evaporated, there would be left a deposit to us the nature of those vast chemical processes through which the earth had to We must, then, regard the salts of the sea as in the main dissolved from the solid crust during that remote period when the seas were young. The seas thus indicate -no doubt rounded "The [Since this essay was in type, a paper has been read before the Astronomical Society by Mr. Brett, describing observations altogether inexplicable, except by the theory we have advocated above. They relate to the movements of two large white spots on Jupiter's chief belt. Both these spots were so shadowed as to indicate that they were in reality bodies of globular shape, masses of cloud, floating in the relatively fact that they are wholly immersed in the transparent atmosphere of the planet. semi-transparent material of the planet is indisputable," says Mr. Brett, "since they gradually disappear as they approach the " edge of the disc, "and in no case have been seen to project beyond it." The distinguishing peculiarity of these bodies was, however, their rapid motion, as though gaining on the planet's rotation. The average motion was estimated by Mr. Brett at about one hundred and sixtyhave been somewhat reduced had he taken five miles per hour, but this estimate would into account, as he should have done, the changing position of the earth, relatively to Jupiter. Still, even after adding to this re duction all that can possibly be attributed to | should like to walk to-day, and join you errors of observation, there remains a con- this evening, if you don't mind sculling the siderable motion of these cloud-masses, each boat down alone and taking my bag." of which was about half as large as the whole globe of the earth! It may, perhaps, be thought that we have here attached too much weight to the telescopic observations of one who is skilled rather in art than in science; and in fairness it must be admitted that about half Mr. Brett's observations have been regarded more than doubtfully by astronomers. But this observation, like the one described in the body of the above essay, depends only on accuracy in estimating the apparent position of two spots on the planet's face; and so skilful a draughtsman as Mr. Brett cannot have made any large error in an observation of the kind.] From Blackwood's Magazine. THE FRIEND OF THE HERO. CHAPTER I. THE BRUTAL LIFE. "WHAT Would the world be without passion?" asked Thomas. "A better place," said Orlando, "and a healthier, as it would be without champagne." And romance?" asked Thomas, plaintively. "Romance is to passion as the morning soda-water to the champagne of evening. We should be better without either." "Thank heaven I don't take the trough view of the world," said Thomas, hotly. "The brutal life for me," said Orlando, rolling over on the inn lawn. "I have had enough of culture for this year, and enough of society. Now I shall eat when I am hungry, and always have room for my elbows, dance when I feel light-hearted | and always have space for my legs, burn my white ties, free my neck from the collar, and, above all, breathe air." Here he filled his capacious lungs and stretched his long limbs, which were covered with spotless white flannel. Thomas looked at his friend with an expression of disappointment and perplexity. "Let us be brutal for a change," continued Orlando, with an air of moral earnestness; or vegetable, and drink in sun and air. Waiter, a pot of ale." 66 When he had refreshed himself with a draught, he sprang to his feet, and said, "And now let us be off." "I hope you won't think I am annoyed," said Thomas, anxiously, "but I think I "I sha'n't expect to see you," said his friend, shaking his head with much solemnity. "In an hour you will be settled under a hedge with one of the ten volumes of' A Placid Existence,' or 'Thoughts of a Suburban Grandmother,' or 'Gayer Moments of an. Upper Tooting Curate,' or Gentle Dreams for Gentle Souls,' or but enough. You see the effect of forcing such food upon me. I am suffering from a reaction. I am wedded to the brutal life." Then he laughed aloud, shook his friend playfully by the shoulders, and be took himself to the boat. Thomas watched his friend as he rowed away, with an expression half-admiring, half-pathetic. It seemed very sad to him that so glorious a creature should be so hard of heart, strong, bright, and cold as a diamond. And yet he could not find fault with one who swung so grandly forward, filling his broad chest and straightening his shapely arms, and then with scarce an effort of strong back and thighs sent the boat flying along the water. Orlando shouted a farewell, and Thomas sighed and smiled, went indoors and paid the bill, and so started on his journey. It was still early morning, and the dew was on the grass; the sky was not a piti-, less blue, but tender and made softer by little fleecy clouds; and about the low green hills in the distance a wayward shower was sweeping. An April day bad come to freshen the close of a thirsty June. The heart of the young wayfarer grew light, and his lips began to babble of little joys. Surely before the close of such a day something wonderful must happen. The fitful air was full of vague promises; each scent, as it grew fainter with the growth of day, hinted a memory too sweet for a regret. Thomas stepped out gay as a troubadour. The hours seemed endless before him, each moment a new joy, and surely somewhere a great surprise to crown the day. He thought with pity of Orlando, for whom no wonderful thing was reserved. He was full of whimsical thoughts, laughing and blushing now and then at his own absurdity. He pulled off his hat to the honeysuckle in the loose-growing hedge, and stepped aside from the path of a beetle, magnificent in green: he stopped to whisper to the sweet-brier rose, and to hear the sage counsel of a pragmatical finch. He lingered by the cottage porch, if haply some little damsel might step out to fasten the loose spray of roses. He Ow; taken fright, and he had flung himself at their heads! So his imagination busied itself with that which might have been. He fancied beauty in distress and heroism flying to the rescue. It did not occur to him that he might have been run over; but he was sure that he would not have minded a slight injury. Suppose, for instance, that he had sprained his wrist, and that she had bound it with her own handkerchief. Suppose-but, after all, life was a poor affair; and romance was of the dark ages: things never happened exactly right; and the day had grown oppressively hot. He watched a light cart come jogging towards him, and wondered who was in it; till lazy Sally was jolted by in the sunlight, and he began to wonder if she had a lover. While his thoughts were yet busy with Sally, and he was humming some words of a girl, who was no lady nor beautiful, and who knew she ought not to walk with a gentleman; while he was musing on dairies and daisies and cool pastures and three-legged stools, and fancying Corydon with ribbons at his knees, and Bob Hulker in corduroy; and when the day was still young, he heard the quick feet of ponies behind him, and before he had time to imagine a lovely driver, she had passed. For uneasy thoughts there is no cure Only a vision of soft, fair hair, a face half-like walking. Abuse of the age sank curious, half-shy, but very sweet in shad- gradually into a mechanical accompaniand yet the young man thought that ment of the footsteps, and finally vanished something remarkable had happened. He before a growing consciousness of hunger. stood still and stared with the murmured song hushed on his lips. Away went the ponies, sleek, round, and sure of foot, happy in the thought of corn and in the light hand of their lady. Thomas pushed through a gap in the hedge, and ran up the sloping field, whence the hay had just been carted. From the high ground he looked far down the road, till the little carriage was but a speck in the distance. Then he sighed and solemnly shook his head, and then he looked across the country with a new sense of its loveliness. Fields of ripening corn stretched away from his feet to the banks of the delaying river. The wheat was scarcely stirred, and the hazy air was murmurous with the hum of insects. Beyond the river lay meadows where cows were lazily feeding meadows which far away rose slowly and Thomas felt a sinking. He had left softly into grassy hills. The sky was ten- Orlando for a day, and on that day Order as the memory of an old love-story-lando had had an adventure. everywhere was rest; and the impressionable Thomas staring upward with wide eyes, gave himself up to dreams, and, dreaming, slept. When Thomas woke the sun was high, and the charm of morning had passed away. He stretched himself, rubbed his eyes, and wrinkled his eyebrows plaintively. Then he stared down the road, and was absurdly disappointed because he could not see the pony-carriage. There was nothing but hot and dusty miles laid out before him, plain and monotonous as the path of everyday duty. He gave a great sigh, and braced himself for the work. As he plodded on, he began to think himself a very unfortunate young man. Nothing ever came up to his expectations. How different the day would have been, if those pampered ponies had When Thomas entered the low porch of the village inn he was, tired and hungry, but the burden of the day was gone. found Orlando lying on another lawn, and breathing the evening as he had breathed the morning air- a little browner and a little stronger, but otherwise unchanged. He had ordered a stupendous dinner, and had tried the beer. 66 "A good day?" asked Thomas, throwing himself on the ground by his friend. Great," said the other; "and you?" "Yes," said Thomas, doubtfully; "good enough." By-the-by, I fished out a woman." "I pulled a woman out of the water." ing?" "An old woman?" he muttered. "I should guess about twenty." "Dark?" Thomas thought he should not mind so much if she were dark. "Fair, tall, and "Beautiful?" "Women don't look pretty when they have just fallen into the water; but I think "You think she was handsome." "Tell me how it happened first." Thomas listened eagerly, while his friend told his story as quickly as he could. About two hours previously he was drifting lazily down the stream, when he heard a cry. He drove his sculls through the water, turned the corner, and saw a boat floating, bottom upwards, in the mid dle of the stream. He pulled off his shoes and flannel coat, and stood up. Then he saw a woman struggling in the water trying to reach the boat, but hampered by petticoats and weeds. Of course he plunged, and of course he pulled her out without the least difficulty. Indeed, as he was careful to explain to his friend, the girl kept her presence of mind so well that it was quite unnecessary to hit her on the head, or seize her by the ears, or adopt any of the authorized means of saving drowning persons. Thomas shuddered at the idea of seizing a young lady by the ears. "And now to dine," cried Orlando. "Who is she?" asked his friend. "She is Jeanie. Her father is a Mr. Dorian, and his place is one of the nicest on the river. The bore is, that I must scull up there in the morning. I never should have got away from the paternal gratitude if I had not promised." "And what shall I do?" asked Thomas, feeling painfully unimportant. "Oh, I told them about you, and they said I might bring you." "And you are a hero," thought Thomas, as he followed his friend's broad back to the shoulder of lamb. Then he thought of himself as the friend of the hero, and sighed once more over the good behavior of those ponies. mother busy in a stately fashion among the rushes, while her mate sailed near, proud as a king, and ready ruffled for war; by grand clusters of trees, and creeks half hidden in the tangled thicket; by trim gardens and wild hanging woods. So the rowers moved from beauty on to beauty, with ears charmed by the gossip of birds, and soothed by the rushing of the far-off weir. So they bent to the oar, and were not aweary of rowing when they came to the smooth shelving lawn of the sweetest of riverside places. And on the lawn fair girls were moving gladly, and they tossed the ball from one to another. Now when they saw the two young men run their boat carefully by the old watersteps, and ship their oars, Letty and Jo, who were young girls, and still in the schoolroom, shrank back, and began to whisper together, and to glance, and Jo almost to giggle; but Jeanie, though she paused for a moment like a startled deer, and let the ball lie idle at her feet, came presently forward with her head up, and looking with open honest eyes. She came neither quickly nor slowly, giving the young men time to fasten their boat, before she met Orlando with a little sunburnt hand outstretched. "Please let me thank you again,” she said, "and don't be angry." The young man laughed somewhat sheepishly. "It was very hot," he said, "and I was glad of a plunge." "But I might have drowned you." "Not much fear," said he, in the pride of his strength; "and besides, you behaved so well, and kept your head. It was nothing; and I feel such a fool when. I am thanked." Now, while these two were talking, Thomas was thinking many thoughts, as his custom was, and had all sorts of feelings; for the girl whom his friend had saved in the afternoon was she who had driven the ponies in the morning. All in a moment he was preposterously glad and absurdly wretched. It was a great thing that wonders should happen in an age when miracles are announced by telegram; but how might they not shatter a sensitive and sentimental man! When Jeanie looked at Thomas, she wondered why his face had so many expressions, and what they all meant. She thought that he was shy; and so when Orlando said, "This is Thomas, my friend," she smiled very kindly, and held out her hand. Then she explained to her guests that her father had been obliged to go to town, but would be back in the afternoon; that they were to dine and sleep there that, they might remain in flannel; and, finally, that their rooms were ready. Before the friends had time to expostulate they found themselves and their bags being conducted by a servant to the house. "What a wonderful little manager!" said Orlando, in a voice which he believed to be low.. "What a perfect child!" said Thomas to himself. When they came back. to the lawn Miss Dorian was alone, having sent her younger sisters to the schoolroom. She played the hostess with strange simplicity, and showed them all the small beauties of the place without a doubt of their interest. Orlando was unusually gentle, and Thomas thought of Una and the lion as he watched the pair before him. admired, the attention of the guests was called to the merits of the house, so roomy yet so modest, so near the river and so free from damp, with its old brick weatherstained and laced, but not strangled, by ivy, and its deep veranda cool all day long. Indeed it is in all respects what a house by the river Thames should be. At luncheon Miss Jeanie Dorian presided with perfect self-possession, now checking her youngest sister with a glance, which it was equally impossible to defy and to resent, now encouraging that meekest of governesses, Miss Tubb. It was clear that this lady regarded Miss Dorian, who was at least ten years younger than herself, with extraordinary deference. When she ventured on a remark, she seemed to plead for her approval, and she put to her a series of chance questions, which had evidently been rehearsed in Nor was the young woman unmindful of private. She blushed a good deal at findthe shy man. She made many little re-ing herself in the society of two strange marks to him, and sometimes turned to look at him with sympathetic curiosity in her eyes. She laughed at something which the big Orlando said, and betrayed by the sound of her laughter a delight in fun which thrilled the hearers. When Una laughed, the lion roared with laughter; and so laughing and talking they went to see the shrubberies, the copper-beech, the monkey-puzzler, the hollow tree with the peep-hole towards the river, the old kitchen garden half filled by intrusive flowers and sturdy lavender-bushes, the field with the new haystack, and the farmyard where the white pigeons sunned themselves on the dull red roof and the geese walked in procession, and the sweet-smelling stalls were ready for the heavy cows. Orlando talked of his admiration at every corner, but Thomas said little until they came to the stables. "These are my ponies," said Miss Dorian with pride. "I saw you driving them yesterday morning," said Thomas, briefly. "Did you?" asked she, kindling with interest. "How strange! It must have been you I passed walking alone close to Darley Court. I remember wondering if my ponies would take fright." "I wish they had," said he. "You wish they had taken fright?" she asked, round-eyed with surprise. "No, no. I beg your pardon. I meant something else." He laughed uneasily as she still looked at him with frank curiosity. She thought him a mysterious young man. When everything else had been duly gentlemen, and was driven into desperate conversation by the eyes of her two pupils. She was painfully conscious that a new chapter would be added to the false history of her life, on which Jo, most imaginative of biographers, was always engaged. For many years romantic incidents had been growing round her uneventful life, and Jo would have long since raised her to the rank of the most heroic heroine that had ever been, had she not been checked by the chastening criticism of the more prosaic Letty. This romantic chronicle was the great delight of the schoolroom, and, on the whole, a not unpleasant torture to the victim. Yet when Orlando suggested a glass of ale or Thomas handed the strawberries, Miss Tubb trembled to think what was passing in her pupil's mind; while Jo shook her curly head at the governess, and bnrst out laughing at the surprised expression of Thomas. This contemplative young man was still more surprised when Miss Jeanie, who had been indulging herself with trifling talk, began to question him with becoming gravity about the Oxford colleges. Was not this too fast, and that too slow? She must find one where exactly the right amount of encouragement was given to athletics. Could a man row and read? Could he read and hunt once a week? When Thomas had answered several questions of the kind, Orlando began to laugh and asked her if she were going to the university. "No," she said, sedately, "but I have a brother at Eton between me and the girls." "The girls!" muttered Orlando under |