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step. But he was to meet them that even. ing at one of the parties to which he had schemed to be invited on her account. And with every vein thrilling with his morning's happy work, and the anticipation of seeing her who was now his, in the evening, how could any young lover be expected to turn from his happiness to the thought of anything less blessed? The day passed like a dream; everything in it tended towards the moment in which he should see her again. It would be like a new world to see her again. When they met in the morning she was almost terrible to him, a (queen who could send him into everlasting banishment. When he met her now he would see in her his wife, wonderful thought, his own! The place of meeting was in one of the crowds of London society, where all the world is

but Wilton saw nothing except those soft eyes which were looking for him. How their hands met, in what seemed only the ordinary greeting to other people, clasping each other as if they never could part again! They did not say much, and she did not even venture, except by a momentary glance now and then, to meet his eye. There was scarcely even opportunity for a whisper on his part to ask what he was to do, for as he stooped for this purpose to Lady Jane's ear, the duchess, who was looking very serious, but who had not refused to shake hands with him, laid a finger upon his arm.

such serious conversation could be car-
ried on.
Sometimes the frivolity of the
surrounding circumstances kept him si-
lent; for who would, if he could help it,
associate that wonderful moment of his
existence with nothing better than the
chatter of the ball-room? And once
when every circumstance favored him,
his heart failed and he did not dare to put
his fortune to the touch. How could he
think of the father, while in all the agita-
tion of uncertainty as to how his suit
would be looked upon by the daughter?
During this moment of hesitation the
duchess herself once asked him to din-
ner, and when he found himself set down
in the centre of the table, far from the
magnates who glittered at either end, and
far from Lady Jane who was the star of
the whole entertainment, Winton felt his
humility and insignificance as he had
never felt them before, and was conscious
of such a chill of doubt and alarm as
made his heart sink within him. But the
duchess was markedly kind, and a glance
from Lady Jane's soft eyes, suffused with
a sort of liquid light, sent him up again
into a heaven of hope. Next morning
they met by chance in the park, very
early, before the world of fashion was out
of doors. She was taking a walk attended
by her maid, and explained, with a great
deal of unnecessary embarrassment, that
she missed her country exercise and had
longed for a little fresh air. The conse-
quence was that the maid was sent away
to do some small commissions, and with
a good deal of alarm, but some guilty
happiness, Lady Jane found herself alone
with her lover. It did not require a very
long time or many words to make matters
clear between them. Did she not know
already all that he had wanted so long to
say? One word made them both aware
of what they had been communicating to
each other for months past. But though
this explanation was so soon arrived at,
the details took a long time to disentangle
- and there was a terrible amount of rep:
etition and comparison of feelings and
circumstances. It was nearly the hour
for luncheon when he accompanied her
home, with a heart so full of exultation
and delight and pride, that it had still no
room for any thought of the duke or fear
of what he might say. Even after he had
parted from his love, Winton could not As in the days of our first mother Eve,
withdraw his mind from its much more woman is still curious; and the things
agreeable occupation to think of the duke. that a lady would like to know seem to be
Jane had begged that she might tell her increasing in number and complexity.
mother first, and that he should wait to Ladies already know very well what “dif-
hear from them before taking any further | ferences mean, not only in the family

"Mr. Winton," she said, "I should like to see you to-morrow about twelve. I have something to say to you." She had looked very grave, but at the end brightened into a smile, yet shook her head. "I don't know what to say to you," she added hurriedly; "there will be dreadful difficulties in the way."

To-morrow at twelve! he seemed to tread upon difficulties and crush them under his feet as he went home that evening; but with the morning a little thrill of apprehension came.

From The Saturday Review.

THINGS THAT A LADY WOULD LIKE TO

KNOW.

46

circle, but on the Stock Exchange. They | ziah." And then we are invited to disare familiar with tangents and contango, cuss the peccadilloes of this lamented and some of them have pushed their re- monarch. De mortuis nil nisi bonum is searches so far as to understand the na- clearly not the motto of the Cambridge ture of the odds -a matter long held by Examiner. The Oxford Examiner is some philosophers to lie beyond the fron- also interested, but in a more chivalrous tiers of the female intelligence. Exam spirit, in the "last illness and death of inations and emancipation have much to Ahaziah." Nothing is asked about his answer for, and most men feel a becom- sins, which probably were not unlike those ing diffidence on entering into conversa- of most monarchs. It is difficult, as Martion with a lady who may be a "higher cus Aurelius says, to lead the truly virtulocal or a "senior" student, and who is ous life in a palace. The Oxford Examcertain to be acquainted with many things iner rather unreasonably asks young lawhich are to them unknown. The vast dies to correct either the grammatical or ness and depth of feminine science have historical defects in the statement, "And been almost painfully brought to our no- when they arose early in the morning, betice by two stray copies of the Oxford hold they were all dead corpses." C'est Examiner and the Cambridge Examiner. là le miracle, as Joab says in a play of These periodicals consist entirely of ques- Voltaire's, and we do not approve of a tions set by Miss Swindells, Miss Zim- spirit of inquiry which suggests sceptimern, and other ladies for the considera- cism to ladies. The Cambridge Examtion of the educated fair. The riddles iner is much more orthodox, unless inwhich the queen of Sheba set King Solo- deed there is a satisfactory reply to the mon were mere trivial exercises of fancy difficulty about the dead corpses rising compared with the puzzling inquiries of early in the morning. But why suggest the Oxford and the Cambridge Examin- difficulties? ers. Solomon, in the old days, did not The Cambridge Examiner expects a 'give it up," but offered correct replies lady to know, or to find out, why Poynto the Sheba examiner, one of the most ing's law was passed in Ireland. This advanced women of her time. But a re- is a hard question. It is much more easy spectably educated man cannot face Miss to "indicate," at least in the manner of Swindells as Solomon faced the queen of Herodotus, "a contrast between Europe Sheba. We do not suppose that most and Africa in as many respects as possimembers of the Royal Society, still less ble." Herodotus indicates a great many of Parliament, could "pass the exam- respects in some chapters of his book on inations set for inquiring ladies. To be- Egypt, and more may be found. The gin at the beginning, with "Religious Africans are black. The Europeans are Knowledge." Here is a piece of reli- white. Africans worship Mumbo Jumbo; gious knowledge which, we trust, is not we do not. Youngest sons, in Zululand, absolutely essential to people who wish are heirs, and extremely eligible. In Euto live good lives. "How was Joram re- rope the reverse is the case. African lated to Ahaziah?" We give it up. The kings succeed on the 'mother's side; the undergraduate warily declined to answer European custom is quite contrary. Zulu a question about Saul, though he was well girls choose their husbands. In Europe acquainted with the truth, because "it it is notorious that the men choose their was a way examiners had of getting into wives. In Africa missionaries sell rum 'Kings.' So he refused to advance in and gunpowder. In Europe they object that direction. Queries about the rela- to the use of both commodities. Africa tion of Joram to Ahaziah, questions go- produces diamonds; Europe wears them. ing deep "into Kings," are mere "dwell As far as this question goes, we feel pretty ers on the threshold," as Lord Lytton certain that we could cope with the Camwould have said to the Cambridge Exam- bridge Examiner. It is a different thing iner. It is comparatively easy to say when we are asked (if "senior") to "give where Jericho was, and "with what events a short account of the coming of the Enconnected," though the events are cer-glish, and describe any institutions which tainly rather numerous, from the days of Rahab to those of a travelling man and thieves sprang up and choked him." But the Cambridge Examiner chiefly hankers after the fullest light on the career of Ahaziah. "Relate the circumstances connected with the death of Aha

they brought with them." Perhaps they brought "Borough English," but we understand that Mr. Elton holds a different opinion. Mr. Grant Allen says they brought tattooing; but we doubt whether Mr. Green agrees with him. A lady might possibly confound tattooing with

"the Mark," but this would, almost cer- | Greek, and Latin and English literature,
tainly, be a blunder, though a natural and we are led to suppose that ladies who
perhaps excusable one. The Shakspear- attempt examinations know more of their
ian questions we leave to the Shakespeare own language in its earlier stages than of
Society; only observing, with regret, that dead tongues, and this is as it should be.
no paper is set in Mr. Browning's works. Algebra and Euclid are much the same
Yet it is admitted by the Browning Soci- everywhere; but the questions in science
ety that few students could "floor a pa- enable man to guage his own ignorance,
per" out of " Fifine at the Fair," which ap- and to appreciate the learning of modern
pears to be the poet's masterpiece, and women. "State, with reference to ex-
even more excellent, for purposes of ex- amples, the simplest modes in which cell-
aminations, than "Sordello." In a spirit union occurs, explaining in what way the
of somewhat personal inquiry, the Oxford union is effected." "That is the sort of
Examiner says "Define bore," and asks question which ploughs a fellow," to quote
"What kind of county is Hampshire?" a commonplace of the schools. Here,
"What kind of county?" is a vague ques- again, is a question which might be treated
tion. The society is most respectable, in very various ways. "Describe the
and the names of Longman and Ridley most simple animal which you know to
are known wherever county cricket is exist. How could you prove that it is
played. "How would you describe Dor-not a plant?" The wisdom of our ances-
set?" perseveres the Oxford Examiner, tors regards the donkey, the goose, and
and asks asks senior pupils "In what the" silly sheep” as the simplest animals
way is Cornwall interesting?" It de known to exist; but many ladies have
pends a good deal, of course, on what been heard to declare, as the result of
the Oxford Examiner considers interest- their own personal experience, that man
ing. The scenery is reckoned fine and really holds this interesting position. As
Mr. Tennyson has mentioned Tintagel. to knowing when a thing is or is not a
The Oxford Examiner also wants to know plant," that depends on native acuteness,
whence we get alpaca, vanilla, petroleum, combined with acquaintance with worldly
porcelain, tobacco, and train oil. Still stratagems. In the field of science Pro-
cleaving to what is personal, the Oxford fessor Huxley used, we believe, to regard
Examiner asks, “How do you interpret Bathybius as the simplest animal. But
the paper on female vanity?" Probably the Rev. Joseph Cooke, of Boston, ex-
not many general readers could answer plained that Bathybius was derived from
this question: "Yes,' said he, 'my dear,
and the next post brought us an account
of the battle of Almanza.' Where does
this passage occur, and to what does it
allude?" Here is a very mysterious
question from the Cambridge Examiner,
a question which, we sincerely believe,
would puzzle the wisest of mortals, and
yet it is addressed to junior students.
"What was the French Directory? When
did it come into power? Give a short
account of Mme. de Staël, and mention
any other of her writings." Any other of
her writings! Can it be possible that the
author of the question regards "the
French Directory" as a kind of parallel
to the "London Directory
"" a book full
of names and addresses compiled by the
industry of Mme. de Staël? Only thus
can sense be made of the query, and even
this is perplexed by the question "When
did it come into power?" We shall never
know how many young ladies will be de-
luded by the Cambridge Examiner into
the belief that the author of "Corinne"
was the Bottin of her period.

By the papers set in Anglo-Saxon,

two Greek words - Bathus, deep, and
bios, the sea. He went on to demonstrate
that Bathybius himself was "a plant," in
the colloquial or slang sense of the word,
which so curiously employs "plant" and
"kid" as synonymous terms. It is hard
to account for the vagaries of slang and
of scientific terminology; but, if these re-
marks throw any light on the nature of
the simplest known animal, we have not
written in vain. It is much more difficult,
if not impossible, to say what is under-
stood by "undifferentiated protoplasm
It sounds rather like the prima materies
of the alchemists. Students of alchemy
(like "plain astrology of three dimen-
sions" this branch of learning is neg.
lected by the Cambridge Examiner) will
remember that the old alchemical books
start from prima materies. He who would
procure the philosopher's stone is usually
told first to get some prima materies, and
put that in his crucible before going any
further. But the old books never told us
where prima materies might be obtained.
"Undifferentiated protoplasm" ought to
be almost as rare an article; but these

1

friends well, could ever have been brought to take so dark a view of the relation in question would puzzle us indeed, did we not feel sure that he wrote thus when smarting under the pain of having received short weight in friendship, where he had looked for full measure. Doubtless, he, like other people, had friends, whom to know was a liberal education; who had grown to be part of his very life, and whose loss would have sensibly contracted the circle of his world. Such friends are not granted to any one in large numbers, nor are large numbers needed, for the very essence of a friend's value is that he should be all-sufficient to us. It is not of friends of this kind that Balzac wrote, or we propose to speak, but rather of such as troubled King David, when he said, "My lovers and friends stood afar off." Putting aside, therefore, the few friends and relations the foundations of whose love are set upon the solid rock, is it not a fact that all the rest are apt to vex us - vex us beyond endurance, sometimes

This seems simpler and more practical, "How do we know that chalk was formed at the bottom of the sea?" But do we know it? The Oxford Examiner has a question we trust there is no impropriety in mentioning it which is to be attempted by women only. "Write the life-history of an Equisetum." Have all Equiseta the same life-history? Are none ever blighted things, with a history, which, as M. Daudet says of so many of his fellow-creatures, can only be written by the novelist? Here is a far more practical inquiry. "What would be the effects of feeding a dog (a) entirely on meat; (b) entirely on fatty and starchy food; (c) on a mixture of proteid, fat, and starch? - not, indeed, by standing on the oppoWe know, only too well, the effects of site side, so as to get themselves written feeding a dog too much on meat. But off our list of friends straight away, but by how few of us have tried him with proteid, standing a little farther off than we like on fat, and starch! Probably he would de- critical occasions, or by drifting insensicline to look at the proteid and the starch bly, but too easily, away from us. There and reserve himself for the fat. But are nations, we believe, among whom these inquiries cannot puzzle ladies who such slackness in friendship is unknown. know all about "hæmaglobin," "oxyhæ- Nothing of the kind can be charged, so maglobin," "reduced hæmaglobin," and far as our experience goes, against Scotch"carbonic oxide hæmaglobin." We end men or Corsicans, and, we think we may with another practical inquiry, "What add, Jews and Germans. Their detractare the different kinds of punishment ors are wont to accuse them rather of which generally fail to influence the minds putting friendship before justice. Now, of pupils?" No one can really answer an Englishman is rarely blinded by friendthis who has not tried inflicting a good ship, in fact, he is apt to be provokingly many kinds of punishment. Remember-clear-sighted and impartial when we, pering this, and reflecting on the vastness of modern maidens' lore, we are no longer surprised at the awe and dread with which young men so often regard ladies of learning.

From The Spectator.

FRIENDS AND FRIENDS.

How is it that friendship, which ought to be an infallible consolation in the great calamities of life, only aggravates them? It is Balzac who puts this question, in a letter to Madame de Hanska; and how he, who, from his profound knowledge of human nature, may be presumed to have had exceptional power of choosing his

haps, think that a little headlong enthusi
asm would make our fortune. Rightly or
wrongly, he feels an invincible modesty
when it comes to asking a favor for us
he is sure to think that every one obtains
his deserts in time-he spares our dig-
nity, trusts to the good sense and impar
tiality of the electors, and behold, an
alien usurps the coveted place. No such
considerations clog the zeal of an immi-
grant from north Britain. He spots va
cant posts long before any one else, and
finds brothers, and brothers-in-law, and
nephews, and cousins to fill them, even to
the third and fourth generation, only de-
sisting from his labor of love when life
itself fails him. In this respect, the ca-
reer of every Scotchman is, in a small way,
a reproduction of that of him whom our

And now, my dear companions,
I'll bid you all farewell;
For I am bound to Heaven,
And you are bound

forefathers were wont to call" the Corsi- | street to speak to us. What brought this
can ogre and tyrant." The world is com- about? Sometimes, religion. The gay.
ing to see pretty plainly the utter selfish- est and most thoughtless of our "set
ness and innate vulgarity of the great suddenly became "serious," so serious
Napoleon. His gifts of kingdoms and that he could not believe that we had any
principalities were honorable neither to religion at all, unless we spoke of it in
the giver nor receiver; they brought no precisely the same jargon that he did.
luck with them, yet, speaking as lowly We seemed to think his way of speaking
ones of the earth, we cannot but feel that irreverent and presumptuous; he bade us
there is something very taking in his ideas adieu for life! There was something in
of what he would do for his kinsfolk. He his manner of doing it which reminded us
writes thus to Count Miot de Melito, of a hymn, a painfully jubilant one, which
it is a passage of real history, not a frag- we remember to have heard in childhood.
ment from "Alice in Wonderland: ""
Involuntarily, we found ourselves repeat-
"You understand me, I can no longer ing, -
have any of my relations living in obscu-
rity; those who do not rise with me shall
no longer belong to my family; I am cre-
ating a family of kings, or rather vice-
roys." Now, which of our English
brothers or brothers-in-law who had made
his fortune, and taken a noble mansion in
Park Lane or Grosvenor Square, would
think it absolutely incumbent on him to
do something for us which would at once
enable us to establish ourselves in Berke-
ley Square or Brooke Street, in a house
only two or three degrees inferior to his
own? Would he not think it much more
for our temporal and spiritual advantage
to be left in comparative obscurity, in-
stead of being dragged up into the full
glitter of the sun; and this, perhaps, even
when some timely advice or act of our
own was the means of his elevation? Do
such friends and kinsmen as these make
us happier? Do they not rather compel
us to think of the words of George, in
"King Henry VI.:"-

But when we saw our sunshine made thy
spring,

And that thy summer brought us no increase,
We set the axe to thy usurping root.

We forbear to state the exact amount of
divergence specified, but it is a fact that
we saw our friend no more. Another
gave you up because your fortune did not
keep pace with his own.
He moved away
from the postal division N. or N.W., in
which you still reside, to enjoy the splen-
dors of S.W. At first, he invited you to
bis house, not, of course, with his most
distinguished new friends, but with people
in whose society he thought you "might
perhaps feel more comfortable." You
were no longer his own familiar friend, but
had sunk down into the category of per-
sons to whom he wished to be kind. You
attached no value to the sort of friend-
ship he now gave you, and the thing came.
to an end. You lost another friend be-
cause you found that he always knew you
when you were walking with an eminent
person, and never by any chance did so
when he was. A still more potent sol-
vent of friendship was this. You were
full member of some highly desirable so-
ciety, and it was surprising what a num-
ber of dear friends you had among the

calling on you and showing their interest
in you.. Naturally, therefore, whenever
there was an election for members, you
voted for one of the associates of whom
you saw so much, and did your best to
secure his election. Strange to say, how-
ever, his election had some mysterious
influence on the duration of his love for
you, - he paid you very few visits after

We lop off that branch of the family tree,
and try to forget that it ever existed. It
is, however, this severance of strongly-associates. They were indefatigable in
knit ties, this losing of old friends by
divergence of paths, which is one of the
greatest griefs the heart can know. It is
even keener than when death has been
the agent of separation, for we can go on
loving and respecting those who have
been taken from us; whereas the shame
and vexation of a misplaced choice, and
the scars left by a broken friendship, are
things which sting us to our dying day.
And there are so many such stings to en-
dure! We began life with so many loving
companions, and now the greater part of
them would hardly care to cross a muddy

it.

Some friends are lost by your too great magnanimity in sharing them with your own family. Your sister, or cousin, deprives you of your friend. Either you