and the princess to work her ruin. Count to us as a solution, complete in essentials, ess Platen began by seeking to undermine of this much-vexed historical problem. her reputation; and the electress Sophia We are certainly not disposed to reject it calmly allowed her son's wife to proceed in all its parts. As to the Countess Plaon the path of peril. Her husband's ten and the two mistresses of George harshness did the rest. When during his Lewis, their reputation must in this, as in absence in June, 1694, she took upon her- sundry other matters, be left to take care self to pay a visit to her father, who was of itself. The correspondence of the then hunting at Bruchhausen, he, being re- Duchess of Orleans certainly shows that solved not to quarrel with his brother, and the rumor of Countess Platen being deeply to save the honor of the family, ordered concerned in the affair arose almost imher to return. After this, her position mediately. Some believed that she had at Hanover became unbearable, and she reasons personal to herself for jealousy determined to put an end to it by an act against Königsmark, others (including the of rebellion. Tradition says (and Köcher | electress Sophia) that she had intended rightly thinks that the confessions of the to marry her daughter to him. The electconfidante point in the same direction) that or Ernest Augustus, on the other hand, she resolved to fly; and adds that she declared all the rumors against her to be intended, with the aid of Königsmark, to the inventions of Aurora von Königsmark. seek the protection of Duke Antony Ulric The moral responsibility of George Lewis, of Wolfenbüttel. But it signifies little again, for his wife's misfortunes is a matwhither she meant to escape. It became ter which different judges will be inclined known that Königsmark was to meet her, to regard in different ways. That he had or was actually meeting her, in her apart- little or no love for his wife from the first ments on the evening of July 1st, 1694, - just as he had little or no love for his probably with a view to concert arrange- son is extremely probable; although it ments for her flight. The moment had would by no means have been in accordcome. What happened to Königsmark, ance with custom for her to quarrel with whether an order for his seizure was him because he had mistresses. But given, and, if so, whether it was given by whatever may have been the treatment the Countess Platen, remains unknown. experienced by Sophia Dorothea at the After his disappearance it was determined hands of her husband (as to which it to make the most of the case against the would be monstrous to take for granted princess. But though all the papers of the brutalities detailed in the "Histoire both parties were in the hands of her ac- Secrette "), we see no proof that it was cusers, and though she and her confidante owing to the influence of his mother. were at their mercy, it was impossible to What, to begin with, is there to show that obtain either a confession or proof of George Lewis was ever amenable to that guilt. Under these circumstances, but influence? Even in later years, when one course was left open. As to Königs- their interests were so intimately bound up mark, the Hanoverian court persisted in together in the matter of the English suc professing complete ignorance of his fate. cession, he went his own way, and showed The princess was divorced from her hus- little regard for her wishes or feelings. band on the ground, not of infidelity, but "That the elector is a dry and disagreeof malitiosa desertio, and was detained a able gentleman," writes the Duchess of prisoner for life at Ahlden, near Celle. Orleans in 1702, "I had opportunity Her father obtained some mitigation in enough to discover when he was here the conditions of her imprisonment; but... but where he is entirely in the wrong, his age, his weakness of character, his is the way in which he lives with his mothaffection for his brother-perhaps his er, to whom he is in duty bound to show readiness to take the advice of his powerful minister, Bernstorff, and his fear of his sister-in-law, the electress Sophia. prevented him from doing more for her during his brother's lifetime. After the death of Ernest Augustus, George William was utterly powerless against the implacable hatred still cherished against his unfortunate daughter by the electress Sophia and her son, Sophia Dorothea's divorced husband.

Such is the theory which is now offered

nothing but respect." And in the period of which we are speaking, there was certainly no special reason for the electoral prince to show deference to his mother, who had been opposed to his interests in the matter of the primogeniture. We should therefore be slow to accept the theory of a conspiracy, even a tacit conspiracy, against the unfortunate Sophia Dorothea on the part of a clique of mistresses, her husband, and her mother-inlaw.

As to the electress Sophia herself, we may readily grant that she had no love to spare for the daughter of the Frenchwoman whom in her pride of blood she despised, and of the prince who had so vexed her soul by his fickleness. But, in the first place, neither Schaumann nor Köcher has given us any passages showing that her aversion to Sophia Dorothea came near to the deadly hatred which gloats over the ruin of its victim; and we have found nothing of the kind in what is published from her own hand. It would be absurd, considering the trouble which the countess Aurora von Königsmark gave to the electoral house of Hanover, to make much of the electress Sophia's longenduring dislike of her, and of her protector Augustus the Strong; and still more so to dwell on the unflattering opinion which the electress expresses of her own grandson, Sophia Dorothea's son, afterwards King George II. For few readers of her memoirs and correspondence can have failed to arrive at the conclusion, that in most cases (to use a homely proverb) her bark was worse than her bite, and that there was, on the whole, little venom in her abundant satire. Her disposition was thoroughly frank, and her nature thoroughly sound. She was not a Livia to drive her husband to take the life of his daughter's paramour and banish the erring one to Pandataria.* Moreover, a hatred of the broils and troubles, which take away from life such ease as it affords, was one of her most marked characteristics; and it would require very full and positive evidence to make us believe that she was untrue to herself in this instance. We may perhaps add, that her letters to Leibnitz during the critical period of Sophia Dorothea's fortunes, though few in number, have her usual free and serene

tone.

have taken no note of it.* As late as 1702, Sophia's faithful echo, the Duchess of Orleans, applands some cold answer which her aunt had given to an appeal from the prisoner, and takes the opportunity of asserting, in her own indescribable fashion, her belief in the truth of the axiom that there is no smoke without fire. Other thoughts and other cares now occupied the electress Sophia; and in her old age a royal future seemed to await her, which was sternly shut out from the daughter of Eleonora d'Olbreuse.

morial or relic of any kind of the unfortunate Sophia It may interest our readers to know, that no meDorothea is preserved at Ahlden. So few travellers visit this remote village-which is only to be reached by a long drive across a desolate stretch of woodland, moor, and heath-that the negative may be worth establishing on behalf of the adventurous. As if to show the consistency of the Hanoverian government in effacing every vestige of the episode, the outward aspect of the castle has been changed by the drying up of the moats which formerly surrounded the building. Within, no trace remains of the past except a fragment of ornament in a room which once formed part of the chapel. The portrait of the prisoner which Wraxall saw in the "eating-room" is now at Herrenhausen, together with two others, one of which he thought resembled Sterne's "Eliza." In the village church at Ahlden (which the "princess" was never allowed to attend) an inscription on the organ describes it as her gift; and the candelabra on the altar are said to have been likewise presented by her. It is touching to find that she is not wholly forgotten in the spot where, as there is other evidence to show, adversity enabled her to do some good.

From Blackwood's Magazine. FORTUNE'S WHEEL.

CHAPTER XIV.

MR. AND MISS MORAY "COME OUT."

NINE months are supposed to have elapsed, as they say in the play-bills. It is early spring in London, and drawing on towards the beginning of the season. The Morays are very comfortably established The melancholy doom of Sophia Doro. in a moderate-sized mansion in Eaton thea more than revenged whatever wound Place. Glenconan had thought of renther mother's successful ambition and hering a house, but subsequently he had own involuntary elevation had inflicted changed his views. He had listened to upon the electress Sophia's pride. To the words of worldly wisdom as they fell her, at least, the "Princess of Ahlden " from the lips of Lady Fortrose, a farwas, during the long years through which away Highland cousin, and a very grande her life and imprisonment lasted, as if she dame. The Morays having gone to Forthad never been. If any echo reached her rose Castle on a visit of a few days the of the intelligent beneficence by which year before, had passed nearly a month the poor lady sought to lighten the lives under that hospitable roof. Her ladyship of her humble neighbors, she appears to had taken a fancy to Grace; his lordship and Moray had much in common. Lady Fortrose having married a pair of pretty daughters, had her time much at her own disposal, and welcomed a new interest. She admired Grace as much as she liked

* An old tradition asserted that Livia helped to bring about the catastrophe of Julius Antonius and Julia, whose marriage with Tiberius she had formerly contrived. (See Schiller, Römische Kaisergeschichte, i. 187, 188.)

or

her, and felt she would be a very desirable | way. If it were only for my sake, you protégée. And if it pleased her to take a must not hesitate. You must write young lady by the hand, it was everything better, telegraph at once." to the girl from a social point of view. Moray did not telegraph, but he bought She had more than the entrée to the best the house; and hitherto he had no cause society; admission to her house was cov- to regret the purchase. Lady Fortrose eted by everybody save the few who came grew more affectionate and more motherly there as a matter of course. It opened every day; her husband was almost as the gates of possible paradises to mar- fond of Grace as she was; and so the girl riageable young women, for she only wel- had a couple of homes, and perhaps more comed those who were attractive, and she gaiety than was good for her. She went always managed to have the best men. out shopping with her ladyship in the Lord Fortrose was an English baron as brougham of a morning; she went visitwell as a Scottish earl; and though he ing with her, or into the Park, in the spoke but seldom and shortly in the barouche of an afternoon. On fine days House, he had always carried a certain she rode out under his lordship's escort weight in politics. He had collieries in when her father was not inclined to get Durham and coverts in Kent, as well as his on horseback; and she might have had famous forest in Perthshire; his French any number of engagements in the evencook had taken honors in the imperial ings, but that she often insisted on staying kitchens at Berlin, as the most promising at home and keeping him company. As élève of Urbain Dubois; and his cellars, for Moray, he enjoyed the town life but both in the country and in town, were cel- moderately. He had his clubs, to which ebrated for their well-selected contents. he had been elected years before, on his So my lord's little dinners in Belgrave Square launched wealthy young viveurs into her ladyship's small receptions, in the mood to be soothed by soft music and won by the witcheries of beauty to wise indiscretions. And Lady Fortrose, with all her inclinations to worldliness, was really a worthy woman and a reliable chaperon. No wonder, then, that Moray had met her advances more than half-way, and was willing to listen to her advice. His motherless daughter could have no better friend.

He had written to London agents about houses, and one of them chanced to mention the mansion in Eaton Place. Mr. Moray, he knew, had not intended to purchase; but possibly, under the circumstances, he might be tempted. The proprietor had suddenly died, and his heir had given instructions to dispose of it. It was newly and handsomely furnished and fitted up; decorations by Trollope, furnishings by Gillow; and all in good and simple style. A moderate price would be accepted for money down; and the agent could recommend it as a safe in

vestment.

Moray mentioned the matter to Lady Fortrose. She exerted herself about it in the most flattering manner. "Really, my dear Mr. Moray, it seems a special interposition of Providence. Your house and ours will be within easy distance of each other; Grace can run across at any time, with the footman or even with her maid; and I can always pick her up of an evening without going any distance out of my

occasional visits to England. He had his cronies, chiefly from the Highlands or the East-though, being essentially a man of the world, he made acquaintances in many circles. There was society enough at the house in Eaton Place, where the dinners were very sufficiently well served, if less recherché than Lord Fortrose's. He often rode out with his daughter; he sometimes went in for a day's golfing at Wimbledon. But all the same, the exist ence dragged, and would have been still more wearisome had it not been for two unselfish sources of pleasure. The one was seeing his daughter happy; the other, his indulging himself - for indulgence it was in many an action of generous phi. lanthropy. The memorable conversation with Leslie had borne fruit in one way if not in another. He had not made public expiation by sacrificing his fortune, but he practised liberality on an almost prodigal scale. He not only drew handsome cheques for estimable charities, but he never spared himself; and he mortified the flesh as much as he indulged it. He had a vigorous constitution and an excellent appetite; he was much more inclined to be a bon vivant than an ascetic; and when he gave dinner parties at home or dined with other people, he always set his friends a good example. But after the coffee and cigars, he would slip away; or he would charter a cab after breakfast next morning, and drive off to the Surrey side or the Borough, or to the poverty. stricken purlieus of eastern London. He had struck up an intimacy with sundry

hard-working and self-sacrificing clergy-into her confidence, expressing heartfelt men, who knew they might always draw anxiety as to his health. The young man on his purse. He had munificently sub- looked pale, though perhaps his handsome sidized certain police inspectors, who face was all the more interesting for that. were ever ready to give him their com- But his friends, and Grace in particular, pany or an escort at the shortest notice. found him changed otherwise, and con But indeed be had come to be tolerably siderably to his advantage. Quiet and well known himself in some of the worst rather prematurely dignified in manner of the warrens and most squalid of the as he always was, he was more easily rookeries; and he was known for a man moved now from his constitutional apathy. who could take his own part, as he was There was a sparkle in his hazel eyes far from being pharisaical as to publicans which would break out in flashes of and sinners. More than once he had flame on any subject that interested him; been hustled on a dark staircase, when and more frequently than before, as he the assailants had felt the iron muscles of warmed, he would forget himself and bea man who was more than a match for come winningly eloquent. He had good half a dozen of them. But then he would introductions and connections, and already distribute shillings in place of soup.tick- he began to make his mark. He was a ets, and seldom asked for a voucher from welcome guest at many a dinner table. the charity organization society before Men of station and high reputation lisputting his hand in his pocket. "Prob- tened to him respectfully for when he ably," he would tell himself, "the poor spoke he always spoke to the purpose; and wretch is lying. Certainly ninepence out there was a certain poetical originality in of my shilling will be spent in the gin- his talk, with a quaint and fanciful humor. palace at the corner-and what then? Grace watched him curiously and with If he gets himself a loaf, I shall have cousinly regard. Womanlike, she admired done a good action; and as for the liquor, him more, that others evidently admired that is his look-out. It is something to him. Now there was apparently some forget one's misery for five minutes; and purpose in his life. He seemed to see if I had as reasonable an excuse for my his way, and to have hopes rather than own mistakes or misconduct why, per- aspirations. And from what she knew of haps I might be justified in throwing him, she was persuaded that he would go stones at him." forward with determination toward his determined point, whatever that might be.

So, while his friends agreed that Moray was odd, upon the whole they liked and admired him for his "eccentricities." The more so, that he left rumor to blow his trumpet, never letting his left hand know what his right hand was doing, and only making a confidant of his daughter - for from her he could keep no secrets.

CHAPTER XV.

VENABLES AND LESLIE TALK THINGS
OVER.

As for Jack Venables, there was less doubt as to his prospects. Unlike Leslie, he made no secret of his aims, which indeed were sufficiently obvious. Jack had lighted on his legs, and was making the most of his chances; and it was well for him that it was so. Steady disappointments or a run of ill luck might have crippled him, as cold paralyzes the constitution of a creole. But with the feeling that fortune was patting him on the back, he played card after card with cool audacLESLIE and Venables were both in ity, and brightened in the smiles in which town, and Grace saw a great deal of her he basked. Fortune might pet but she cousins. Moray's house was always open did not spoil him, and he bore his honors, to them; and they "drew him," as Jack such as they were, so modestly that nophrased it, very freely for luncheon, and body envied him his luck. It was Winnot unfrequently for dinner. Leslie, who stanley who had dealt him his trumps, loved to be independent, had declined his taking a fatherly pride in him, and standuncle's offer of a bedroom, and estab-ing sponsor to him in society. Winstanlished himself in apartments in Jermyn Street, where he was said to have become a slave of the lamp. Though he rose early and took a constitutional before breakfast, after coming home from dining out or at his club, he was in the habit of sitting up to most unchristian hours; and his friendly landlady took Miss Moray

ley had done for him more than Lady Fortrose for Grace. He could hardly have happened on a more efficient patron, for Winstanley was welcome wherever he went, knew everybody who was worth the knowing, and had opportunities of doing good turns to so many men, that many men were ready to fawn upon his friend.

"Oh, the ladies!" said Jack laughing; "And so you shall, my dear Ralph: I"I was au mieux from the first with both see no reason for being silent; and you have a right to know everything, even if you were not the very fellow I should naturally come to in a scrape. You helped me out of one already, you may remember. Though I seldom speak of it, I never forget."

"Like them-yes, I like them all; and as for the old gentleman himself, he is a "Indiscreet! By no manner of means. trump. I owe pretty nearly everything to Julia is very good-looking, classical feahim and to that shipwreck which I men- tures, pearly complexion, faultless figure, tioned to you. My legacy was all very and all the rest of it; she is highly accomwell, and I am most grateful to the worthy plished as well; and of course I admire testator; but it is Winstanley who has her, as everybody else does. But she made it fructify in the mean time, with the | knows, too, that she can never touch my