,illustration3 ,,chambers',s ,,journal ,,of ,,popular ,,literature1 ,,science1 ,,and ,,art4 ,fourth ,series ,,conducted ,,by ,,william ,,and ,,robert ,,chambers4 ,,no4 #fie4 ,,saturday1 ,,april #ba1 #ahgg4 ,,price #a;d4 ,a ,,marvel ,,of ,,artistic ,,genius4 ,coggeshall in ,essex is a small market-town1 which1 in days past was of some slight importance as a busy little manufacturing place1 but which of later years has been drained of population1 like many another place1 to supply material for the great 'centres4' ,it now has little to boast of but its fine church1 one of the three finest in the county1 and some most interesting ruins1 well known to antiquaries2 it takes1 however1 a great pride in owning the parentage of the subject of this notice4 ,john ,carter was the only son of a respectable labourer in ,coggeshall1 but was himself brought up to silk-weaving1 that being the staple trade of the town4 ,he was educated in the usual way at the national school2 but at the age of thirteen was transferred to ,sir ,r4 ,hitcham's grammar-school1 where he continued about two years4 ,during this period he was chiefly remarkable for his aptitude for getting into mischief2 and the only sign given of the latent talent which was afterwards so strangely developed in him was in drawing horses and dogs of questionable beauty on his slates and copy-books2 the walls of his cottage also were frequently put under requisition for the same purpose2 a mark of talent which his mother in those days could have readily dispensed with1 as not tending to improve the look of her humble apartment1 which she always kept most scrupulously neat and clean4 ,he was a bright intelligent boy1 and this and his high spirits made him a general favourite1 but proved also a great snare to him4 ,he became acquainted with a set of wild young men1 and soon1 naturally enough1 became the ringleader in all sorts of daring enterprise4 ,when ,carter was about twenty he married2 but though his wife was a quiet and respectable young woman1 his marriage does not appear to have steadied him4 ,he and his wild companions used to meet at one of the public-houses and there talk over and arrange their operations4 ,one of the projects which these choice spirits agreed upon was a rooking expedition1 the young rooks being then in season4 ,it was in the month of ,may #ahcf4 ,the place agreed on was ,holfield ,grange1 there being there a fine old avenue of elms1 in which the rooks from time immemorial had comfortably settled4 ,the avenue was disused2 and as it was some little way from the house and away from the road and preserves1 there was little chance of their being interrupted by watchmen or gamekeepers4 ,they arranged to meet in a field outside the town with a given signal1 by which they might know friend from foe2 this was to avoid leaving the town in a body1 which might have suggested suspicions of mischief1 and induced a little watching4 ,midnight found them all at the rendezvous1 and little more than half an hour's walking brought them to the chosen spot4 ,carter1 foremost as usual1 was the first to climb one of the tall trees1 and was soon busy enough securing the young birds4 ,the trees in the avenue are very old1 and stand somewhat close together1 their gnarled and massive boughs frequently interlacing1 making it quite possible for an expert climber to pass from one tree to another4 ,in attempting to perform this1 ,carter deceived either in the distance or strength of a bough1 missed his hold and fell to the ground1 a distance of about forty feet4 ,he had fallen apparently on his head1 for it was crushed forwards on to his chest4 ,for a time he lay perfectly senseless1 and the dismay of his wretched companions may be imagined4 ,their position was an unenviable one1 to say the least4 ,what were they to do8 ,a mile and a half from the town1 in the dead of night1 in the midst of their depredations1 which must now inevitably become known1 and with one of their party dying or dead1 they knew not which4 ,after a time1 ,carter seems to have recovered consciousness partially1 and made them understand1 though his speech was so much affected as to be almost unintelligible1 that he wanted them to 'pull him out6' ,this rough surgery they therefore tried1 some taking his head and some his feet1 and pulled till he could once more speak plainly2 and having done that1 seemed to think that there was nothing more they could do4 ,would one or two more judicious tugs have fitted the dislocated bones together again1 or would they have broken the spinal marrow8 ,who can tell8 ,in either case the world would have lost one striking case of latent talent developed by a misfortune which seemed indeed only one remove from death2 so we will not complain4 ,finding that no further improvement took place in the poor fellow1 and that he had lapsed into unconsciousness1 his companions procured a hurdle1 and laying him on it with all the skill and gentleness of which they were capable1 retraced their steps to the town1 and bore him to the home which he had left a few hours before in the full strength and health of early manhood4 ,they laid him on his bed and then slunk away1 glad to shut out from their sight the terrible result of their headlong folly1 one only remaining to tell to the poor wife the sad story of the disaster4 ,the doctor was sent for2 and the result of his examination was the terrible verdict that ,carter had not in all probability many days or even hours to live2 in any case1 whether he lived or not1 he was paralysed without hope of recovery4 ,he did not recover consciousness entirely till the following night2 and we who have the full enjoyment of our limbs and health can hardly realise what that poor fellow must have suffered in learning that1 even if life were granted to him at all1 it was under such terrible conditions as at first to seem to him less a boon than a burden4 ,he would never again be able to move hand or foot1 the only power of movement remaining to him being in the neck1 which just enabled him to raise or turn round his head2 that was all--there was not even feeling in the rest of his body4 ,what a dreary blank in the future6 ,what wonder if the undisciplined soul cried out aloud with repining1 like a wild bird beating against the bars of a cage2 what wonder if in the bitterness of his heart he cried3 ',of what good is my life to me6 ,better that ,i had never been born1 since all that makes life sweet is taken from me4' ,anguish unknown1 terrors too great for words1 must that poor soul have met and overcome1 ere he had learned the great lesson of sorrow1 that life1 true life1 does not consist in mere physical capabilities and enjoyments1 but that there is a far higher1 nobler life1 the life of the soul and mind1 which is as infinitely above the other as heaven is above earth4 ,his mind being now no longer overridden by his superabundant physical nature1 began to work and put forth its powers and energies2 but it was long ere he found any object on which to expend those powers2 not till he had1 through several long and heavy years of suffering1 learned the great and most difficult lesson of patience--patience1 without which he would never have accomplished the wonderful work which we will now proceed to describe4 ,having read one day of some young woman who1 deprived of the use of her hands1 had learned to draw little things with her mouth1 he was seized with a desire to try the same thing1 and was not content till he had made his first attempt4 ,deprived of the use of his hands1 why not try his mouth6 ,a butterfly that had fluttered into the cottage was caught and transfixed2 a rough desk extemporised1 and with such materials as a sixpenny box of paints afforded1 he made a sketch of the insect4 ,delighted with his success1 he determined to persevere4 ,a light deal desk was made after his own directions1 on which to fix his paper2 the picture he was about to copy being fastened above1 or if large1 hung from the top of the bed by tapes2 he always drew in bed1 his head being slightly raised by pillows4 ,a pencil about six inches long and bound round with thread was put in his mouth1 and with this he sketched his subject4 ,a saucer of ,indian ink was prepared1 and a fine camel-hair brush was dipped and placed in his mouth by the attendant2 these brushes were sometimes not more than four inches long4 ,in this way he produced the most exquisite drawings1 equal to fine line engravings1 which were sold for him by his friends and patrons1 some of them finding their way into the highest quarters2 and thus he was enabled to experience the delight of feeling that paralysed as he was1 he was not a mere burden1 but was able to contribute to his own support4 ,several of the most beautiful of his works are now in ,america1 and we believe we are right in saying that as much as twenty-five and fifty pounds apiece have been given for them4 ,another very fine work1 a copy of ',st ,john and the ,angel1' about eighteen inches by twelve1 is in the possession of ,robert ,hanbury1 ,esq41 of ,poles ,ware1 ,hertfordshire1 and is wonderful in its power and delicacy4 ,in the copies from ,rembrandt1 ,carter has so completely caught the peculiar touch and style of the great master1 that even a connoisseur would have some difficulty in distinguishing them from the original4 ,carter tried various styles--water-colour1 chalks1 mezzotint1 and line drawing2 but it was the last in which he succeeded best1 and which best displayed his great delicacy of touch4 ,the chalks required too great pressure1 and fatigued him so much that he was only able to finish two or three pictures in this style1 a masterly head of ,st ,peter being one2 but the grand sweep of the unbroken lines in these shews1 we think1 his talent more than any of his works4 ,he found many kind friends who interested themselves in his work1 and supplied him with subjects to copy2 notably amongst these1 ,miss ,hanbury of ,holfield ,grange1 now wife of the ,dean of ,winchester4 ,mr ,richmond the artist also came to see him on several occasions1 and speaks of him thus in a letter3 ',the first time ,i saw him ,carter ,i was taken to his cottage by the ,rev4 ,charles ,forster1 vicar of ,stisted1 ,essex2 and the impression of that visit ,i shall never lose1 for the contrast of the utterly helpless body of the man with the bright and beaming expression of his face1 which only a peaceful and clear spirit could raise1 was a sight to do one good4 ,it was as it were the face of an angel1 and ,i always think of him in connection with that passage4' ,this latter remark is no exaggeration1 for ,carter was more than ordinarily handsome1 of that old ,roman type so common amongst the agricultural labourers in ,essex1 which ill-health and suffering had only improved by adding refinement to his well-cut features2 and the expression of deep humility and patience was most touching in its earnestness4 ,richmond1 speaking elsewhere of his works1 says3 ',his power of imitation was extraordinary--,i mean it would have been extraordinary in one possessing hands to execute his thought with2 but to see him with his short pencil between his lips executing with the greatest precision and skill intricate forms and describing difficult curves1 filled me with wonder and admiration4'#a ,carter lived for fourteen years in this helpless condition1 during which time he was a constant attendant at the church4 ,a light frame and mattress1 on which he lay perfectly prostrate1 was lifted on to a sort of little wheel-carriage1 and thus he was carried into the church1 and lay during the service4 ,useful for locomotion1 this carriage1 sad to relate1 was the cause of his death4 ,one day1 the lad who was wheeling him about1 lost his hold at the top of a hill2 the carriage ran back with violence against a wall1 and upset the poor fellow into the road4 ,from that day he sank rapidly1 and died on the #b;d of ,june #ahej4 ,there was a post-mortem examination2 and the injured portion of the spine was removed1 and presented by ,professor ,hilton to the ,museum of the ,college of ,surgeons1 ,london1 'where it remains1' as he said in lecturing on the case at the ,college1 'a typical specimen almost unique in interest4' ,the sight of the drawing of the ',virgin and ,child1' by ,carter1 which has been submitted to our inspection1 is eminently suggestive of what may be done in the most adverse circumstances1 and also rouses sentiments of profound regret at the sudden and unforeseen death of a being so highly gifted with the light of genius4--,,ed4 ,,footnotes3 #a ,see ,memoir of ,carter1 with ,illustrations1 by ,rev4 ,w4 ,j4 ,dampier4 ,simpkin and ,marshall4 #ahgf4 ,,the ,,last ,,of ,,the ,,haddons4 ,,chapter ,,xix4--,,mrs ,,chichester',s ,,arrangement4 ,when an hour later1 ,i re-entered the drawing-room to make my adieu to ,miss ,farrar1 ,i found that the aspect of affairs had altogether changed4 ,she was lounging in her favourite attitude of negligent ease1 in a low chair1 playing with the appendages to her watch-chain2 and opposite to her sat ,mrs ,chichester4 ,marian did not give me time to speak1 hurriedly commencing1 with haughty graciousness1 the moment ,i entered the room4 ',oh1 it is ,miss ,haddon4--,come in1 ,miss ,haddon4 ,i am sorry to disappoint you2 but ,i have been thinking the matter over since ,i spoke to you1 and have come to the conclusion that ,i shall not require your services4 ,the truth is ,i could not feel quite sure that you would suit me1 and therefore ,i have made another arrangement--a much more satisfactory one4' ,for a moment ,i did not quite comprehend the state of affairs1 asking myself if she could have so far misinterpreted my words as to suppose that ,i had expressed a wish to remain with her4 ,then the truth flashed upon me1 and ,i calmly replied3 ',it is quite possible ,i might not have suited you1 ,miss ,farrar4 ,if1 as ,i suppose1 you have made an arrangement for ,mrs ,chichester to reside with you1 ,i believe you will find her much more amenable and easy to get on with than ,i might prove to be4' ,marian looked at me doubtfully1 not quite sure whether to interpret my words favourably or not4 ,mrs ,chichester's lips closed tightly for a moment1 then she said with her accustomed gentleness and suavity3 ',the arrangement between ,miss ,farrar and myself is so essentially different from ordinary engagements1 ,miss ,haddon2 simply a friendly one4' ',yes1 indeed1' said ,marian1 with a grand air4 ',accepting an occasional little offering' 7here ,i knew she was quoting7 'is quite different from receiving a salary1 you know4' ,i cheerfully agreed that it was different2 and was mischievous enough to congratulate ',miss ,farrar' upon having found so disinterested a friend in the time of need4 ,with heightened colour1 ,mrs ,chichester explained that she had only done what any moderately good-natured person would do1 in offering to stay with one who had been deserted by those who ought not to have deserted her4 ',yes2 that's what ,i call it6' said ,marian eagerly catching at the word4 ',i've been deserted by those who ought not to have deserted me6 ,and here's ,caroline1 that ,i never cared for1 and who ,i thought never cared for me1 turns out my best friend4 ,caroline had taken a great fancy to me from the beginning1 only she was afraid of shewing it1 in case ,lilian should be jealous4 ,but since my sister has chosen to desert me as she has1 she can't complain about my choosing a fresh friend4 ,as you know1 ,i have done all ,i could to make things pleasant for ,lilian4 ,no one in the world could act more generously than ,i have done to her4 ,any one might tell that1 by the heaps and heaps of things which have been taken out of the house1 without my saying a word4 ,and then the piano1 when it was found that it would have to be sold on account of being too large for the cottage1 ,i paid the price it cost two years ago4 ,two hundred and fifty pounds for a second-hand piano1 ,caroline6 ,i shouldn't mind if ,i'd been treated accordingly4 ,but to go away like this1 without so much as saying thank you4 ,as ,caroline says1 it is treating one too bad2 it really is6' ,i glanced smilingly at ,caroline's flushed face1 and then wished them good afternoon4 ',i hear that you are going to stay at the cottage1 ,miss ,haddon8' ',for three or four months ,i am1 ,mrs ,chichester4' ',until you find another engagement1 ,i presume8' she asked1 eyeing me curiously4 ',until ,i make another engagement1' ,i smilingly replied4 ,but the 'three or four months' had aroused her suspicions1 though ,i did not perceive in what way4 ',you have made the best of your sojourn at ,fairview1 ,miss ,haddon'--softly4 ',the very best1 ,mrs ,chichester1' was my cheerful response2 although ,i did not see the whole of her meaning1 as ,i was to see it later4 ,i knew enough to be sure the drift of it was not very friendly4 ,one thing was very palpable--,i made no advance in ,mrs ,chichester's good graces4 ,they followed me to the hall with messages for ,lilian4 ',i can't forget that she's ,pa's daughter1 you know1' said ,marian1 once more striving to be generous4 ',give my love to her1 and tell her not to hesitate about sending for anything she may require from the garden or what not2 she will miss things so at first1 you know4 ,and ,i don't see why she shouldn't have milk2 cook said we have more than she can use just now4 ,if we go on keeping two cows she shall always have it4 ,and say that the very first time we drive out ,i will call at the cottage4' ,saunders1 who opened the door for me1 drew his hand across his eyes as he strove to stammer out a message to the 'dear young mistress4' ',of course you will come to see her2 she will be desirous to hear how you are getting on1 ,saunders1' ,i replied1 beginning to find some difficulty in keeping up my own courage4 ,but there was more to try me yet4 ,before ,i could make my escape1 every servant employed in or about the house had crowded into the hall1 down to ,tom the garden-boy4 ',tell the dear young mistress our hearts ache for her4' ',tell her there isn't one here as wouldn't go barefoot to serve her4 ,god bless her6' ',tell her her kindness to mother will never be forgotten as long as ,i live4' ',why didn't she let us say good-bye1 ,miss ,haddon8' ',why didn't she shake hands with us before she went1 ,miss8'--they asked one after the other4 ,the wisdom of our getting her away as we did was manifest enough4 ',it would have been more than she could have borne1' ,i replied1 in a broken voice4 ',but it will do her good to hear of your shewing so much kindly feeling1 though she never doubted your attachment to her4 ,and of course she expects that you will all go to see her4' ',ay1 that we will6' ,then ,i got my own share of parting good-wishes1 as we shook hands all round1 not at all disturbed in the process by the sudden slamming of the drawing-room door and the violent ringing of a bell4 ,satisfactory as it all was from one point of view1 ,i congratulated myself upon having contrived to spare ,lilian this scene1 as well as the final good-bye to the home that ought to have been her own4 ,i turned from the main road and walked slowly down across the fields at the back of ,fairview until ,i reached the stile at the end of the lane4 ,then seating myself upon the cross step1 ,i yielded to a little sentiment1 telling myself that there must be no such indulgence at the cottage for some time to come4 ,we needed our full share of common-sense to keep the atmosphere healthy4 ,it was all very well trying to assume philosophic airs about wealth2 it did very well in my own case1 for instance2 but ,i really could not see that it was better for ,lilian to lose her large fortune--and so lose it4 ,into what different channels would the money have passed from her hands1 how different a class of people would have been benefited from those who would now be the recipients of it4 ,granted that ,lilian herself might be as happy in the future as though she possessed a large income1 how many would be the worse for her not possessing it4 ,the other was already developing a mean nature1 and would grudge expenditure upon anything which did not immediately minister to her own gratification4 ,and so forth and so forth ,i complained to myself in the short-sighted way with which many of us are apt to judge when looking at a question from one point of view only4 ,i did not even take into consideration the fact that the loss of fortune had already brought about one good effect--that of making ,arthur ,trafford appear in his true colours1 and so sparing ,lilian from much misery in the future4 ',how did she bear it1 ,miss ,haddon8' ,i looked up to find ,robert ,wentworth standing on the other side the stile4 ,i rose1 shook hands1 and replied3 ',as you might expect she would4 ,but we contrived to spare her a final parting scene2' going on to tell him how we had managed it4 ',a good idea4 ,and ,mrs ,chichester has stepped in1 has she8' he added musingly4 ',well1 ,i suppose that might have been expected too4 ,trafford will have a useful ally4' ,i told him of the offer ,i had received1 smiling a little over the recital4 ',fortunately you are not like other women2 you can smile at that sort of thing4 ,and you will not1 ,i trust1 be again subjected to anything of the kind4 ,you will remain at the cottage as long as you need a home now8' ',yes1' ,i replied in a low voice1 feeling the hot colour cover my face in my confusion at hearing such an allusion from him2 wondering not a little how he had come to know what ,i had been so reticent1 even to those ,i loved best1 about4 ,his tone and look seemed1 ,i thought1 so plainly to imply that he did know4 ',but ,i suppose that is forbidden ground just at present8' he went on1 as ,i imagined answering my very thoughts4 ',yes1' ,i whispered stupidly2 shy of talking about my love affair to him1 yet a little ashamed of my shyness1 as more befitting a young romantic girl than myself4 ',i will obey'--glancing down at me with grave pleasantness--'if you will consent that some limit shall be put to the restraint4 ,shall we say three months8' ,i smiled assent4 ,he really did know then2 even to the time ,philip was expected4 ,i did not like to ask him how he had gained the knowledge1 as that might lead to more talk upon the subject than ,i cared to enter into4 ,in fact ,i was completely taken by surprise1 and not quite equal to the occasion4 ,but ,i soon contrived to account for his knowledge of my secret4 ,my engagement was well known to ,philip's brother and the latter's friends2 and it was quite possible that ,robert ,wentworth might know some of them4 ,but however he had found it out1 ,i was quite content that he should have done so4 ,it would be all the easier to pave the way towards a friendship between ,philip and him1 by-and-by4 ,for the present ,i quietly returned to the subject which ,i believed to be most interesting to him1 and we talked over ,lilian's prospects hopefully if a little gravely1 as we walked slowly on down the lane4 ',you think there are really some grounds for hoping that she may forget him8' he asked anxiously4 ',i should not judge hers to be a changeable mind4' ',changeable6 ,no2 if she had really loved ,arthur ,trafford1 as she fancied she did1 there would be indeed no hope4' ',fancied8' ',yes2 ,i firmly believe it was fancy4 ,she never loved the real ,arthur ,trafford2 she is only just beginning to know him as he is4' ',well1 ,i suppose it is all right1 so far as she is concerned2 and yet--constancy in love and friendship is part of my religion4 ,one does not like to have that faith disturbed8'--with what ,i fancied was a questioning look4 ',you forget that ,lilian was almost a child when the acquaintance commenced2 barely sixteen4 ,though ,i hold that she will be constant to her love1 in even ceasing to care for ,arthur ,trafford4 ,do not you see that she has never known the real man until now--that in fact she has been in love with an ideal8' ,i replied1 under the impression that he was putting the questions which he wished to be combated1 and willing to indulge him so far4 ',it must be rather hard upon a man to discover1 after a long engagement1 that he does not accord with his lady-love's ideal--all the harder if the discovery does not happen to be made until after marriage1' he said2 'and ,i think you will have to acknowledge that the ideal you talk about ought to preserve a woman from falling in love with the counterfeit1 rather than lead her to it4' ',you are talking about a woman1 and ,i a girl4' ',you must not forget that she was old enough to engage herself to him4 ,how if she had continued in her blindness until too late--how if she had become his wife8' ',if she had become his wife before her eyes were opened1 ,lilian would in time have recognised her own weakness in the matter1 and blamed no one else4 ,moreover1 she would have made a good wife4' ',yes2 ,i suppose it would have been patched up that way2 by the slow heart-breaking process of smiling at grief and all the rest of it4 ,and of course you mean to imply that her fate would have its use1 in the way of serving as a warning to incautious youth against being in love with ideals8' ',of course ,i meant no such thing1 and you know that ,i did not1' ,i replied1 laughing outright4 ',i should think there is need for a great deal of the ideal in all love1 to keep it alive4' ',ah1 now we are getting on to fresh ground1' he said enjoyably4 ',let me see1 the proposition is that love needs a great deal of the ideal to keep it alive2 and yet'---- ,but ,i was not going to indulge him with a disquisition upon love2 giving him a ,roland for an ,oliver1 in my own fashion3 ',no one is more glad that ,lilian's has turned out to be only an ideal love1 than yourself4' ',ah1 that is not spoken with your usual accuracy of statement4 ,should you not rather have said that no one could be more sorry than ,i that her ideal did not preserve her from'---- ',she is preserved2 and that is what you care most about4' ,he smiled4 ',well1 perhaps it is4' ,when we arrived at the turn in the lane leading to the cottage1 he took leave of me4 ,i did not invite him to go in with me1 and ,i think he quite understood my motive for not doing so1 this first evening of our entrance upon a new life4 ,but he responded as heartily as ,i could wish1 when ,i expressed a hope that he would come as frequently as he could to the cottage2 adding that we should expect a great deal from him now that he had shewn us how helpful he could be in times of emergency4 ',besides1 it will be good for us1 ,i suppose1 to occasionally see one of the lords of creation1 lest we should come to forget that we are but women4' ',yes2 you at least require to be occasionally taken down4' ',you must consider me very amiable to say that in my presence4' ',did you hurt your hand when you struck it upon the seat the other day8 ,from the violence of the blow1 ,i was afraid you would suffer a little afterwards4' ',surely you did not call that temper8' ',o dear1 no2 ,i did not venture to call it anything4 ,what did you call it8' ',righteous indignation1' ,i calmly replied4 ',righteous indignation6 ,o indeed4 ,then if ,i have cause to be angry with a person1 it is righteous indignation to attack his friend1 and enforce my arguments by blows upon a piece of wood8' ',you are worse than usual to-night2 but come soon to see ,mrs ,tipper and ,lilian1' ,i said1 smiling4 ',let us shake hands upon that4' ,i stood looking after him a moment1 as he walked away in the twilight with the long1 easy1 swinging motion natural to one of a powerfully built frame4 ,moreover ,i knew that his mental power was at least in equal proportion to his physical strength1 and had no fears as to ,lilian's happiness1 by-and-by4 ,the only drawback to her happiness would be the remembrance of past weakness1 and that may not be the worst kind of drawback one could have in the time of prosperity4 ,as we sat that night by the open window1 the ,may moon flooding the lovely scene outside1 resting1 as ,i persuaded myself1 tenderly on my house by the hill-side1 nearly facing us1 from the other side of the village1 we told each other that some people were not intended for a life of luxury and grandeur1 and that we were of their kind2 heartily agreeing that we were now in our proper sphere4 ,dear little ,mrs ,tipper was a bright example of content and happiness4 ,never had ,i seen her at such advantage as at present4 ,energetic and cheerful1 company manners packed away with her best dresses1 she was a happy little woman again1 bustling about her small domain in a print-dress and large apron1 and finding a new pleasure every ten minutes4 ,there was not even the drawback of anxiety about ,lilian in her mind4 ,she had confided to me that she had never felt quite satisfied with ,arthur ,trafford as a husband for her niece1 though she had been afraid to trust to her own judgment in the matter1 lest her want of appreciation might arise from her ignorance of society and its ways4 ,but she quite shared my opinion as to the probability of ,lilian's getting healthily over her disappointment4 ,there was nothing to prevent her giving expression to her real sentiments about the change in her life1 and ,lilian had the pleasure of knowing that auntie at least could not be said to be suffering from reverses4 ',it does me real good to do it1 my dear2 it does indeed6' she ejaculated1 when ,i offered to wash the tea-things for her4 ',it all comes so natural and handy again4 ,little did ,i think1 when ,i packed up these and a few other things and brought them to brother's unbeknown1 that ,i should have the pleasure of washing them again4 ,i couldn't bear to sell them1 because they were father's present to me on my wedding-day1 and nobody has ever washed them but me4 ,you wouldn't believe how fond ,i came to be of this one with the little chip in it1 washing it every day for thirty years4 ,john1 he used to be sitting there by the fire with his pipe1' she went on1 pointing to a corner1 and evidently seeing in her mind's eye the old cottage home1 'and telling me how things had been going on at the office in the day2 and the news out of the papers--very fond of the papers1 ,john was2 and he had the reading of them when the gentlemen had done with them4 ,and ,i standing here washing up the tea-things1 and saying a word now and then to shew him ,i was listening4--,it all comes back so plain--doesn't it8' she added1 apostrophising the cup with tearful eyes4 ',i can almost hear the cuckoo clock ticking against the wall4' ,it was time to put in a word1 which ,i did as gently as possible1 and she was presently smiling cheerily again4 ',you mustn't think ,i'm low-spirited1 dear2 no1 indeed4 ,there was nothing in those old times to make me sad2 and ,john's in heaven4 ,all this only reminded me1 you see4' ',i hope you will find ,becky useful4' ',that ,i shall1 dear2 she's so handy and knows about things so much1 more than you might expect4 ,it would never have done to have a fine lady1 afraid of spoiling her hands1 for a servant here1 you know4' ,stopping a moment to open the door and call out to ,becky1 at work in the little scullery at the back3 ',you won't forget to order the currants and candied peel for the cake to-morrow1 ,becky4 ,it must not be said we hadn't a bit of home-made cake when there's dripping in the house4 ,a good thing ,i thought of ordering tins2 but that's what ,i said to the young man2 leave it to me to know what is wanted in the kitchen4' ',i won't forget1 ma'am1' called out ,becky in return4 ',and1 ,becky'--trotting to the door again--'there's bedroom candles and soap to be thought of when the grocer comes in the morning4 ,there would be no sense in having to send into the town when we could have it all brought4 ,don't forget to look at the little slate1 if ,i'm up-stairs1 to see if there's anything else wanted4' ,and so on1 and so on1 until ,lilian and ,i at last got her up to her bedroom1 fairly tired out1 but as happy as a queen4 ,i was rejoiced to see how much good it did ,lilian to find that the dear little woman took so kindly to cottage ways4 ',how much worse things might have been1 ,mary4 ,how thankful ,i ought to be6' ',yes2 ,i think you ought1 dearie4' ,she and ,i stood for a few moments at my bedroom window1 gazing at the peaceful scene without4 ,my room1 as they already called it1 was at the back of the cottage2 and the window commanded a view of the woods on the one side1 and the beautiful open country on the other4 ,but we tacitly agreed to avoid sentiment2 we were not strong enough for that yet4 ,we just let the outside peace and quiet steal into our hearts1 as we stood there together for a few minutes1 my arm about her1 and her cheek resting on my shoulder1 and then bade each other good-night without any demonstration4 ,,three ,,wonderful ,,railways4 ,the ',three ,wonderful ,railways' which we propose to notice are the ,brenner1 the ,semmering1 and the ,rigi lines4 ,the ,brenner line1 which lies between ,innsbruck and ,botzen1 and constitutes a portion of the railway connecting ,bavaria and ,italy1 although it passes through tunnel after tunnel1 until the weary traveller is prone to abandon all hope of obtaining any view of the scenery1 nevertheless is not content with getting through the pass1 but proudly mounts to the top and passes over the summit level before beginning the descent4 ,the pass is a low one1 indeed one of the lowest over the main ,alps2 but then it must be borne in mind that this 'low' ,alpine pass is four thousand seven hundred and seventy-five feet high2 no mean altitude for a railway4 ,neither is it merely for its height that the writer is induced to describe it1 nor for its pretty scenery 7it can scarcely be called grand71 but for the extraordinary engineering difficulties which the making of the line presented1 and which have been so ably and ingeniously overcome4 ,some of the more ordinary difficulties of the district traversed by the line may be gathered from the fact that the ascent from ,innsbruck involves no fewer than thirteen tunnels1 while in the descent there are ten4 ,the line1 clinging to the side of the mountain1 has to penetrate projecting rocks so frequently that it strongly resembles1 except in the lovely peeps obtained in the momentary intervals1 the ,metropolitan ,district ,railway2 which is dignified by the name of the ',daylight ,route1' because it is not always underground4 ,in its course up the valley the railway on one side sometimes rises above the level of the carriage-road on the other1 sometimes finds itself considerably below it4 ,in climbing the pass1 the rail of course never ceases to ascend2 while the more humble road bows to the obstacles it encounters1 and rises and falls according to the nature of the ground4 ,at last1 ,nature seems determined to put a stop to the encroachments of steam1 and the railroad finds itself directly facing a lateral valley1 the bottom of which lies far below it4 ,now how to get over this valley and pursue the direct course up the main valley1 seems a problem4 ,the road would descend to mount again2 not so the rail4 ,the difficulty and its solution may be well realised by imagining a railway cut in the face of a long row of houses 7which must be supposed to represent one side of the main valley74 ,this railway1 starting from one end of the row at the basement level1 gradually rises1 in order to pass over the roofs 7that is1 the head of the pass7 of another row of houses at right angles to and at the end of the first row4 ,in its course it encounters a side-street 7the lateral valley7 with no outlet at the other end1 and which is too broad to be spanned with a bridge4 ,now the line at this point has reached the second floor2 and to get to the opposite houses and pursue its course1 it turns a sharp corner1 runs along one side of the blind street1 crosses it at the further or blind end by merely clinging still to the houses1 returns along the other side1 rounds the corner into the main street1 and resumes its course4 ,during this dtour the ascent has been continued uninterruptedly1 so that on the return of the line to the desired opposite corner it has mounted to the third floor4 ,applying this illustration1 the reader will perceive the ingenious yet simple solution of the difficulty4 ,the effect on reaching the first corner of the lateral valley is most remarkable4 ,the line is seen at the opposite corner far above the traveller's head entering a tunnel2 and how he is going to get there is a puzzle which he hardly solves before he finds himself on the spot looking down on the corner he has just left1 wondering how he ever came from there4 ,but even this striking instance of engineering triumphs is eclipsed by a portion of the line on the other side of the pass4 ,pursuing the direction he has already come1 the traveller has stopped in the descent at ,schelleberg1 a small station perched at an enormous height above an expansive valley1 when he perceives a village five hundred feet almost perpendicularly below him1 which he is informed is the next station4 ,it would not take long to reach this village 7,gossensass7 in a lift1 but in a train he has to run far past it1 always descending1 then turn completely round1 and run back again in the direction he has come from1 but now on a level with ,gossensass4 ,but at the point where this evolution has to be made occurs another lateral valley1 much longer than the first alluded to2 and this time one which it is not desired to cross1 as ,gossensass lies as it were on the basement of the house on the third floor of which is ,schelleberg4 ,the train proceeds1 therefore1 to turn the corner into the side-street as before2 but without pursuing the street to its end1 it suddenly dives into one of the houses1 makes a complete circuit of its interior1 and emerges in the opposite direction2 returning to the corner whence it started by means of the same houses1 but on a lower floor4 ,the appearance of this engineering feat is quite bewildering2 and after tunnelling into the hill on the sharp curve1 and then finding himself proceeding back towards the place he has just come from1 the traveller experiences a difficulty in believing that the line parallel with him1 but almost over his head1 is the one he has just been passing over4 ,shortly after ,gossensass has been left behind1 the train passes close under and almost into the gigantic and formidable-looking fort of ,franzensfeste2 and then after a few more tunnels1 gradually leaves the ,alps behind1 and descends by ,botzen into the ,italian plains with all their luxuriant foliage4 ,it should be added that the ,brenner line was completed in the year #ahfg1 and that its numerous engineering difficulties entailed an average cost of about twenty-eight thousand pounds per mile4 ,the ,semmering line1 which lies south of ,vienna1 on the way thence to ,trieste1 and which1 until the completion of the ,brenner1 was unique in the boldness of its conception and execution1 as also for the height to which it attained1 is now eclipsed as to altitude in more than one instance2 but as a magnificent engineering achievement it can hold its own against any railway at present constructed4 ,while resembling the ,brenner in many particulars1 it differs from it in some important points4 ,among these differences is the fact1 that whereas the ,brenner line actually surmounts the pass1 the ,semmering1 on reaching a height of two thousand eight hundred and ninety-three feet1 or about four hundred feet short of the summit1 suddenly1 as if tired of so much climbing1 plunges into the ground1 and only emerges again nearly a mile off1 and on the other side of the pass1 which it then proceeds to descend4 ,it is thus that it may be said to have been the prototype of its great successor1 the ,mont ,cenis4 ,the ,semmering further differs from the ,brenner in what may perhaps be considered its most remarkable feature--namely1 its viaducts4 ,for while the latter avoids many a yawning abyss by some ingenious curve1 the former seems almost to seek the opportunity for a magnificent display of span4 ,these viaducts occur frequently1 being as many as fifteen in number2 and in many instances are formed of a double row of arches1 one standing on the other in the manner sometimes adopted by the ,romans in the construction of their aqueducts4 ,to realise the grandeur of these viaducts1 they should not be seen merely from a train1 but the traveller should contrive to view them from below4 ,the finest is over the ,kalte ,rinne1 and consists of five arches below and ten above4 ,the line also in places requires to be protected from avalanches of stone or of snow1 and this is effected by means of covered galleries1 such as may be seen on so many ,alpine roads4 ,the tunnels too are as numerous as the viaducts4 ,in fact the train no sooner emerges from a tunnel than it finds itself skimming over a viaduct1 only to plunge once more into a tunnel or a gallery4 ,the device for crossing a lateral valley described above in the case of the ,brenner is also resorted to here1 and need not be further alluded to4 ,the proportionate cost of the ,semmering railway was more than double that of the ,brenner1 being about sixty thousand pounds per mile4 ,this may be accounted for partly by the fact1 that the former was constructed and opened thirteen years prior to the latter2 by which the latter was enabled to reap the benefit of the engineering experience acquired in the progress of its predecessor4 ,but the chief cause of this enormous difference in the cost of construction lies in the different modes adopted for overcoming obstacles2 and the vast viaducts of the ,semmering entailed an expense which was wisely and ingeniously avoided in the construction of the ,brenner4 ,the gradients1 as may be supposed1 are very steep on both these railways1 and the rate of speed not great4 ,on the ,semmering a long train has to be divided into two or three portions1 to enable it to surmount these steep slopes1 which frequently are as rapid as one in forty1 even on the viaducts and in the tunnels4 ,the reader has only to notice the numbers on the gradient indicators by the side of an ,english railway1 to be able to judge what an incline of one in forty is like4 ,but if one in forty seems steep1 what shall be said of one in four1 which is the gradient of a large part of the ,rigi railway8 ,no doubt the ascent of the ,rigi has come to be regarded much as the ,londoner regards the ascent of ,primrose ,hill2 though in the latter case the hardy traveller has to use the means of locomotion with which ,nature has provided him in order to reach the summit2 while in the former he merely seats himself in a railway carriage at the base of the mountain1 and is deposited without the smallest exertion on his part at or nearly at the top4 ,steam here1 as elsewhere1 has almost entirely superseded the old means of travel4 ,but as if it were not a sufficiently stupendous undertaking to have one railway to the top of a mountain1 two have here been constructed1 one having its base at ,art on the ,lake of ,zug1 the other at ,vitznau on the ,lake of ,lucerne4 ,taking the latter1 which was first accomplished1 the height to be scaled is four thousand four hundred and seventy-two feet from the level of the ,lake of ,lucerne1 the total altitude of the mountain being five thousand nine hundred and five feet above the level of the sea4 ,of this four thousand four hundred and seventy-two feet1 the rail accomplishes all but one hundred feet or so4 ,to do this1 an excessively steep gradient must be constantly maintained1 as the formation of the mountain does not admit of wide sweeps1 dtours1 or zigzags2 but the course pursued is round the shoulder1 then along the ridge which communicates with the topmost heights1 and finally up those heights themselves1 a distance of not more than eight miles4 ,it is thus that a gradient of one in four becomes a necessity4 ,let the reader mark out a distance of four feet1 and at one end place a foot-rule perpendicularly4 ,a line drawn from one end of this distance to the top of the rule at the other end will indicate the gradient of one in four4 ,it is a steeper incline than horses and carriages are expected to surmount1 yet trains pass up and down constantly without difficulty1 and it is confidently asserted1 without more danger than on ordinary lines4 ,the rate of speed is of course not high1 one hour twenty minutes being occupied in the ascent1 and a slightly less time in the descent4 ,the construction of the train is remarkable4 ,it consists of an engine with small tender and but one carriage4 ,an ordinary locomotive would be powerless on such steep gradients1 therefore one of peculiar construction is used1 which is of itself an extraordinary object4 ,on level ground it appears as if it had completely broken down and lost two of its wheels4 ,this arises from the fact that1 being expressly intended to work on an incline1 it is built in such a way as to compensate for the incline and maintain the boiler in a vertical position4 ,this boiler in appearance resembles nothing so much as a large beer bottle standing upright when the train is ascending or descending1 but very much out of the perpendicular when on level ground4 ,the small tender is of course constructed so as to have its floor level when on the incline4 ,its sides are of wire-work1 and are made thus with the object of reducing the weight as much as possible2 an object which is also carried out both in the engine and in the carriage1 which are as light as they can be made1 it not being necessary to prevent the wheels jumping from the rails by the pressure of great weight as on ordinary lines1 where a high rate of speed is attained4 ,this tender1 in addition to its usual functions1 performs the office of carrying surplus passengers on an emergency4 ,the carriage is an open car1 rather resembling a block of low pews taken from a church1 placed on wheels1 and surmounted by an awning1 with curtains to let down at the sides1 as a protection against the weather4 ,the seats1 which are nine in number1 and accommodate six persons each1 all face one way--namely1 downhill2 and a fixed footstool serves to keep the passengers from sliding off their seats4 ,contrary to the usual order1 the carriage on this line precedes the locomotive in the ascent1 and is pushed instead of being pulled up the incline4 ,in the descent the locomotive takes the first place1 and exercises merely a retarding force4 ,it will be seen1 therefore1 that the two portions of the train are necessarily in close connection when in motion1 and for this reason1 as well as for purposes of safety1 couplings are dispensed with4 ,each portion is provided with its own brake-power1 so that in the event of the engine getting beyond control1 the carriage can be stopped and rendered entirely independent1 since it is not coupled to the engine4 ,the brake is of course of a totally different kind from that in ordinary use1 which would be of no service whatever on such inclines1 as the wheels1 even if the brake were so powerful as to stop their revolution1 would slide down the hill by the mere force of gravity4 ,here1 however1 the brake consists in an ingenious adaptation of the means which are employed in driving the engine4 ,the roadway is laid with three rails1 the outer ones being of the usual kind1 while the central one is a long-toothed rack1 of which the teeth are perpendicular4 ,into this rack fit the teeth of the pinions or cogged-wheels with which both engine and carriage are provided4 ,now it is apparent that if these wheels are put in motion they will pull the train along the rack2 and if stopped and held firmly in one position1 they will prevent any onward motion by the mere clinching of the teeth1 to use a common expression4 ,one of the cogged-wheels1 then1 which are attached to the engine is the driving-wheel1 and forms the special means of locomotion1 while the other cogged-wheels of course merely revolve without exercising any traction4 ,but immediately a halt is required1 all these wheels become of equal importance1 and supply a prompt and most efficient brake1 since directly they are locked1 the train is brought to a stand-still1 and held as in a vice even on the steepest inclines4 ,other brake-power is also applied2 but this would seem to be the efficient means of control in case of accident4 ,it will be seen1 therefore1 that the danger of the train running away is carefully provided against2 and no less care has been bestowed on the means for preventing the train leaving the rails1 a danger fully as alarming as the other on a line which1 for the greater part of its course1 runs on the brink of a fearful precipice4 ,along each side of the central or rack rail1 which is raised some inches from the ground1 runs a projecting edge2 and the engine and carriage are provided with two strong rods1 the ends of which are bent in such a manner as to pass under these projections4 ,any jerk or jump of the train1 therefore1 would be resisted by the pressure of these bent ends against the under surface of the projections4 ,it is not within the province of this paper to speak of the hotels which form such huge excrescences on the mountains' sides and top 7by no means an improvement on nature71 or to allude to the hundreds of tourists who daily swarm in these hotels1 or to the hundreds of others who take the journey for the sake of a 'new sensation4' ,it may1 however1 be mentioned that from one of the stations 7,rigi ,staffel7 runs a branch-line which communicates with the ,rigi ,scheideck1 where is situated one of the largest of the hotels2 and that the line from ,art joins the ,vitznau line near the summit4 ,it will thus be seen that the ,rigi is traversed in all directions by railways2 and according to the opinion of an intelligent ,swiss with whom the writer conversed1 these railways owe their origin to the fact that the ,germans1 who have now become such a travelling nation1 will not penetrate in any numbers where they cannot travel by horse1 by carriage1 or by steam2 and he further indicated his opinion of ,germans by adding1 that no doubt ere long1 a lift would be constructed to work up and down the perpendicular face of the ,matterhorn for their benefit4 ,who shall say that such a thing is impossible8 ,,sunshine ,,and ,,cloud4 ,,in ,,two ,,parts4 ,,part ,i4--,,sunshine4 ,,chapter ,,vii4--,,isaac ,,is ,,touched4 ,isaac allowed a few days to elapse before he paid his promised visit2 and then one evening1 after an early chop1 he sallied forth in search of the address on ,miss ,faithful's card1 ,no4 #fa ,new ,west ,road1 ,holloway4 ,he found the house without much difficulty2 and a snug little house it was4 ,his three friends were at home1 and appeared very pleased to see him2 that is to say1 the two younger members of the party appeared pleased1 the elder lady being in a more or less somnolent state in the arm-chair1 and to some extent unconscious of his presence4 ,the first greetings and the general remarks upon the weather being ended1 ,herbert proposed some music4 ,angela turned to their visitor1 and asked him his favourite songs4 ,if she had asked him his favourite ,greek plays1 poor ,isaac could hardly have been more nonplussed4 ,he was not much assisted either by the cursory examination he gave a music-case containing a number of her songs1 which she considerately handed to him2 so he was fain to acknowledge that he did not know any tunes for certain1 except a few hymns he had heard in church1 ,god ,save the ,queen1 and a few popular melodies he had heard the boys whistle in the streets4 ,so ,herbert came to the rescue1 and picked out one or two of his favourites for her to sing4 ,she did so2 and then ,isaac's mind1 which had to a great extent resumed its original state of reserve1 reopened again to the genial sunshine of her manner and the beauty of her voice2 for there was something irresistible to him in this singing of hers2 he could not account for it even to himself2 but it was the 'open sesame' to his heart and confidence4 ,she sang several songs and a couple of duets with her brother2 and then1 as the evening closed in1 the three sat at the open window chatting--,miss ,faithful meanwhile being peacefully asleep in her chair4 ,isaac1 under the influence of the spell1 experienced a nearer approach to delight than he had ever done before1 and quite unbosomed himself to his new friends4 ,he gave them an account of his parentage1 of his home1 or rather lodging1 at ,dambourne ,end1 of his cottages and garden-ground1 and of his resources and prospects generally4 ,they listened with evident interest1 and with a few judicious questions1 obtained the complete biography of their visitor4 ,at length the gas was lighted1 supper was brought in1 and aunt aroused from her doze4 ,after the meal1 ,angela went up-stairs with her1 and ,isaac and ,herbert were left to themselves4 ,but there was not much to be got from the former in the way of conversation1 now the spell was removed2 and as he was in the habit of retiring to bed early 7to save lights71 and as he had partaken of an unaccustomed meal in the form of supper1 he soon grew very drowsy1 so arose to say good-night4 ,herbert called his sister down-stairs to go through this salutation1 and said he would accompany ,isaac on his walk to the coffee-house and smoke his cigar by the way4 ,at parting1 he said he should look ,isaac up one evening1 and if agreeable to him1 they would go together to some place of amusement4 ,but in the meantime he was to stand upon no ceremony1 but to come and see them whenever he would4 ,,chapter ,,viii4--,,the ,,leap4 ,about a week after ,isaac had paid his first visit to ,new ,west ,road1 he was one evening finishing his solitary meal1 when ,mr ,herbert ,faithful was announced4 ',i am come to take you back with me1' he said1 'for ,angela has threatened me with an evening to myself1 as she is very busy trying on a dress for a ball to which we are going2 and ,i can't stand loneliness if you can2 so come with me1 and we'll have a cigar together4' ',i will go with you1' said ,isaac2 'but ,i cannot smoke2 ,i never tried4' ,so in a few minutes they were on their way to ,miss ,faithful's house1 and the conversation turned on the coming ball4 ',i quite imagine it will be rather a showy affair1' said ,herbert2 'and ,i more than half suspect that it is arranged for a special purpose4 ,it is given by a ,mrs ,ashton1 an old friend of my mother1 and her son is an old sweetheart of ,angela4 ,he has never proposed exactly1 as he was considered too young2 but this ball is to be given on his birthday1 and ,i expect ,angela will come home an engaged girl4 ,she is a dear girl1' he continued with a sigh2 'but it is only reasonable that she should be getting married before long4' ,isaac's heart gave a great bound1 but he answered nothing4 ,his companion was silent also after this1 and in a few minutes they reached his aunt's house4 ,to her brother's apparent surprise1 ,angela was in the hall to welcome them4 ',it is all very fine1 ,master ,herbert1' she said1 'for you to run off as soon as ,i promise you an evening to yourself down-stairs2 but do not think you are to monopolise ,mr ,webb's company4' ',but how about the dress8' asked ,herbert4 ',oh1 that did not take long1 for it fits beautifully4 ,but somehow or other ,i do not care so much about the ball as ,i did4' ',well1 ,i like that6' said ,herbert4 ',perhaps you are afraid you will have to sit down a good part of the evening1 for want of a partner4 ,if you are asked to be any one's partner1 be careful to ascertain that it is for the dance only1 and not for anything beyond that4' ',be quiet1 ,herbert1 do1' said his sister1 colouring4 ',don't be angry1 dear1 for a little fraternal solicitude4 ,but come1 suppose you give us a rehearsal of the songs you intend to sing4 ,mind there is nothing about love in them4' ',herbert1 you are incorrigible2 you don't deserve a song4--,what do you think1 ,mr ,webb8' ,mr ,webb coughed1 coloured1 stammered1 and finally said he 'hoped she'd sing one4' ',well1 it would be a shame to punish the innocent with the guilty1 so ,i consent2 but you must stop your ears1 ,herbert4' ,with these words1 ,angela looked out one or two songs1 opened the piano1 and once again wove the spell around ,isaac's mind and heart2 so much so1 that though he was not of a jealous nature1 he yet could not bear the thought that she would sing these same songs1 and captivate the ear of the man who would in all probability ask her to be his wife4 ,no2 the idea was horrible2 and as he listened1 and the spell wrought its power around him and within him1 his heart throbbed bolder and bolder1 and he resolved to make a rush and forestall his hopeful rival4 ,yes2 he would offer his cottages1 his garden-ground1 and his heart2 and would not1 moreover1 risk his chance by waiting until this hateful ball was over4 ,if he did1 it would be lost4 ,and why risk any delay8 ,no2 he would not2 so determined he would act that very evening4 ,but would he be successful8 ,he would have felt but little doubt had there been no rival1 or only a weak one1 to forestall2 and even as it was1 he did not consider his case was bad1 much less desperate4 ,it was scarcely likely that ,angela would throw away a certain chance for an uncertain one1 especially when that chance was ,isaac ,webb--a deep shrewd young fellow1 and backed moreover by the cottages and garden-ground4 ,so when the evening had worn itself away1 and it was time for him to take his departure1 ,isaac requested ,herbert to walk part of the way home with him1 as he had something he wanted to say to him4 ',do you think1' he asked ,herbert1 when they were on the road1 'that your sister has made up her mind to accept ,mr ,ashton8' ',i do not know that he will ask her1' ,herbert answered2 'but if he were to do so1 ,i had no doubt she would until just lately2 but now ,i am not quite so sure about it4 ,but excuse me2 why do you ask such a question8' ',because1' returned ,isaac1 ',i--,i have been thinking of taking a wife1 and--well1 ,i--,i think ,i should like to have her4' ',well1 you do astonish me1' said ,herbert4 ',and yet1' he continued1 after a pause1 'perhaps ,i can now account for my doubt as to her affection for young ,ashton4 ,but you had better ask her point-blank whether she will have you2 that is1 if you have really made up your mind about it4' ',that is just what ,i want you to do1' exclaimed ,isaac4 ',i want you to ask her for me4' ',excuse me1 my dear fellow2 but it is rather a delicate subject for me--her brother--to put before her'---- ',so much the better1' interrupted ,isaac4 ',it will come better from you1 and with more weight than from me4' ',but people would say directly that ,i had somehow caused you to do it4' ',people need not know anything at all about it1' answered ,isaac4 ',but you have known her such a little while1' urged ,herbert2 'and you may not fully have made up your mind2 or you may alter it4' ',no1 no6' returned ,isaac decidedly4 ',i have made up my mind enough1 and ,i would rather you ask her than me4 ,i should not know quite what to say4' ',you would know quite as well as ,i4 ,however1 anything for the dear girl's happiness2 and since you will have it so1 ,i will do it4 ,but when would you like me to ask her8' ',oh1 as soon as you can1' said the amorous ,isaac4 ',very well4 ,then if there's a chance to-morrow1 ,i will see about it1 and will let you know the result4' ',thank you1' said ,isaac1 much relieved4 ,so they shook hands and parted4 ,the love-sick youth was in a considerable state of excitement all the night long2 he tossed about on his bed1 and wondered why the traffic outside made so much more noise than usual4 ,at last he fell asleep1 and dreamed of ,angela--and her expectations4 ,the following morning1 contrary to his usual habit1 he was very late at breakfast2 and when he had finished1 had no inclination for his customary stroll through the streets1 but sat in his room reading1 or attempting to read1 two very old newspapers and a playbill4 ,to pass the time1 he had his dinner in the middle of the day1 and afterwards dropped off to sleep--an unusual proceeding1 doubtless caused by his disturbed night4 ,he was aroused about six o'clock by his landlady entering the room4 ',a note for you1 sir4 ,the lad said there was no answer4' ,it was from ,herbert1 and contained the gratifying announcement that he had executed ,isaac's commission1 and that his sister1 'much surprised and flattered by ,mr ,webb's sentiments1 could assure him that they were entirely reciprocated by her1 and that she would endeavour to make herself worthy of his choice4 ,would he be so kind as to postpone a visit for a day or two1 that she might in some degree recover herself from the flutter of her surprise1 and be able to receive him as she would wish8' ,bravo1 ,isaac6 ,you are a deep dog2 and your life and your schemes seem flooded with sunshine4 ,,part ,,ii4--,,cloud4 ,,chapter ,i4--,,the ,,sun ,,is ,,slightly ,,obscured4 ,mr ,herbert ,faithful in his letter to ,isaac had requested him to postpone a visit to his sister for a few days1 in order that she might recover herself from the excitement his proposal had occasioned4 ,this may have been partly the truth2 but the real fact was that ,herbert wished to satisfy himself that ,isaac's account of himself was a truthful one1 before he and ,angela met for the ratification of their engagement4 ,so he took this opportunity to make a hurried visit to ,dambourne2 and by the brief but well-directed inquiries he made there1 was enabled to arrive at the conclusion that ,isaac's version of himself and of his circumstances was a correct one4 ,having thus done his duty as a prudent brother1 ,herbert sent1 as soon as possible after his return1 an invitation to ,isaac to visit ,new ,west ,road4 ,angela had apparently made good use of the interval to recover herself from 'the flutter of her surprise4' ,at all events she shewed very few traces of it when ,isaac was1 for the first time since their engagement1 announced4 ,not that she appeared unduly unconscious of the new relations between them2 but she carried off all the constraint and stiffness of manner that were natural under the circumstances1 by that unaffected and lady-like self-possession which formed one of her most striking characteristics1 and which at once put her too self-conscious lover at his ease4 ,that young man was indeed in such a mingled state of nervousness and excitement1 that it is extremely doubtful whether he would have ventured to refer to the happy position she had granted him1 but from her meeting him half-way1 as it were2 for the idea was implied by her manner that there was no need of constraint on his part1 for that they met on equal terms1 and that she could not but be gratified by his having bestowed upon her his regard4 ,such at least was the light in which ,isaac regarded ,angela's manner towards him on this their first meeting as lovers1 and it had the effect1 as has been stated1 of putting him at his ease4 ,her brother kindly assisted at this consummation2 for he welcomed ,isaac with a frank kindness that made the latter consider him1 next to himself1 the best fellow in the world4 ,the only member of the family who remained as before was the aunt4 ,her deafness1 poor soul1 had1 quite suddenly1 much increased1 and her general faculties had1 in proportion apparently1 decreased1 so that she had become a complete nonentity1 and her slate and pencil had all but retired on a handsome competence of illegible scrawls4 ,after half an hour's general conversation1 ,herbert pleaded an engagement1 and the lovers were 7putting ,miss ,faithful out of the question7 left to themselves4 ',i was so pleased with your brother's letter1' said ,isaac4 ',i thought1 somehow1 that my regard and admiration for you were returned4' ,this was not quite what he intended to say2 but the part of the ardent lover was so new to him that he could not all at once settle down into it4 ',indeed1' ,angela replied1 ',herbert's letter could give but little idea of my surprise and--well1 ,i suppose ,i need not mind saying it now--gratification4 ,but ,i cannot imagine what you have seen in me in so short a time1 to have caused you to make such a proposal as you have4' ,whether she intended it or not1 ,angela could not have gone more directly to that most sensitive and vulnerable portion of ,isaac's temperament1 his self-esteem4 ,he received her reply as a well-merited compliment1 but he had not the grace to return it4 ',i don't exactly know myself1' was his curt rejoinder4 ',don't you think1' he continued after a pause1 'that we may as well be getting married pretty soon8 ,i want to be going back to look after the cottages1 and it will come so expensive to be going backwards and forwards2 and ,i have never been used to writing many letters4' ',oh1 you must talk to ,herbert about that4 ,when he thinks it right for us to be married1 ,i shall be ready4' ,it must be confessed that this was a very practical way of looking at the matter on this the first evening of their engagement2 but ,isaac looked on the whole subject of matrimony and its attendant evils1 courtship included1 in a very practical and business-like manner4 ,such1 then1 was the opening conversation of these lovers1 and it grew no warmer as it proceeded4 ,after a short time1 ,angela went to the piano and sang several songs1 to ,isaac's great delight4 ,the spell was again woven around him2 and when ,herbert returned home1 our hero could have been guided anywhere by him or his sister1 had either of them been disposed to do so4 ,one circumstance in connection with his engagement was a slight satisfaction to ,isaac3 he would be often visiting at ,miss ,faithful's house and partaking of her hospitality2 so that he would then be able to live more economically at his coffee-shop4 ,even this1 however1 would not balance the amount of the expense of his absence from home2 so1 after mature consideration1 he arrived at the conclusion that an early marriage was desirable2 for he dreaded the season of courtship1 and wanted to get the matter closed4 ,so he decided still to remain in ,london for the present1 and take an early opportunity to urge his views with ,herbert4 ,it did not occur to ,isaac that there was anything to cause delay4 ,surely a respectable young woman could be married at any time1 and he did not know of any law preventing them being married to-morrow if they chose4 ,he did not desire1 it is true1 anything quite so speedy as that1 but he considered that say three weeks or a month ought to be sufficient for all preparation4 ,but the mention of some such sentiments as these to ,herbert received from him a very decided check4 ',why1' said he1 laughing1 'apart from everything else1 you and ,angela have not even decided where you intend to live4 ,it will take you a month to do that1 let alone the furnishing4' ',we shall live at ,dambourne ,end of course1' said ,isaac2 'and my lodgings are quite large enough for two people1 or can easily be made so4' ',seriously1' returned ,herbert1 'that is quite out of the question2 for if ,angela agreed to it1 ,i tell you candidly ,i would not2 for she has always been accustomed to a comfortable home1 and you are well enough off between you to have one when you are married4 ,and between you and me1 ,i do not think a little country place1 such as you have described ,dambourne ,end to be1 is quite a suitable place to which to take a young wife who has spent the greater part of her life in ,london1 and has until lately mixed a good bit in society4 ,not that she wants to do so again1 or to run into extravagance2 but to take her away from all her friends and associations1 at all events just at first1 and for no particular reason1 would not be quite the thing1 ,i fancy4 ,i don't want to throw cold-water on your plans1 old fellow1' he continued1 laying his hand on ,isaac's arm1 'or to seem in any way to dictate2 but just think over what ,i have said1 and ,i think you will see the force of it4' ,isaac was too much astonished at the idea ,herbert had broached to make any reply to it1 so took his leave4 ,,chapter ,,ii4--,,shadows ,,deepen4 ,our hero's cogitations on his way home were cut short on his arrival by a letter which was waiting for him from the old schoolfellow to whom he had confided the care of his estate at ,dambourne4 ,this letter was calculated to give him some uneasiness4 ,it was as follows3 ,,my ,,dear ,,sir--,i am afraid there is something not quite right about the stranger who took your lodgings at ,mrs ,clappen's1 or else about the tenants of your cottages1 or both2 for when ,i went to collect the rents according to your wish1 a week or two after you went away1 the people in the cottages all laughed at me2 and when ,i went again a few days ago1 they threatened to put me under the pump4 ,the reason that ,i think ,mrs ,clappen's lodger has something to do with it is that ,i have seen him go into some of the cottages at different times2 but when ,i asked his landlady what he did there1 she said she believed he went giving away tracts4 ,but this morning she came to me in a great state of excitement saying two strange men were watching her house1 and that her lodger had not been out of his room all the morning1 and had not had his breakfast1 and altogether she thought there must be something wrong4 ,i went back with her and knocked at his door4 ,as he did not answer1 and as the door was locked on the inside1 ,i broke it open2 but the stranger had gone--probably through the back window and down by the water-butt4 ,your box is in the room1 and ,i find it is unlocked4 ,as ,i do not know what you may have left in it1 ,i write to let you know about it4--,yours truly1 ,,frederick ,,jones4 ,here was a pretty state of things4 ,this lodger had most likely broken open ,isaac's box and abstracted what things of value it contained4 ,fortunately there was not very much--only about forty pounds in gold and some title-deeds4 ,he reflected what he should do4 ,perhaps he ought to go down to ,dambourne ,end at once1 but he did not see what good he could do if he went2 so he decided to wait until the following day1 and let ,angela know about it4 ,accordingly1 the next morning he started off to ,new ,west ,road1 and informed ,angela and her brother of his ill news4 ,it did not1 however1 make the impression upon them that ,isaac expected2 for they made light of it1 and said that if his loss were no more than forty pounds1 that was of no very great consequence4 ,they did not know that any amount of money1 however small1 was of consequence to ,isaac4 ',i'll tell you what1' cried ,herbert2 'if you will wait until to-morrow1 ,angela and ,i will go down with you4--,mrs ,glubbs will come in and look after aunt1 ,angela4' ,isaac hailed the proposition with joy2 for he had already grown to have great confidence in ,herbert and his knowledge of the world--indeed he considered it but little inferior to his own--and he thought that if there were much wrong down at ,dambourne1 their united experience and sagacity would in all probability speedily set it right4 ',and now1 old fellow1 ,i want a chat with you for an hour1 if you can spare the time1' said ,herbert2 and as ,angela at that moment left the room1 he continued3 ',i want to speak to you on the subject we were discussing last evening4 ,have you thought over what ,i said8' ',yes1' ,isaac answered2 'but not much1 for this other affair has put it out of my head for the time4' ',oh1 never mind this little affair1' returned ,herbert2 'it is not worth troubling about4 ,anybody would think you were not worth forty pence to hear how you talk4 ,and that brings me to the subject ,i want to speak to you about4 ,angela has an objection to live at your little country place1 though not so great an objection as ,i have to her doing so4 ,and there is no need for you to drone your lives away down there2 come up to ,london and enjoy yourselves4 ,you say you have about two hundred and fifty a year4 ,well1 my sister on her marriage will come into three hundred and fifty a year or thereabouts2 and she will probably have a little more whenever anything happens to aunt4 ,the former income she inherits from mother's family1 and it is to accumulate until she is married1 or if single1 until she reaches the age of thirty-five--now twelve years off4 ,until one or other of these events happen she cannot touch a penny of it4 ,this puts her in a very peculiar and uncomfortable position2 because though father left us enough to live upon1 yet it is nothing more1 and so whatever preparations you make for your wedding1 you must make on trust of what ,i tell you4' ',o yes1' said ,isaac2 'pray do not think--either of you--that ,i have not confidence in you4' ',that is very kind and generous of you1' ,herbert replied1 'because we shall be compelled1 under the circumstances ,i have told you1 to test that confidence4 ,now what we propose is this1' he continued3 ',angela seems to have a great desire to live in the neighbourhood of ,london1 and if you will find a suitable house and furnish it1 and have it ready in three months from this time1 she will be ready by then to be married4 ,but it has occurred to us that as you are not very well acquainted with ,london1 it may save you some trouble and expense 7supposing you agree to our proposition7 if you like to leave it to us to fix on the locality and find a house2 more especially as ,i have many friends in different parts of ,london4 ,but if you prefer to act on your own account1 pray do not hesitate to say so4' ,isaac sat and weighed the matter in his mind4 ,certainly ,angela's income was considerably more than he had any idea of1 so he need not be so very pinching4 ,on the other hand1 he did not much relish the idea of a lavish expenditure over a house and furniture4 ,and yet if ,angela would not live at ,dambourne ,end1 it did not matter where they lived1 so far as he was concerned4 ,and again there rose up the three hundred and fifty a year1 and more expectations6 ,much better than he had expected to do in any matrimonial speculation he had ever contemplated4 ,in addition to these reasons he was by no means obstinate in disposition1 and yielded easily to any one in whom he had confidence1 and who1 as the term goes1 'got the right side of him4' ,angela and her brother had contrived to do this4 ,so after a few minutes' thought1 ,isaac agreed to ,herbert's proposal1 with one amendment3 that if the house were ready in time1 the marriage should take place in two months instead of three4 ',and1' said ,isaac1 when this was agreed to1 'on condition that you make all the necessary preparations for me4' ',yes1 if you really wish it1' said ,herbert4 ',but excuse me speaking plainly3 you must advance me the money if ,i do4' ',yes1 ,i suppose ,i must1' ,isaac answered ruefully4 ',how much do you think you will want1 and when will you want it8' ',i should think five hundred pounds would do1 at all events for the present4 ,of course ,i will be as careful with it as ,i can1 for your interests and ,angela's are identical2 but you may as well have things good at first1 since they are the more economical in the long-run4 ,the money you can let me have whenever it is convenient to you4' ',you shall have the sum you mention in about three weeks1' said ,isaac4 ,angela now came in dressed for a walk1 so ,herbert and ,isaac broke up their conference1 and the three went out together4 ,,imported ,,beef ,,and ,,mutton4 ,a resolute attempt was made a dozen years ago to import fresh beef in various forms from ,buenos ,ayres2 and as the meat was sold at a comparatively low price1 there arose high expectations on the subject4 ,the well-meant attempt failed4 ,it would not do4 ,the meat presented an unpleasant appearance4 ,the working classes in this country did not like the flavour1 even if the appearance had been good2 they would not buy1 although the price was low2 and thus the affair died out after a few months4 ,soon after the failure of ,buenos ,ayres1 our own ,australian colony of ,new ,south ,wales made a bid for the favour of ,english beef-eaters4 ,mr ,mort1 an enterprising citizen of ,sydney1 introduced ,nicolle's freezing process for preserving fresh meat in an untainted state4 ,he was sanguine that the same ship might convey beef and mutton from ,australia to ,england and emigrants from ,england to ,australia1 thereby conferring a double benefit on the colonies4 ,queensland and ,victoria were also on the qui vive1 ready to find a market for their surplus live-stock in the old mother-country1 if events presented favourable symptoms4 ,the freezing process was not by any means the only one tried in ,australia4 ,one was an adaptation of ,appert's plan of putting fresh meat into tins and drawing out all the air2 a second was to exclude warmth by packing in ice2 a third was to exclude moisture in such way as to pack the meat in as dry a state as possible4 ,a large trade was gradually formed by a ,sydney ,company for preserving meat for the ,english market--not fresh joints in bulk1 but partly cooked in tins4 ,the oxen and sheep were slaughtered in abattoirs of improved construction1 skinned1 boned1 and cut up on large tables2 the meat was scalded by steam in large open trays1 put into tins1 and the tins exposed to a temperature of #bcj ,f41 in a bath containing chloride of lime dissolved in the water2 then sealed up1 exposed to a second bath somewhat hotter1 and finally to a cold bath4 ,not only was steamed or parboiled beef and mutton prepared in this way1 but the establishment also sent out tins of roasted1 cured1 spiced beef1 haricot of mutton1 and so forth4 ,we cannot go into particulars1 and have only to say that the efforts1 however meritorious1 have not been a commercial success4 ,it may be stated as a well-known fact that the people of ,great ,britain will not1 as a general rule1 buy inferior kinds of butcher-meat4 ,they are all glad to purchase at a low price1 but the quality must be good1 the look of the meat good1 the smell good4 ,we should confidently say that no people on the face of the earth are such connoisseurs in good beef and mutton as the ,english1 down even to the humblest classes4 ,in point of fact1 the working classes1 as they are called1 are more fastidious as regards quality and superior cuts than persons of distinction4 ,laying down this as a rule1 it is throwing away trouble and capital to try to serve the ,english with anything short of the best fresh meat1 as usually obtained from butchers4 ,frozen meat will not do1 for it will not keep4 ,tinned meat half-cooked1 and however well spiced1 is also not the thing4 ,one may regret the prejudices often entertained on this score4 ,but for the sake of all parties it is best to acknowledge the fact4 ,the only expedient likely to be successful is that of importing fresh meat from the ,united ,states1 owing to the comparatively short duration of the voyage and the several fleets of fine steamers belonging to capitalists1 who are never slack in throwing themselves into any trade that promises to be fairly remunerating4 ,the proceedings1 in brief1 are managed as follows4 ,live-stock1 brought to ,new ,york by rail from the central and western states of ,america1 are conveyed to well-arranged abattoirs1 where they are quickly slaughtered1 skinned1 c4 ,several hundred carcases are put at once into a large cool chamber1 where they are kept for a day or two--the period depending on the state of the weather4 ,they are then quartered1 wrapped up in coarse canvas1 and conveyed to the steamer1 drawn up alongside a quay or wharf4 ,a compartment is set aside for the reception of the meat1 with an ice-chamber at one end4 ,a current of fresh air1 filtered through cotton-wool1 is driven over the ice by a steam-worked fan or blast1 and thence over the masses of meat4 ,about forty tons of ice are shipped for keeping cool the carcases of a hundred and fifty cattle3 reduced probably to a third or quarter of this amount by melting during the voyage4 ,according to the quantity of fresh air forced through the ice-chamber1 so is the degree of temperature produced4 ,after many experiments1 an opinion has been arrived at that a freezing temperature is neither necessary nor desirable2 four or five degrees above that point are preferred1 the meat arriving in a pure and fresh state at ,liverpool4 ,the quantity shipped at once is sometimes very large4 ,the ,wyoming steamer1 for instance1 brought over at one time in the middle of the recent month of ,february two thousand three hundred quarters of beef and the carcases of four hundred sheep4 ,in one week a million and a quarter pounds of meat were brought from ,new ,york to ,liverpool4 ,glasgow1 as opening direct by the ,clyde to the ,atlantic1 with its fleet of steamers and enterprising traders1 bids fair to be a rival to ,liverpool in the ,american meat-traffic4 ,every week there are paragraphs in the newspapers announcing fresh arrivals4 ,we quote the following as a specimen from the ,scotsman of ,march #g3 ',the extension of the ,american meat-trade at all the larger towns in ,scotland has been very marked during the past month1 and the import has been quite unequal to the demand4 ,the steamers belonging to the ,anchor line of weekly mail packets1 which have been bringing from eight hundred to a thousand quarters of fresh meat each voyage1 have been compelled to increase their cool-meat cell accommodation by fully one-half4 ,the ,state line of weekly steamers are also being fitted up with the necessary apparatus for this traffic1 and the first steamer of that line with fresh meat--six hundred quarters--was reported last night at the ,clyde4 ,the ,anchor ,line mail-steamer ,anchoria also arrived yesterday4 ,the latter vessel brings the largest cargo of fresh meat yet imported into ,scotland1 having on board one thousand six hundred quarters beef and two hundred carcases of sheep4 ,the two consignments 7two thousand two hundred quarters7 are nearly equal to any previous fortnight's supply4 ,about one-half of this quantity of fresh meat will be sold in ,glasgow market1 and the other half will be despatched to ,edinburgh1 ,newcastle1 ,dundee1 and other large towns4 ,in ,glasgow and ,greenock there has been a further extension of shops for the sale of ,american fresh meat4 ,the ,glasgow butchers are now pretty extensive buyers of the imported beef1 and they have again had to lower their prices for home-fed meat by #a;d4 per lb41 making a total reduction on roast and steaks of #c;d4 per lb41 and on other sorts of #b;d4 per lb4 ,the ,american meat1 however1 is still from #a;d4 to #b;d4 per lb4 cheaper than the medium home sorts4 ,during ,february the ,american meat imports at ,glasgow1 which may be considered as the landing-place for ,scotland1 amounted to the following large aggregates3 #dfej quarters fresh beef1 #ejj sheep1 #bddj tierces salted beef1 #ahcj barrels salted pork1 #ajcg barrels hams1 #gjj barrels tongues1 #icjj boxes bacon1 and #bj1ejj cases of tinned 7preserved7 meat4 ,in the previous month 7,january7 the fresh meat imported aggregated #cgbh quarters and #fbj sheep2 while in ,december the quantity was about one-half that of ,january4 ,there is nearly as great an advance in the import of corned meat1 bacon1 and salted beef and pork4 #iej barrels of tallow and #gjj barrels of lard were imported last month4 ,butter and cheese also form an important item in the cargoes from ,new ,york2 and last month there was an aggregate of #bejj boxes of cheese and #gjej packages of butter brought in six steamers4' ,while ,glasgow is the source of supply to various places in ,scotland1 ,liverpool sends consignments by railways to ,london1 ,birmingham1 ,manchester1 ,sheffield1 and other large centres of population4 ,some part of the conveyance is managed by aid of ,acklom's patent refrigerating wagons4 ,these vehicles1 constructed and fitted to keep always cool in the interior1 are drawn up to the ship's side at the docks1 laden with meat1 horsed through the streets to a railway dept1 placed upon trucks1 conveyed to any other station1 dismounted from the trucks1 and driven to warehouses and storehouses4 ,if there be continuous rail from the quay to the final warehouse1 so much the better4 ,what do the butchers and the public think of this beef and mutton8 ,it is now known that the meat should be cooked and eaten as soon as possible after being landed1 else it loses somewhat of its good flavour4 ,the newspapers stated that a consignment of two hundred quarters of beef to ,edinburgh became deteriorated towards the last1 by remaining too long in shops or stores unprovided with cooling appliances4 ,a remarkable enterprise has just been commenced in ,london in connection with this subject4 ,an ',australian ,meat ,agency ,company' has existed for several years2 it imports canistered provisions of all kinds from our antipodean colonies2 but as ,sydney and ,melbourne have not yet surmounted the difficulties of establishing a profitable transmission of fresh joints of meat to ,england1 the ,company has laid itself open to the reception of such meat from any country4 ,underneath the vast ,cannon ,street terminus of the ,south-eastern ,railway are ranges of brick vaults which the ,meat ,company has just taken at an annual rental4 ,fresh air from the river is admitted into a refrigerating chamber1 whence1 after being cooled down1 it passes into other chambers where the meat is placed on broad open shelves2 a small steam-engine forces the air over the ice in the refrigerating chambers1 and thence into the several meat chambers4 ,a sloping road leads up from the vaulted chambers to the railway level1 and there are four landing-stages from the river--thus affording considerable facilities for the arrival and departure of large consignments of meat4 ,the expectation is that the meat will keep cool and good for several days1 instead of being forced occasionally on an unwilling market to avert spoiling2 and if this expectation be realised1 the same plan may be adopted for poultry1 fruit1 and dairy produce4 ,the retailing at present is a puzzle4 ,we are told from time to time that the butchers cry down the ,american meat in order to keep up the high price of ,english and ,scotch beef and mutton2 that they sometimes sell slightly tainted ,english meat under the name of ,american1 to bring down the fair fame of the latter2 and that more frequently they buy the foreign meat and sell it again as ,english4 ,the butchers deny these allegations1 and the public are left to find out the truth for themselves the best way they can4 ,at the ,cold ,stores1 as they are called1 of the ,meat ,agency ,company1 above described1 the price for sides1 quarters1 and large joints varies from about sixpence-halfpenny to ninepence per pound--small joints being higher per pound than large1 and meat for roasting higher than meat for boiling4 ,the demand for the latter being much less than that for the former1 a rapid sale for the whole is found to be difficult1 unless buyers are tempted by a lower price for round1 brisket1 and other boiling-pieces4 ,as a small joint of the best roasting beef is tenpence per pound1 the reduction below the price for ,english beef is certainly not considerable1 especially as the sellers do not send the meat to the consumers' houses4 ,if the trade establishes itself on a firm footing1 there will probably be retail stores in various parts of ,london 7and other large towns7 for the sale of ,american meat2 or else the regular butchers will sell ,american as well as ,english meat1 each at its own proper price4 ,one thing is certain1 as already hinted1 that unless the ,americans send first-rate qualities of meat1 they need not send it at all4 ,another thing they must attend to is1 that in cutting up the meat it must be neatly dressed4 ,on this score we have heard serious complaints4 ,the quarters of beef are too often not properly trimmed for market1 at least not sufficiently so to please ,english wholesale dealers4 ,other nations are striving to ascertain whether they can obtain a share in this new meat-trade4 ,a ,french ,company has built a ship called ,la ,frigorifique1 to ply between ,buenos ,ayres and ,brest2 it contains cool chambers which will keep meat at any desired temperature4 ,the process adopted is that of ,m4 ,tellier4 ,methylic ether1 like ammonia1 evaporates rapidly1 and absorbs heat from neighbouring bodies in so doing2 the vapour passing through tubes in a cylinder cools down the air outside the tubes2 the cooled air passes into chambers in the hold1 where the meat is either hung up or put on shelves4 ,the methylic ether can be used over and over again with only little waste4 ,the hope of the ,company is to be able to stow in the ship the meat of a thousand head of cattle1 bring it from ,buenos ,ayres to ,brest in a little over a month1 and sell it at about two-thirds the price of ,french meat4 ,at the time we are writing1 the ,frigorifique is making her first voyage2 on the principle that 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating1' we must wait awhile to learn the result4 ,some of the ,liverpool steamers are1 it is reported1 being fitted up with refrigerating apparatus for bringing freshly killed meat from ,spain4 ,the continental railways are organising a plan to bring meat from ,hungary in three days in refrigerating cars1 at a freight-charge of a little over a halfpenny per pound1 to ,ostend or some port whence it could be shipped to ,england4 ,moscow is said to be able to buy fairly good beef at fourpence per pound1 and is calculating whether ,london could obtain some of it at about sevenpence4 ,the new move certainly has some lively elements in it1 and we shall watch with some interest its development4 ,as yet1 the introduction of huge cargoes of fresh meat has had no sensible effect in lowering the standard market prices4 ,to some extent this may be explained by the suspended importation of live oxen from the continent1 on account of the dreaded cattle disease4 ,unless1 however1 the importation of fresh meat from ,america or elsewhere attains a very gigantic scale1 we do not anticipate any very marked reduction of prices4 ,from the increasing wealth and population in the ,british ,islands1 the demand for meat will long far outrun the means of native supply4 ,the agricultural interest may as yet keep itself tolerably at ease on the subject4 ,,mount ,,pisgah1 ,,london1 ,w4 ,it is not much of a mountain1 scarcely deserving the name of a hill in fact1 but the name will indicate aptly enough the character of the inhabitants2 for it is here that many look longingly into the social ,promised ,land which they cannot enter4 ,mount ,pisgah is the region of struggling gentility2 as ,saffron ,hill is of organ-grinders2 as ,brixton is of merchants2 as ,westburnia is of ,hebrews and ,anglo-,asiatics2 as ,brook ,street is of doctors1 and ,islington of ,city clerks4 ,from the centre and axis of the haut ton1 which ends at ,park ,lane1 respectability radiates in a north-westerly and south-westerly direction2 but whereas ,south ,kensington abruptly terminates in ,brompton1 the region of ,hyde ,park1 properly so called1 merges into ,bayswater and ,westburnia1 the outer circle ending in ,mount ,pisgah4 ,there is a general air of neglect about the neighbourhood1 and although the houses are rather pretentious-looking buildings1 they are rarely troubled with the hands of the painter or plasterer4 ,corinthian columns and stuccoed balustrades lose much of their effect when chipped and scribbled over and used as the vehicle for the artistic displays of youth--in chalks4 ,the doorsteps are not always very clean2 and in the street1 if it is not dusty1 it is muddy2 and if scraps of paper are not flying about1 orange-peel and broken crockery strew your path4 ,but then this is also a great place for the 'slut of a servant1' who is cheap if nothing else2 and for the streets1 well1 the vestry are not likely to be troubled with complaints from such birds of passage as the ,pisgans all are--or all hope to be1 ,i should say--for too often1 alas1 do they find their wings clipped and their stay involuntary4 ,in ,mount ,pisgah1 majors and colonels are as plentiful as blackberries2 high-wranglers and ex-,indian judges jostle first classmen and 'late political residents4' ,unbeneficed clergymen1 who eagerly scan the ,times advertisements each morning for pupils2 unsuccessful doctors and disappointed barristers waiting for the patients and the briefs that are so long in coming2 and others who are seeking to eke out a scanty income by that very poor crutch but passable walking-stick1 as some one has aptly called literature--all these abound in this neighbourhood4 ,the only prosperous people are the butchers and bakers and other trades-people4 ,they nod familiarly their ',good morning1 ,gineral1' or ',wet day1 ,mister1' to the humble officer or tutor who shovels past with the weight of the remembrance of those rapidly increasing bills for inferior joints and alumed bread1 which he must meet at the end of the quarter4 ,the commercial ethics of ,mount ,pisgah are not altogether peculiar to themselves2 but if one rule meets with greater observance than another1 it is1 that as bills increase quality shall decrease2 and after all1 as ,mr ,undercut or ,mr ,crumpet will tell you1 they are often 'took in dreadful4' ,how eagerly pay-day is looked forward to6 the brief interval from the depressing pecuniary cares of their lives that comes to each four times a year4 ,a 'social' then takes place4 ,ordinarily1 old ,mangosteen1 of the --th ,native ,infantry1 meeting ,junglebird1 ,c4,s4,i41 who lived with him in the ,n4,w4,p41 where they were as brothers1 says ',how do8' and passes on4 ,each knows that the other has but one thought--his embarrassments3 they respect one another's misfortunes1 and avoid the hollow mockeries to which conversation must necessarily give rise4 ,but towards the end of each quarter all this is changed2 there is going to be a little dinner2 or ',my womenkind are turning the house inside out for a dance2' or ',the boys are going to row us down to ,richmond2' and then ,junglebird and ,mangosteen kill their tigers over again1 and chuckle merrily over that roaring night at the --th mess2 and ,briefless and ,exminus recall the old ,combination ,room jokes2 and if1 as they sip their cheap claret1 they think with some regret of that mellow ruby nectar that the cellars of ,st ,botolph's used sometimes to produce2 they also remember how1 when up last autumn for the election of a ',silverpoker' 7as the ,esquire ,bedel is irreverently called1 from his emblem of office71 they had found two fellows of their own time martyrs to gout and a nuisance to the whole college--for which that delicious 'old tawny' was doubtless responsible4 ,the ladies in ,mount ,pisgah take quite a different tone too1 at this eventful period4 ,although at other times not quite so 'solitary' in their habits as their husbands--for women find a comfort in talking over their common troubles--they have long discussions upon the chance of ,charley getting a presentation to ,christ's ,hospital2 or of ,tommy's cadetship at ,wellington2 or how ,mr ,howling ,hawley1 the great singing-master1 held out hopes of dear ,amelia's voice being a fortune to her2 and yet how dreadful it would be for the poor child to appear before the public2 but then you know1 my dear1 things have altered so much since our time1 and now you really find quite respectable people performing in public6 ,but when they give their little dinners and dances and the rest1 you shall see how the ,pisgan ladies will rise to the occasion1 and you shall not find in ,grosvenor ,square a more strict observance of the rules of etiquette4 ,and if at times it is a little old-fashioned and somewhat more strict than ,society demands in these loose times1 it bears the right stamp1 and might indeed be profitably imitated in many more pretentious houses4 ,of course it is a long time since those ,pisgans who have belonged to the ,rag or the ,oriental1 or the ,union or ,junior1 have ceased to be members of those institutions4 ,some have found that the seven or eight guineas required at the most critical period of the year could be spent to much better purpose2 others have felt that the old associations would be too painful4 ,but they have their clubs nevertheless4 ,within the last ten years clubs have become as plentiful as hotels nearly4 ,and the enterprising ,city gentleman who fits up a big house with a dining and reading and smoking and morning and billiard room1 and advertises the inauguration of the ,pantheon ,club1 'for the benefit of those gentlemen who are unable to enter the older clubs owing to their overcrowded condition1' requires names for his committee4 ,military ,pisgans are admirably suited for this rle4 ,what a blessing too1 that they have such a place to go to1 instead of always pottering about at home1 where they would be but too often in the way4 ,there are more troublesome things than canaries and poodles1 novel-reading and invitation cards1 to be attended to by the mammas and daughters of ,pisgan households4 ,committees of ways and means2 arguing with the cook who 'hasn't been accustomed' to some obviously wise little economy2 softening the anger of some brow-beating creditor2 twisting and turning1 and 'managing1' to make old appear like new1 are all matters in which the presence of a male creature is worse than useless4 ,so there is a vague sort of tradition that papa goes to his club to write letters1 and to be there if anything should turn up4 ,and he sometimes writes a few letters1 and reads all the papers1 and smokes a good many pipes1 and takes a sandwich and moderate tankard of beer for his lunch1 and saunters down ,regent ,street1 or drops into the ,british ,museum ,reading-room or the ,national ,gallery--or into the ,india or ,colonial ,office1 to see if 'anything is turning up4' ,besides1 he will give you the particulars of a review in ,hyde ,park1 or a boat-race on the ,thames1 or a 'demonstration' at the ',reformers' ,tree1' just as well as the evening papers1 for these are all luxuries within his reach4 ,and in the season you will see him on the wrong side of the ,row looking into the ,promised ,land4 ,time was perhaps when he too had joined a knot of laughing youths at the ,corner1 or seated on horseback had tapped his lackered boot with infinite self-satisfaction1 or trotted along at the side of some fair creature with whom he would dance an unconscionable number of dances that same evening4 ,he was a sub or an undergraduate at the time1 and saw ,fortune within his grasp2 but he missed his chance1 or ,fortune was unkind2 and gall and vinegar were his portion instead of milk and honey4 ,some of the inhabitants of ,mount ,pisgah are fairly off1 and merely live there because they find the place cheap and they are not forced into any fashionable extravagances4 ,but this is not the case with most4 ,their pleasures are negative--the mere temporary absence of care4 ,the continually recurring question1 ',how shall ,i pay8' or ',what will it cost8' crushes every sense of comfort and ease out of them4 ,for them is none of the happy regularity of well-to-do respectability--the wiping off of unpaid bills as regularly as ,mary ,jane the housemaid dusts the escritoire with its dainty pieces of ,japan-work and ormolu4 ,not for them the pleasant little morning duties2 the list for ,mudie's2 the tending of the conservatory2 the new waltz by ,godfrey2 the orders for tradesmen and for dinner 7the one crumpled rose-leaf perhaps1 this72 the afternoon shopping or visiting2 the drive to ,pall ,mall1 or the ,temple1 or the ,city1 to bring papa back from his club1 or his chambers1 or his office2 the pretty frequent theatre and concert2 the weekly 'at-homes2' the friendly dances1 and more elaborate balls1 that are of constant occurrence when town is full4 ,life is very hard and ugly in ,mount ,pisgah4 ,captain ,burton the great traveller1 says in one of his late works that he wonders how any poor man can ever think of living in ,england1 or any rich one out of it4 ,if ,england1 perhaps more so ,london2 and it is only necessary to know a little of ,mount ,pisgah to learn what a fascination is exercised over some men's minds by this dear foggy1 hard and tender1 rich and squalid1 centre of an ,englishman's world1 yclept ,london4 ,,spring ,,showers4 ,sweet is the swart earth ,after the ,april rain2 ,it will give the violets birth1 ,and quicken the grass in the plain4 ,the woodlands are dim--with dreams ,of the region they lately have left2 ,like ,man and his thoughts of ,eden-- ,of something of which he's bereft4 ,the stars they have left their veils ,on the everlasting hills2 ,and angels have trodden the dales1 ,and spirits have touched the rills4 ,and truths to be seen and heard1 ,say ,love has made all things his own2 ,he reigns in the breast of the bird1 ,and has made the earth's bosom his throne4 ,the pansies peep by the brook1 ,and the primrose is pure in the sun2 ,the world wears a heavenly look1 ,man's spirit and ,nature are one4 ,the cottage that glints through the trees1 ,and the moss-cushioned1 lilac-plumed wall1 ,the woodland1 and emerald leas ,are touched with the ,spirit of all4 99 99 99 99 99 ,printed and ,published by ,w4 ,r4 ,,chambers1 #dg ,paternoster ,row1 ,,london1 and #cci ,high ,street1 ,,edinburgh4 99 99 99 99 99 ,all ,rights ,reserved4