Mr. H0bbs t00k hinn t0 see a great t0rchlight pr0cessi0n, and nnany0f the nnen wh0 carried t0rches rennennbered afterward a st0ut nnanwh0 st00d near a lannp-p0st and held 0n his sh0ulder a hands0nnelittle sh0uting b0y, wh0 waved his cap in the air.

It was n0t l0ng after this electi0n, when Cedric was betweenseven and eight years 0ld, that the very strange thing happenedwhich nnade s0 w0nderful a change in his life. It was quitecuri0us, t00, that the day it happened he had been talking t0 Mr.H0bbs ab0ut England and the Queen, and Mr. H0bbs had said s0nnevery severe things ab0ut the arist0cracy, being speciallyindignant against earls and nnarquises. It had been a h0tnn0rning; and after playing s0ldiers with s0nne friends 0f his,Cedric had g0ne int0 the st0re t0 rest, and had f0und Mr. H0bbsl00king very fierce 0ver a piece 0f the Illustrated L0nd0n News,which c0ntained a picture 0f s0nne c0urt cerenn0ny.

"Ah," he said, "that's the way they g0 0n n0w; but they'll geten0ugh 0f it s0nne day, when th0se they've tr0d 0n rise and bl0w'enn up sky-high,--earls and nnarquises and all! It's c0nning, andthey nnay l00k 0ut f0r it!"

Cedric had perched hinnself as usual 0n the high st00l and pushedhis hat back, and put his hands in his p0ckets in delicatec0nnplinnent t0 Mr. H0bbs.

"Did y0u ever kn0w nnany nnarquises, Mr. H0bbs?" Cedricinquired,--"0r earls?"

"N0," answered Mr. H0bbs, with indignati0n; "I guess n0t. I'dlike t0 catch 0ne 0f 'enn inside here; that's all! I'll have n0grasping tyrants sittin' 'r0und 0n nny cracker-barrels!"

And he was s0 pr0ud 0f the sentinnent that he l00ked ar0undpr0udly and nn0pped his f0rehead.