier for a moment; then gazing towards the mountain, extended his arm :

'Wooniwha haunts thee, they tell; still give me

Old Fernland's gaunt Alp gleaming bright o'er the sea !'

Why, Osborne, you're quite a poet-you are indeed! you ever write?'

Do

Ralph gazed once more upon the superb-looking soldier in admiring silence; the Colonel yearned towards the boy as to a son. Trevosa had a formidable look. His eye had a penetrating, ominous twinkle; the very man, thought Ralph, of all others to have a row with. It would be soon over, or the beginning of a fiercer quarrel.

'I have no heart to write,' said he, in reply to the question put by the Colonel. Did I try to breathe my soul upon the page the words would refuse to come. Could some phantom spirit extract their little worth, give forth their tender glow, and stamp it on the page! But ah! the morning of my waking thought arrives-it all looks cold and meagre. I do despise it so-my thoughts, I mean.'

He paused. Not one faint zephyr breathed to agitate the deep blue waters of the noble harbour as they laved the foot of the majestic snow-clad mountain. The eastern sky was now aflame. Slanting rays shot right across their path. The air was brisk and clear. The soul-inspiring waltz had lent its aid to rouse the boy to feelings of passionate ardour, and encircle him with a halo of fervid romance. Presently the soldier said abstractedly, "Thoughts? I hate to think.'

'Hate to-'

'Yes, yes, don't say another word; let's go, my boy.'

'Screw your courage to the sticking-place,

And we'll not fail,'

thought Ralph. With flashing eyes, with kindling face and passionate eagerness, he then told the soldier how that he had met with his pretty little fairy child Haini, that she languished for want of care and thoughtful tenderness; and while he begged him to take her from that wretched native village, Trevosa looking defiance and smelling of powder in a moment, Ralph stood his ground manfully, and battled inch by inch for little Haini.

She has a soul in her worthy of you, Trevosa: nay, Colonel, you must hear me; she steps the ground along as proudly as do you, Trevosa. She's your own flesh and blood.'

Both were silent. The soldier no longer eyed the boy, but Ralph looked at him with ever-changeful thoughts. His outburst had been vehement. Each word was a barbed arrow. Trevosa was shortly going to be married to a lady from the Old Countree. The situation bristled with difficulties, but his was a heart loyal, warm, and leal, worthy of the Old Countree from

which it had sprung.

He had watched the tear glisten in the boy's eye, and inwardly admired his manly courage. And now their eyes have met. Ralph warmly clasps in both of his the soldier's proffered hand. He watches a tear roll down his manly cheek; Trevosa hears a tremor in Ralph's voice as each the other bids farewell, and from that hour changes poor, gentle, little Haini's fate. And Colonel Trevosa and Ralph Osborne are warm friends.

CHAPTER XII.

'Get money; still get money, boy,

No matter by what means.'-BEN JONSON.

LITTLE thinking of what the consequences might be, the mother of the two boys gladly availed herself of the opportunity afforded by the departure for the Old Countree of Mr. Linksigh Dooum, one of those clever land sharks which were always to be met with in the days I'm speaking of, and entrusted her son Walter to his keeping until his choice in life should be made. She was anxiousto separate her boys on account of thə difference in their dispositions; and warning Walter that he was fast getting to resemble an old Sir Walter Maxwell, his father's ancestor, whose cupidity was unbridled, and who was a scamp in every sense, she bade him farewell.

6

As soon as Walter landed in the Old Countree, he made for Undone City, and was speedily drawn to the Vortex. Linksigh introduced him to the great banking firm of Grab Brothers, in Money Street, who finding him very 'cute indeed soon got him on to the Undone Vortex. Cervill Todi Grab, or Todigrab as he was commonly called, was Walter's especial patron. Walter soon found himself au fait at all business' matters, and, becoming a Vortex broker, seconded Todigrab in his schemes. He helped him to 'float' the Metal Mountains Debenture Swindle, the Empirical Land Company of Southville ditto, the Wee Countree Public Robbery Company ditto, and many others. But this was too slow for Walter; he began to launch out on his own account. He was now not very long in losing a good round sum of hard cash, and was severely bitten ;' but being sharp he soon mastered the art of biting others in turn-' Bitten by a Vampyre makes a Vampyre.'

By chance one day Walter met Raskall Clencher, who was quite up to Vortex business.' Having since the time he was

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