,illustration3 ,,an ,,antique ,f,,te4 ,from the ,painting in the ,salon by ,p4 ,l4 ,,vagnier4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,girl',s ,,own ,,paper ,,vol4 ,,xx4--,,no4 #iic4 ,,january #g1 #ahii4 ,,price ,,one ,,penny4 ,,self-,,culture ,,for ,,girls4 ,illustration3 ,,aspiration4 ,all rights reserved4 ,,part ,i4 ,there is1 perhaps1 no word in the present day which has been more frequently used and abused than 8culture40 ,it has come so readily to the lips of modern prophets1 that it has acquired a secondary and ironical significance4 ,some of our readers may have seen a clever ,university parody 7on the ,heathen ,chinee7 describing the encounter of two undergraduates in the streets of ,oxford4 ,one1 in faultless attire1 replies proudly to the other's inquiry where he is going-- 8,i am bound for some tea and tall culture40 ,he is1 in fact1 on the way to a meeting of the ,browning ,society1 and when a ,don hurries up to tell him the society has suddenly collapsed1 great is the lamentation6 ,probably the society in question deserved no satire at all2 but there is a sort of 8culture for culture's sake0 which does deserve to be held up to ridicule4 ,we find nothing to laugh at1 however1 but a very real pathos1 in the letters that are reaching us literally from all quarters of the globe2 and we long to help the writers1 as well as those who have similar needs and longings unexpressed4 8,how can ,i attain self-culture80 is the question asked in varying terms1 but with the same refrain4 ,girls1 after schooldays are past1 wake up to find themselves in a region of vast1 dimly-perceived possibilities3 8,moving about in worlds not realised40 ,more to be pitied is the lot of those who have not had any schooldays at all worth speaking of1 and who are awaking to their own mental poverty--poverty1 while there is wealth all about them which they cannot make their own4 ,their case is like that of the heir to some vast estates1 who cannot enjoy them1 because he cannot prove his title4 ,what1 then1 is this much talked-of culture8 ,there are several things which it is not4 ,to begin with1 it is not a superficial smattering of certain accomplishments4 ,it is not a general readiness to talk about the reviews one has read of new books4 ,it is not the varnish acquired from associating day by day with well-educated and urbane people4 ,it is not development to an enormous extent in one direction only4 ,it is not attending one course of ,university ,extension ,lectures4 ,it is not the knack of cramming for examinations1 and of passing them with clat4 ,all these elements may enter into culture1 but they are not culture itself4 ,it is a harder matter to define culture than to say what it is not4 ,as we write these words1 our eye falls on the saying of a well-known prelate1 reported in the ,times of the day3 8,general culture--another name for sympathetic interest in the world of human intelligence40 ,this sounds rather highflown and difficult1 but we may add three more definitions-- 8,culture is a study of perfection40--,matthew ,arnold4 8,culture is the passion for sweetness and light1 and 7what is more7 the passion for making them prevail40--,matthew ,arnold4 8,culture is the process by which a man becomes all that he was created capable of being40--,carlyle4 ,the third of these is1 perhaps1 the best working definition of culture1 for it shows its real importance and significance1 and also makes it simpler to understand4 ,look at a neglected garden4 ,the grass is long and rank2 the beds are a mere tangle of weeds and of straggling flowers that have run to seed1 or deteriorated in size and sweetness until they can hardly be called flowers at all4 ,it is a wilderness4 ,the garden is taken in hand and cultivated1 not by a mechanical ignorant gardener1 but by someone who understands the capacities of the soil1 and knows what will do well and repay his care4 ,see the transformation in time to come6 ,there is everything by turn that is beautiful in its season2 the lovely herbaceous border1 the standard rose-trees1 the sheltered bed of lilies of the valley1 the peaches on the warm southern wall1 the ferns waving in feathery profusion in the cool corner near the well--all that the garden can produce for delight to the eye or for food is there4 ,the ground is not given over exclusively to one flower1 one vegetable2 it is not stocked mechanically for the summer with geraniums and calceolarias2 but it is1 as we say in homely parlance1 8made the most of0 in every particular1 and is a delight to behold4 ,this may seem a simple illustration1 and we are writing not for the erudite1 but for the simple reader4 ,the man or woman of culture is the man or woman whose nature has been cultivated in such a way as to develop all its capabilities in the best possible direction2 whose education has been adapted skilfully to taste and capacity1 and who has been taught the art of self-instruction4 ,it is hardly necessary to urge the value of this 8cultivation40 8,cultivation is as necessary to the mind as food to the body10 said a wise man1 and this is gradually coming to be believed4 ,culture is something more by far than mere instruction1 though instruction is a means by which it may be attained4 ,bearing in mind our simile of the garden1 we are led on from one thought to another4 ,it was a very wise man indeed who pointed out that1 even as ground will produce something1 8herbs or weeds10 the mind will not remain empty if it is not cultivated2 it tends to become full of silly or ignorant thoughts like 8an unweeded garden40 ,again1 in a well-ordered1 cultivated plot of ground we have what is useful as well as what is lovely4 ,in culture1 not only the acquirement of 8useful knowledge0 plays a part1 but the storing of the mind with what is beautiful1 the development of taste in all directions4 ,in brief1 a woman of real culture is the woman who makes you instinctively feel1 when in her company1 that she is just what she was meant to be2 harmoniously developed in accordance with her natural capacity4 ,there is nothing startling about her paraded attainments4 ,the extreme simplicity of a person of true culture is one of the most marked traits1 and the chief point that distinguishes spurious from real culture is that the former is inclined to 8tall talk0 and the latter is not4 ,charles ,dickens can still make us smile at his caricature of an ,american ,l4 ,l4 7literary lady7 and her remarks on her introduction to some great personage4 ,she immediately begins-- 8,mind and matter glide swift into the vortex of ,immensity4 ,howls the sublime1 and softly sleeps the calm ,ideal in the whispering chambers of ,imagination4 ,to hear it1 sweet it is4 ,but then outlaughs the stern philosopher and saith to the ,grotesque3 #8,what ho2 arrest for me that ,agency6 ,go1 bring it here6' ,and so the vision fadeth40 ,the woman of culture does not attempt fine talking1 and it is only gradually that her power and charm dawn upon her companion4 8,it is proof of a high culture to say the greatest matters in the simplest way40 ,in the same manner simplicity is a proof of high breeding4 ,the people who are 8somebody0 are1 as a rule1 easy to 8get on0 with4 ,it is the rich 8parvenue0 who is disconcerting1 and who tries to drag into her conversation the names of great people or great doings that will impress her companion4 ,when we observe this sort of thing in a woman1 we always know she is not 8to the manner born40 ,so when we hear people declare1 8,i am afraid of ,so-and-so because she is so clever10 we feel that1 if there is ground for their fear1 there is something defective in the clever one's culture4 ,,why ,,should ,,culture ,,be ,,desired8 ,it opens the eye and ear to the beauty and greatness of the world1 revealing wonders that could not otherwise be understood1 and bringing with it a wealth of happiness2 and more1 it gives an understanding of life in its due proportion4 ,the woman of culture is not the woman who objects to perform necessary tasks at a pinch because they are 8menial10 or takes offence at imaginary slights1 or is for ever fussing about her domestic duties and her servants1 or gets up little quarrels and 8storms in a teacup0 generally1 or delights in ill-natured gossip4 ,she sees how ineffably small such things are1 and she sees them in this light because she has the width of vision which enables her to discern the meaning of life as a whole4 ,those whose eyes have once been opened to the beauty and pathos that lie around their path1 even in the common round of daily duty1 do not notice the dust that clings to their shoes4 ,sympathy is an accompaniment of true culture2 the sympathy that comes of understanding4 ,ignorant people are very often hard just because of ignorance4 ,they cannot in the least enter into the feelings of others1 nor do they understand that there is a world beyond their own miserable little enclosure4 ,for instance1 what a puzzle a clever1 sensitive1 imaginative child is to people of contented matter-of-fact stupidity6 ,one need not think of ,maggie and ,mrs4 ,tulliver1 or ,aurora ,leigh and her aunt1 to illustrate this--there are plenty of examples from real life4 ,the girl does not take to sewing and the baking of bread and puddings2 she is always wanting to get hold of a book--never so happy as when she is reading4 ,or the boy is always poring over the mysteries of fern and flower--never so happy as when he is afoot to secure some fresh specimen4 ,people of culture would foresee that the one may be a student1 the other a botanist1 in days to come1 and1 while of course insisting that practical duty is not selfishly overlooked1 they would try to give scope for the individual taste4 ,people without culture would set the whole thing down as laziness and vagabond trifling and 8shirking10 to be severely repressed4 ,sympathetic insight is one of the most valuable attributes of culture2 valuable all through life1 especially when dealing with others4 ,but we can imagine that the reader may be thinking rather hopelessly1 8,it is not necessary to preach to me on the advantages of culture2 ,i am fully convinced of them2 but all you say makes me hopeless of ever attaining such a degree of perfection4 ,in fact1 ,i can see culture is not for me at all1 and ,i must just go on as ,i am40 ,the dictionary definition of culture is 8the application of labour1 or other means1 to improve good qualities1 or growth40 ,this does not sound quite like the other definitions1 and a great deal of confusion has been caused by people forgetting that the word 8culture0 is used for two things--the 8process0 of cultivation1 and the 8result0 of that process4 ,now it is quite true that 8culture10 in the last and highest sense1 is not within the reach of all our readers2 but surely there is no reader who would say she cannot 8apply labour or other means0 to improve her intelligence1 be it in ever so small a degree4 ,it is better to cultivate a garden ever so little than to leave it a wilderness4 ,culture1 looked upon as a process1 may begin and go on almost indefinitely4 ,goethe well says-- 8,woe to every sort of culture which destroys the most effectual means of all true culture1 and directs us to the end1 instead of rendering us happy on the way40 ,in other words1 it is foolish to strain miserably after 8culture for culture's sake10 endeavouring to reach an impossible goal1 and feeling discontented and wretched because it is too remote4 ,the wise way is to do the best one can with the opportunities that lie within reach4 ,every girl who reads these pages can do something to render herself a little nearer her ideal of 8culture10 and in the subsequent papers we shall try to show her how she can best succeed4 ,,lily ,,watson4 7,to be continued47 ,illustration ,,chronicles ,,of ,,an ,,anglo-,,californian ,,ranch4 ,,by ,,margaret ,,innes4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,our ,,choice ,,of ,,land ,,for ,,lemons--,,the ,,planting ,,of ,,the ,,trees--,,our ,,removal ,,to ,,the ,,barn4 ,meanwhile we were furiously busy at the old search again4 ,we were able to get more and fresh details about the whole business from a source which we knew to be perfectly reliable2 and as these facts were encouraging1 we picked up heart again4 ,the whole surrounding neighbourhood was driven over1 generally with a pick and shovel in the buggy with which to make careful examination of the depth and kind of soil4 ,there were plenty of ready-made ranches for sale1 but they were never just what we wanted4 ,so we resolved that if we bought anything1 it should be untouched1 uncleared land1 on some of the foothills where we could get a broad and sweeping view of the splendid ranges of mountains4 ,we would make our own ranch1 planned after our own tastes1 and1 above all1 we would build our own house4 ,we had determined to plant lemons4 ,they seemed to us to have many advantages over other fruits4 ,the land which will produce fine lemons must necessarily be limited in area2 it must be high enough to escape the frost4 ,lemons do not need the great heat which is needed to ripen oranges4 ,they are gathered all the year round and will keep4 ,deciduous fruit ripens all at one time1 and has to be gathered and sold at once1 which makes it necessary to engage outside labour4 ,as all wages are very high1 this is a heavy expense4 ,even if the fruit is dried1 as in the case of peaches1 pears1 prunes1 apples1 etc41 for winter use1 considerable work is involved1 and as far as we can learn1 yields only a small profit for this extra trouble4 ,lemons too1 in ,america1 are a daily necessity1 not a luxury4 ,everyone uses them1 and the drinking saloons alone require a constant supply4 ,these were the principal reasons which decided our choice1 and at last1 after a whole year's uncertainty1 we found land in a position that we liked--good rich land1 lying high1 and in a most beautiful position1 with a splendid view of the distant mountains1 the tops of five ranges standing up1 one behind the other1 and the different distances marked with exquisite softness of colouring4 ,it was situated about fourteen miles from ,san ,miguel1 not out of reach of the cool breeze which blows from the sea all day and every day during the summer4 ,we went many times to examine it1 and finally the great decision was taken to buy thirty acres4 ,at that time we found we could buy in this neighbourhood first-class citrus land1 with water1 at about one hundred dollars the acre4 ,we knew there was no good land to be had for less4 ,as a matter of fact1 however1 the first cost of land and water bears but a small proportion to the whole cost of the ranch up to the point of yielding returns4 ,after our long time of anxious indecision1 it was a relief to have something settled about the future1 and to plan and work for the new home1 although ,i must confess that1 as long as no definite steps had been taken1 ,i was conscious of a hope buried deep down out of sight1 that it might be proved wisest for us to return to the dear old country4 ,the home-sickness was such a hunger and pain4 ,it was the month of ,june when we bought our land1 and we were anxious to plant as many trees as possible without delay1 for the later the summer1 the drier the ground4 ,spring is1 of course1 the best time for planting1 when the earth is in beautiful condition after the winter rains4 ,but to wait till next spring seemed too great a loss of time4 ,we were very proud of ourselves that we managed to get five hundred beautiful little lemon-trees planted before the end of ,july4 ,considering that the ground had to be cleared of brush and sumac and sage1 then ploughed1 and the water-pipes laid from the main in such a manner as to reach all over the ranch1 and the position of the trees carefully measured 7this last all the more difficult in our case1 because the ground is up and down hill7--considering all this hard work1 we had a right to some self-satisfaction4 ,we were able to find a competent ranchman who lived quite conveniently near1 for1 until we had time to build1 there was nowhere for him to sleep on the ranch1 although1 in some cases1 the conveniences for these men are of the roughest4 ,we heard from one man that1 when he arrived at a new place and asked where he was to sleep1 the 8boss0 stared at him a moment1 then1 giving a comprehensive glance round his enormous tract of land1 said1 8,well1 if you can't find a place to suit you in seven thousand acres1 ,i guess ,i can't help you60 ,however1 ,i do not vouch for the truth of this1 although sleeping out-of-doors in the summer months in this beautiful climate is no hardship4 ,during this busy time1 my husband and eldest boy drove out constantly to the ranch for a stay of three or four days at a time1 returning home for a short rest at the little house in ,san ,miguel1 then back again to the hard work of planting1 etc4 ,on these expeditions they started always very early in the morning1 and took with them provisions and various odds and ends to give them some comfort in the tent in which they slept4 ,we were feeling the urgent necessity for carrying through some plan that would enable us to settle at the ranch altogether with as little delay as possible4 ,so we decided to have our barn built first and to live in this till the house should be finished4 ,this we carried out1 and it saved us much loss of time and vexation1 both in building the house and in working the ranch4 ,it was an exciting moment when the day arrived for us to move from our little house at ,san ,miguel to the barn at the ranch4 ,a removal is a very different matter in this far-away corner from the same thing in any more settled part of the world4 ,looking back to the old life in the beloved old country1 ,i find ,i have an almost sentimental regard for the strong1 well-trained men who come and help so splendidly at such times4 ,here1 where the rule of life is to help yourself in everything1 one has to be thankful for the most casual1 untrained assistance--very little of that too1 and at a price that would make one open one's eyes at home4 ,we had two large waggons coupled together1 the one behind being called a trailer1 with six horses to pull the load2 and our luggage1 which included a large iron cooking-stove and a grand piano1 was packed into these in a most casual fashion4 ,they looked very top heavy when ready to start1 and we knew the road to be terribly rough1 full of 8chuck holes0 and sudden lumps4 ,however1 we waved the men a cheery farewell as they lumbered off1 and then turned to gather up the numberless forgotten odds and ends and to pack them into the 8,surrey10 which stood waiting for us4 ,it looked like part of a gipsy procession when we had finished1 and we rejoiced that our boys had gone with the waggons1 for there seemed absolutely no room for anybody inside the 8,surrey40 ,nevertheless1 we wedged ourselves in somehow1 my husband and ,i and the 8coloured lady0 whom ,i was taking out as cook1 also two small dogs that had been added to the family4 ,then we also lumbered off1 leaving with rather mixed feelings the little house where we had done our first housekeeping in ,california4 ,about a month before this1 after many experiments with horses we had bought a pair of greys1 and now drove them out to the ranch1 where they were to plough and cultivate and to serve as carriage horses when needed4 ,the ordinary ranch horse is of a lighter build than his cousin the ,english farm horse1 having a strong dash of broncho mixed with his peasant blood1 which makes him rather lively and very tough4 ,ours were called ,dan and ,joe4 ,joe was very gentle and willing1 and ,dan1 who for some years had worked constantly with him1 traded on his goodness and left always the greatest strain of everything to him4 ,however1 generally they ran along together at a good pace and gave no trouble4 ,this day we were obliged to go more slowly1 as the 8,surrey0 was so heavily laden1 and the rough country roads bumped and lurched us about so violently that it was difficult to keep ourselves and our bundles from being shot into the air4 ,with all our care1 a large and tempting piece of cheese1 which had been added to the provisions as an afterthought1 disappeared1 and we spent some valuable time in turning back to hunt for it4 ,we were anxious to reach the ranch as long before sunset as possible1 for we knew it would not be easy work to get our little family settled in the barn4 7,to be continued47 ,,art ,,in ,,the ,,house4 ,,part ,,iii4 ,,how ,,to ,,stencil ,,in ,,oil ,,colours4 ,ordinary tube colours should be used for stencilling on your furniture mixed with a little copal varnish and slightly thinned with turps4 ,driers are put up in tubes under the names of sacrum or sugar of lead1 and it is as well to mix a little with your colours as it makes them dry off quickly4 ,the white should be mixed up in a batch with the varnish1 driers and turps1 and be of the consistency of thick cream4 ,your tinting colours should be squeezed out on your palette so that you can readily mix up your tones4 ,illustration3 ,,fig4 #a4--,panel of corner cupboard decorated in stencilling4 ,the centre panel is founded on the iris1 with the daisy at base4 ,stencil brushes are round and short in the hair1 so that they present a flat surface on the stencil4 ,you require three or four1 two about an inch in diameter1 one five-eighths and one three-eighths or a quarter of an inch4 ,two or three small flat hog brushes for touching in ties and putting in particular parts of a stencil should be handy4 ,we will begin with the stiles of the door of chiffonier1 which is decorated with the ornamental stencil ,b1 ,fig4 #a in first article4 ,we put the corners in first and this corner ,i cut separately as ,i could not fit in the stencil ,i was using4 ,having done this see how your other stencil will work out1 for it does not look workmanlike to start at the top and find that you have to end it with a different spacing to what you started with4 ,if you begin in the centre of each stile and work to the corners you will obtain a symmetrical result4 ,always remember to space out any part of your work which is conspicuous1 so that the stencil seems to just fit in the space as though it were cut specially for it4 ,i find it a good plan to have some pins handy1 and just tap in a couple1 one at each end of the stencil1 to keep it from shifting while you rub on the colour4 ,both your hands are then at liberty4 ,or you can get a friend to hold the plate down on the wood1 but the pinning does almost better4 ,if you shift the stencil before you have knocked out the impression you will not get a sharp result4 ,having tinted your white to the desired tone spread a little of the colour on to your palette and knock your stencil brush on to this colour a few times1 so that the brush takes up some of the colour1 then begin by gently knocking the brush on to the wood over the cut-out portions until you have completely covered them with colour4 ,don't try to do this too quickly4 ,proceed gently1 getting the colour out of your brush by degrees1 and take up the colour from the palette in the same gentle manner4 ,the reason for this caution is that if you take up too much colour at a time in your brush and knock it violently on the stencil plate1 you will find when you lift up the same that the impression1 instead of being sharp will be blobby at the edges through the colour having worked under the stencil4 ,the art of stencilling is in getting sharp1 clean impressions1 and this can only come of care and taking time4 ,on no account get the colour too thin4 ,it should be of such a consistency as will enable you to knock it out of the brush with slight exertion4 ,if too stodgy thin it with a drop or two of turps and linseed oil1 and then mix with palette knife1 but on no account get turps into the stencil brush or you will get very bad impressions1 for the colour is sure then to run under the stencil4 ,therefore again ,i say1 don't hurry4 ,i have said nothing yet as to the tones of colour to be used4 ,this is a matter of taste1 and is a most difficult subject to write about4 ,two artists will use the same colours1 and yet one with an eye for colour will give us beautiful harmonies1 and the other one wanting this delicacy of perception will give us crudity4 ,form in your mind some tone of colour suggested1 say1 by the warm mellow colours of autumn1 the soberer russet and greys of the winter1 or the light1 fresh1 delicate tints of spring1 and carry these suggestions out in your decoration4 ,the corner cupboard1 ,fig4 #a1 we might tint in the russet tones1 and you will find that such colours as raw sienna1 raw umber1 yellow ochre1 terra verte1 burnt sienna1 chromes ,nos4 #a and #b1 ,prussian blue1 ,french ultramarine1 and light red will supply you with a very varied palette4 ,white tinted with yellow ochre1 raw sienna or raw umber are all good tones for stencilling in1 and each of them can be mixed or toned with one of the others4 ,the addition of terra verte or ,prussian blue will give you soft tones of green4 ,by using such a yellow as ochre to make greens you obtain softer1 quieter tones than if you used chromes4 ,suppose you have small quantities of the above three tints mixed on your palette1 you can take a little of one in your brush and knock that out on the stencil1 and then a little of the next tint and knock that out1 and so on with the third4 ,in this way you get a variety of tints in the stencilled border and yet a certain 8tone0 will run all through1 which gives one a sense of harmony1 and at the same time variety1 and so lessens the hard mechanical look which stencilling in just one colour is apt to give4 ,then1 too1 when you have knocked out one impression before lifting off the stencil1 you can take one of the hog hair brushes or the smallest stencil brush and put in the body and the portion of the wings around it of the butterflies ,b in the corner cupboard1 ,fig4 #a1 in a little darker colour1 say more raw umber or sienna4 ,it is very little more trouble and greatly adds to the general effect to give these accents4 ,the idea is to make the butterflies come off the web1 so keep the web lighter and the insects darker4 ,in the border ,b1 ,fig4 #a1 in first article the flowers might be touched in to bring them off the lines of the background4 ,the pattern on the spaces surrounding the door ,a1 ,fig4 #a1 can still be in the same tones1 varied as ,i have suggested1 but the panels of the doors being themselves more naturalesque1 might be a little more positive in colouring1 i4e41 the leaves and grass can be put in1 in quiet1 soft tones of green1 while the flowers could be in lemon chrome and white or bluish purple made of rose madder and ,french blue or ,indian red and ,prussian blue lightened with white1 but don't make the colouring too bright1 so that it is in too strong contrast to the stiles4 ,greens made of blue and chrome are much cruder than if you use yellow ochre or raw sienna4 ,going back now to the colouring of the chiffonier ,fig4 #a 7p4 #ac7 in first article4 ,the plinth or bottom ,d can be in low-toned greens1 not too dark but darker than the leaves in the panels1 while the daisies can be in grey made of white1 raw umber1 and a touch of blue1 with centres in yellow4 ,stencil the flowers first and then with a small brush put in the yellow centres4 ,a slight touch of pink at the edges of the daisies might look well1 effected by using a small hog brush and a little rose madder4 ,the leaves around the column keep in the quiet greens used in plinth ,d4 ,the back of the upper part of chiffonier1 ,fig4 #b1 with its shelf can be treated like the panels in colouring1 and the festoon above the shelf can have the flowers in the grey and the leaves in russet not too dark1 and the ribbon in pale blue4 ,as you have a white surface to decorate1 be careful not to get your colouring too strong4 ,use plenty of white with all your colours1 for you will find that delicate tones are much pleasanter to live with than heavy ones4 ,a little of the pure colours from the tubes will tint a lot of white1 so the colours will not be a great expense4 ,buy the flake white in half-pound tubes for cheapness4 ,in arranging stencils act somewhat on the plan ,i have observed1 which is to keep the more naturalesque stencils for such places as panels or other flat1 broad surfaces1 and as a framing to them the more ornamental patterns1 to contrast with the natural ones4 ,the butterfly border on the stiles of the corner cupboard ,b1 ,fig4 #a1 is a good foil to the iris panel1 just as the border ,b1 ,fig4 #a1 is a good foil to the daisy panel in the chiffonier4 ,the conventional grass seemed a suitable pattern for the plinth1 and such a purely ornamental design as a festoon not inappropriate to the shaped top4 ,i have mentioned before that great variety can be obtained by combining portions of different stencils4 ,the plinth ,d1 ,fig4 #a1 of chiffonier1 for instance1 is a combination of two1 the flowers being from one and the grass itself from another4 ,the butterfly and sprig running border1 ,fig4 #a1 in second article1 ,i have shown in variation1 and the border in corner cupboard1 ,a1 ,fig4 #a1 is made by taking the sprig portion only and putting the root in between each impression4 ,when you want only a portion of a stencil cover over the rest with paper1 so that you do not get an impression of a part you do not require4 ,some colours are very fugitive such as indigo1 crimson lake1 yellow lake1 etc42 but the colours ,i have mentioned may be relied upon for permanency4 ,when the stencilling is thoroughly dry it will preserve the work to give it a coat of white hard varnish4 ,apply this freely with a flat hog brush 7or regular varnish brush71 seeing that you miss no portion of the surface4 ,keep it from the dust until dry and you will have a pretty and useful article of furniture4 ,of course you may have some other article to do up than the chiffonier ,i have sketched1 which ,i took simply because it was to my hand1 but you can easily apply these hints to your own necessities4 ,when your stencils are done with you wash them thoroughly in turpentine1 both back and front1 and dry them and put them away1 keeping them flat4 ,while you are using your stencils wipe the back after each impression1 so that if any colour has worked there you can remove it4 ,have an old board and some newspaper to lay the stencil on when you clean it4 ,with the batch of stencils given with these articles endless variations and combinations are possible4 ,many of the patterns too could be easily adapted for needlework2 in fact1 you have only to lightly stencil your material in water colour and work over the impressions4 ,use ,chinese white if a dark textile1 and lamp black and ,chinese white if a light one4 ,though ,i have advised white paint for these two articles of furniture1 there is no reason why you shouldn't try dark ones4 ,stencilling is very effective on dark paint1 and a cabinet or cupboard painted a dark brownish green would look well with stencilling in shades of old gold4 ,to get a rich colour the final coat must have very little white with it4 ,for a brownish green use burnt sienna1 black1 deep chrome1 and touch of ,prussian blue1 with only enough white to make it light enough4 ,,fred ,,miller4 ,,varieties4 ,,how ,,to ,,get ,,on4 ,when ,lord ,esher took leave of the ,bench and ,bar recently1 he made a noteworthy utterance1 which has an interest for all young people1 even though they are not lawyers or ever likely to be4 ,this eminent judge1 who has sat on the judicial bench with great distinction for twenty-nine years1 told his hearers that resoluteness of purpose had been the secret of his success4 8,what ,i will say to all of you10 he remarked1 8is this4 ,i became a judge because ,i had made up my mind and will1 from the beginning1 that ,i would be a judge4 ,do not suppose ,i had no checks1 and that there were not occasional times when it appeared that one was being passed over4 ,i said1 #8,never mind the checks2 ,i will go on1 and ,i will get to the top1 if it is possible to do it6' ,i recommend that to you all40 ,,such ,,is ,,fame4 ,the great ,napoleon1 more than a year after he had become ,emperor1 tried to find out if there was anyone in ,france who had never heard of him4 ,it was not long before he discovered a wood-cutter at ,montmartre within the walls of ,paris1 to whom the name of ,napoleon was quite unknown1 and1 more than that1 the man was ignorant of the ,revolution and had no knowledge of the fact that ,louis ,,xvi4 was dead4 ,another anecdote showing equally well that the trumpet of fame does not reach the ears of everybody was told by ,mr4 ,roebuck in the course of a speech made at ,salisbury in #aheb4 ,he told his audience that when he mentioned the recent death of the ,duke of ,wellington to a 8shrewd ,hampshire labourer10 the man replied-- 8,i be very sorry for he4 ,but who was he80 ,,kindness ,,and ,,courage4 ,life is mostly froth and bubble1 ,two things stand like stone3 ,kindness in another's trouble1 ,courage in your own4 ,a ,,real ,,friend4--,account her your real friend who desires your good rather than your good-will4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,answer ,,to ,,triple ,,acrostic 7p4 #fc74 7,extra ,christmas ,part47 #a4 ,e ver ,g ree ,n #b4 ,l ,e ,a #c4 ,i st ,h mi ,a #d4 ,s o l ,a nu ,m #e4 ,h u ,z z ,a #f4 ,a nd ,i ro ,n ,elisha--,gehazi--,naaman4 8,,our ,,hero40 ,,by ,,agnes ,,giberne1 ,author of 8,sun1 ,moon and ,stars10 8,the ,girl at the ,dower ,house10 etc4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,from ,,over ,,the ,,water4 ,lucille1 turning to go1 made a little sign to ,roy to follow her4 ,ivor opened the door1 moving mechanically1 as if his mind were far away2 and ,roy1 with a show of reluctance1 went in her rear4 8,but1 ,mademoiselle1 ,i want to know about them all at home4 ,molly most6 ,and ,den can tell me40 8,yes2 soon4 ,but would you not leave ,monsieur to read his letter in peace8 ,would not that be kind80 8,are you more sorry for ,den than for the rest of us80 demanded ,roy1 his frank grey eyes looking ,lucille in the face somewhat laughingly4 ,the question took her by surprise2 and afterwards she recurred to it1 wondering at the boy's unconscious penetration4 ,at the moment she met his glance readily enough4 8,i do not know4 ,i am sorry for you all4 ,but ,captain ,ivor--yes1 perhaps most4 ,i am not sure4 ,he is more changed by his imprisonment than any4 ,cannot you perceive8 ,mais non--you are a boy--you do not look40 8,i do1 though10 protested the injured ,roy4 8,that was why ,i wouldn't go on playing chess4 ,and then for you to say that ,i don't look4 ,but ,i can't see that ,den is changed--not a scrap4 ,what do you mean8 ,he's the best old fellow that ever lived--just as he always was1 you know40 8,old60 repeated ,lucille1 with a lifting of her eyebrows4 8,o1 that's only--that means nothing4 ,at least1 it means that ,i like him better than anybody else--except ,molly4 ,no1 he isn't old really1 of course--he was twenty-five his last birthday40 ,roy laughed to himself4 8,something that you find amusing1 ,roy60 8,it's only the letter4 ,do you know1 that's from the girl he is going to marry some day4 ,it's from ,polly40 8,oui40 ,lucille had already conjectured as much4 8,mademoiselle ,pol-ly4 ,c'est un peu drle1 ce nom-l40 8,but 'tis not ,mademoiselle ,po-lee4 ',tis just ,polly4 ,you do say names so drolly--so ,french6 ,den says ,i'm not to cure you of talking as you do1 because 'tis pretty4 ,but her name really and truly isn't ,polly4 ,she is ,mary ,keene--only no one ever calls her ,mary40 8,mademoiselle ,marie ,keene--ah1 oui4 ,and is this ,mademoiselle ,keene pretty--gentille80 8,i should just think she was4 ,the prettiest girl that ever was10 declared ,roy4 8,though ,i like ,molly best1 you know1 and she's not pretty4 ,but ,polly's nice1 too4 ,may ,i go back now8 ,den has had lots of time40 8,i would wait--ten minutes--why not8 ,you have not yet unpacked for monsieur40 ,roy murmured one impatient 8,bother6 ,plague take it60 and then his face cleared1 and he complied4 ,ivor did not know how much he owed to ,lucille1 in being thus left to the undisturbed enjoyment of his letter4 ,he forgot all about both ,lucille and ,roy1 when once he had it in possession4 ,the very touch of that thick paper1 with its red seals1 did him good4 ,as he unfolded it1 the weight on his brain lessened1 and sight became more clear4 ,if ,polly only wrote to say that she was growing tired of waiting and could not promise to wait indefinitely1 still even that would be better than not hearing at all--even to know the worst at once would be better than absolute uncertainty4 ,and meanwhile it was her own handwriting4 ,there was one sheet1 square-shaped1 written well over4 ,polly's letter came first1 and another from somebody else followed it4 ,ivor did not trouble himself as to the authorship of the second1 till he had read through the first4 ,he scarcely vouchsafed it a glance4 ,the early part of ,polly's effusion1 which bore a date many weeks old1 was written in a strain of studied archness and badinage1 such as in those days was greatly affected by young ladies4 ,towards the end a little peep into ,polly's heart was permitted4 ,she had apparently just received one of ,ivor's many epistles1 the greater number of which never reached their destination4 ,bath4 ,november #g1 #ahjc4 8,,my ,,dear ,,captain ,,ivor1--,so you consider that ,i have been too slow in writing to you1 and you make complaint that ,i leave you too long without ,letters4 ,but how know you that ,i have not sent at least one for every single one of yours to me8 ,in truth1 ,i cannot boast of any vast correspondence on your side1 my dear ,sir1 since the letter which is now arriv'd is but the second in----,o in quite an interminable length of time4 ,and were it not that ,i have an exceeding ,aversion to the writing of ,letters1 as indeed you ought to be aware1 since ,i am sure ,i have told you as much1 ,i might feel ,regrets at hearing so seldom--but that it means the less toil on my part1 you understand4 ,if it were not that in your last you give a delicate hint that ,silence on my part might be construed to mean something of the ,nature of ,indifference1 why even now ,i should be greatly disposed to indulge my ,dislike to driving the ,quill1 and wait till another day4 8,but since doubtless you will expect to hear1 and since we never may know which letters have gone astray1 ,i will so far overcome my inclinations--or my disinclinations--as to sit down and endeavour to entertain you with the best of ,bath ,news4 8,my letter which was writ from ,sandgate you have1 ,i trust1 already received1 and thus you know all about the scare which took place1 when the ,french fleet was descried by somebody of not very good sight--or so ,i suppose6--and when signals went wrong1 and the ,soldiers and ,sea-fencibles and ,volunteers were all called out1 and when ,general ,moore galloped the whole distance from ,dungeness ,point to be in time1 and when ,mrs4 ,bryce's heart failed her4 ,but not ,polly's1 ,captain ,ivor--of that you may be sure6 ,for ,polly is to be one day the wife of a soldier6 ,and also ,polly knew that1 if she were to be taken prisoner1 as ,mrs4 ,bryce dolefully foretold1 why--why--that might mean that she could hope to be sent to where ,somebody is1 whom she would not be greatly sorry to see once again4 8,mrs4 ,bryce insisted on coming hither in hot haste1 lest ,napoleon should please to land at ,sandgate1 where ,general ,moore waited to receive him2 and now she is in doubt what to do next1 since some think ,london is the safer place to be in4 ,but ,general ,moore does not now think that ,napoleon will make any effort till spring1 since any day winter storms in the ,channel may begin2 and ,jack scorns the notion that1 when he does come1 he will ever advance beyond the sea-beach4 ',tis said that1 if ,mr4 ,pitt comes into power again1 he will speedily start some new ideas for our ,preservation2 and my ,grandmamma says1 therefore1 that we may not start any new expenses till we know to what length ,taxation will allow us to run4 ,but for which ,i wanted much a new frock4 8,last week ,i was in ,bristol for three days1 with our ,grandmother's old friends1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,graham4 ,i was asked to a dance with them1 and ,i went1 but without the smallest idea of dancing1 having been assured that beaux were scarce1 and strangers seldom asked4 ,so ,i determined to enjoy seeing others more fortunate1 and to pass a quiet stupid evening1 meditating on an absent ,somebody--can you by any possibility guess ,whom1 my dear ,sir8 8,but matters turned out otherwise4 ,i had entered the room only a few minutes1 when a most genteel handsome young ,man advanced1 and with such sort of speeches as you all make solicited the honour of my hand4 ,to tell you the honest and plain truth1 ,i had seen him before1 and ,i therefore graciously assented4 ,i left the ladies that accompanied me--,mrs4 ,graham and ,mrs4 ,graham's sister--to look out for themselves2 and ,i began thereupon to enjoy myself4 ,now1 if you want to know his name1 you must wait till ,i choose to tell you4 ,he contributed to my passing a very agreeable evening2 and so far ,i am obliged to him1 for he knew many who were present1 and he took good care that ,i should be in no lack of partners2 but whether ,i ever see him again does not seem to be of any sort of consequence4 ,everyone was astonished at my great good luck in dancing1 for the ,gentlemen were1 as usual1 idle4 ,there were some sad ,coxcombs present1 ,i regret to say1 who found it too much exertion even to come forward and shawl a lady1 when she was departing4 ,but ,i forget--,i am writing to one who knows not the meaning of the word #8trouble1' and who would never leave any woman1 not if she were the least ,bewitching of her ,sex1 to stand neglected1 if he could put matters right4 ,so you see1 my dear ,sir1 what my opinion of you is4 8,having related thus much1 ,i really am bound to go farther1 and to inform you that the young man's name was ,albert ,peirce1 that he is a nephew of the good ,admiral1 that he is an officer in ,his ,majesty's ,army1 and that ,i saw him at ,sandgate1 the evening before our great scare about the ,invasion4 ,after all his civilities in the way of getting me ,partners1 he also handed me down to the vastly elegant ,supper1 which was provided2 and by that time1 there's no doubt1 ,i needed it4 8,you may perhaps be thinking that ,i do very well without you1 on the whole2 yet ,i cannot say that ,i do not miss my absent friend4 ,indeed ,i do1 and my ,spirits are lower since you went away4 ',tis said too that my ,roses are much diminished1 and that ,i must e'en take to the use of ,painting and ,cosmetics1 if ,i would preserve my charms2 but this1 ,i confess1 ,i am loath to do4 ,so come home again1 my dear ,denham1 ,i entreat of you1 as soon as ever you may1 for in truth ,i am longing to see you again4 ,is there no ,exchange of ,prisoners ever to be brought about by the two ,governments8 ,the present state of things is sad and dolorous for so many4 ,i think of sending this letter to your old address in ,paris1 in a cover addressed to ,m4 de ,bertrand1 who so kindly took in ,roy1 when he had the ,small-pox4 ,it appears that few letters which are posted1 arrive safely2 and 'tis at least worth while to try this mode4 ,and now ,i must write no more1 for my ,grandmother craves a part of the sheet for a letter on her own behalf1 that she may give suitable particulars about ,molly1 who begs me to send her ,duty to her ,parents1 and her ,love to ,roy4 ,i have begged only that the ,letter may be writ to yourself1 that so the whole sheet may be yours4 8,so at present no more1 from 8,yours faithfully and ,till ,death1 8,,polly ,,keene40 ,denham held the signature to his lips4 ,would he ever again be tempted to doubt sweet ,polly's constancy8 ,the letter following1 on the last page1 was much shorter and different in style4 ,mrs4 ,fairbank wrote-- 8,,my ,,dear ,,captain ,,ivor1--,i am desirous to let ,colonel ,baron and his wife know that ,molly is in good health1 and ,behaves herself as she ought4 ,i have therefore requested the use of one page in ,polly's letter1 since she assures me that she has nought else to say that is of great ,importance4 ,you will doutless kindly give my message to ,colonel and ,mrs4 ,baron4 8,i am greatly ,indebted to ,coonel ,baron for the money which has been sent to me by his ,bankers regularly1 in conformity with his orders given many months ago4 ,expenses are increasingly heavy1 as ,prices continue steadily to arise1 in consequence of the long-continued ,wars2 and ,i shou'd find it tru'ly difficult to manage1 as things are now1 but for his ,seasonable and generous ,help4 ,i am thankful to have it in my power to do all that is needed for ,molly1 and the help to myself is not small4 ,bread and every necessary are rising4 8,molly has a ,governess who comes in every day2 and ,i am pleased to be able to report that she makes good advance in her ,study's1 as much as one cou'd expect4 ,the young ,governess is of ,french ,extraction1 her father having lost his life in the ,french ,revolution1 and her mother having fled with this daughter to ,england4 ,she will therefore be able to impart to ,molly the correct ,pronunciation of ,french terms1 which few ,britishers manage to ,acquire4 ,molly is growing fast1 and though she will never be handsome1 she is gaining a ,pleasing expression of countenance2 her manners are ,genteel2 and she behaves with ,candour and ,propriety4 8,serious fears have been ,entertain'd of a ,french ,invasion of this ,country1 but ,i trust1 thro' the ,mercy of ,god1 that the danger is averted for this autumn4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,bryce have fled to ,bath for greater ,safety1 in accordance with my ,advice2 and indeed ,i was heartily glad when ,polly had left ,sandgate4 ,if the french ,army shou'd land1 and shou'd advance to ,lonn1 ,god forbid they shou'd molest the good ,citizens1 who ,i hope will be enabled to drive the french by thousands into old ,thames4#a ,people seem now1 however1 greatly to relax in their fears4 8,you will dou'tless be glad to hear that ,polly is well1 though she has not quite her usual bloom4 ,indeed1 ,i am convinc'd that she has suffered greatly from your prolonged ,absence1 although1 having a high ,spirit1 she does not readily betray her feelings4 8,believe me1 my dear ,sir1 8,yours sincerely1 8,c4 ,,fairbank40 8,den1 is it from ,polly80 cried ,roy1 bursting into the room4 8,yes4 ,and ,molly is quite well1 and sends you her love4 ,come1 we must tell your mother that ,i have heard40 8,i've done your unpacking4 ,mademoiselle wouldn't let me stay4 ,she said ,i ought to leave you to read your letter in peace40 8,rather hard upon you1 eh80 suggested ,ivor4 8,come along60 and ,roy1 forgetting all else1 sent a shout in advance to prepare his mother for what was coming4 ,they had to make the most of this letter4 ,none could guess how long a time might pass before they would hear again4 ,every detail was eagerly dwelt upon1 and on the whole ,polly's report was counted satisfactory4 ,naturally it awoke fresh memories1 fresh regrets1 fresh longings2 yet ,denham at least seemed the better for his 8medicine40 ,the look of weight and strain was gone from his face next morning1 and he appeared to be in much his usual spirits1 when he proposed a walk with ,roy to explore the neighbourhood4 ,he and the ,colonel had just returned from appel2 all dtenus and prisoners having at stated intervals to report themselves at the maison de ville4 8,will you have to sign your names every day80 ,mrs4 ,baron asked1 on hearing particulars4 8,at present1 no4 ,den and ,i and a few others are excused from doing so more often than once in five days4 ,but the greater number have to show themselves every day--unless they can send a medical certificate1 forbidding them to go out1 on account of illness40 8,remedy worse than disease10 murmured ,ivor4 8,and if one stays away1 without sending such a certificate1 the gendarmes promptly make their appearance1 expecting a fee for the trouble40 8,how much80 8,three francs--so ,i am told40 8,what a shame60 8,general ,roussel does not seem to be a bad sort of fellow4 ,civil enough4 ,but they mean to be strict40 8,good many escapes of late1 sir40 8,why1 ,den--escapes when they've given their parole60 cried ,roy4 8,no2 only when they have not given their parole4 ,that makes all the difference40 8,and may you and papa go wherever you like80 8,within stiff limits4 ,five miles from the town--no more without leave40 8,i foresee that we shall have to pay pretty liberally for that leave10 added the ,colonel4 8,did you see many friends there1 ,george80 8,a good many coming and going4 ,all of course who were at ,fontainebleau are here1 and numbers from ,valenciennes and ,brussels4 ,we came across ,mr4 ,kinsland1 and ,general ,cunningham and ,welby1 ,greville1 ,franklyn and others40 8,den1 ,i say1 do come along10 urged ,roy1 who had already been for a run1 but who greatly preferred a companion4 8,all right--if you don't mind paying a call by the way40 ,roy declared himself ready for anything1 and they went first toward the lower part of the town1 on a level with the river4 ,roy1 full as usual of ideas and talk1 poured out for his companion's edification some items of information1 which he had gained from ,mademoiselle de ,st4 ,roques4 8,she says ,verdun is an awfully old place--goes back to almost the days of ,charlemagne4 ,when did ,charlemagne live8 ,and only a little while ago it was a ,french border town--frontier town1 ,i mean--but it isn't now1 because ,napoleon has conquered such a lot of ,europe4 ,and do you know1 the ,prussians took it from ,france only just a few years ago1 after quite a short siege4 ,and the ,french ,governor killed himself40 8,saved ,napoleon the trouble1 ,i suppose40 8,does ,napoleon kill his generals when they are beaten8 ,oh1 let's go up on the ramparts6 ,look1 there are trees all along1 just like a boulevard4 ,mademoiselle says the ramparts are three miles long4 ,are they1 do you think8 ,what is the business you have to do on the way8 ,are you going to see somebody80 7,to be continued47 ,,footnotes3 #a ,see footnote1 p4 #afb4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,lesson4 ,,song4 ,,by ,l4 ,g4 ,,moberly4 ,if only ,i might hear the larks again ,upon the downs in spring1 ,and linger in the copses1 as of yore1 ,to hear the thrushes sing1 ,if ,i might see again the wide clear sky ,that stoops to meet the hills1 ,and catch the golden gleam of sun that lies ,upon the daffodils1 ,and watch1 just once again1 the shadows pass ,across the uplands sweet1 ,and feel the springy sweetness of the grass ,growing beneath my feet2 ,i think that ,i could learn at last to bear ,my life in this great town2 ,if ,i might feel ,spring's breath again--and hear ,the larks--upon the down6 ,illustration ,,the ,,ruling ,,passion4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,among the crowd in the top gallery at ,st4 ,james's ,hall was one very remarkable figure who was an object of speculation to most of his fellow-listeners at the ,monday ,popular ,concerts4 ,he was a regular and unfailing attendant for many1 many years1 but not very long ago he disappeared suddenly in the middle of the season1 and his place knew him no more4 ,he was an old man1 apparently between seventy and eighty1 very tall1 thin almost to emaciation1 with a magnificent head1 white hair that was still thick and rather long1 a short white beard and moustache1 a fine straight nose1 and very sad1 kindly grey eyes4 ,his hands1 though old and shrunken1 with their veins standing out in relief1 were well shaped1 and still had the trained1 capable look that only those people possess who1 having been taught to use and develop the muscles of their hands while young1 keep them in constant use and practice afterwards4 ,that he was very poor was certain1 for year by year he appeared in the same clothes4 ,a very old1 threadbare1 but well-brushed ,inverness cape1 a white woollen comforter1 and a soft felt hat that had once been black1 but was now of the indescribable greenish-brown tint that black hats assume in their last stages of existence4 ,he also wore grey cloth gloves and carried a thick blackthorn walking-stick with a knob handle4 ,he came alone to the concerts and sat on the extreme right-hand of the gallery1 close against the wall1 in the third row from the front4 ,sometimes he was joined by a young man1 who was the only person he was ever seen to converse with at length1 though he would answer politely any chance question about the music or the artists1 on both of which subjects he appeared to have considerable knowledge4 ,his ,english was perfect and fluent1 but the impression prevailed in the gallery that he was foreign4 ,one ,monday evening a few years ago he came to the gallery at seven o'clock and took his usual place4 ,it happened to be the first appearance of ,joachim that season1 and it was not unreasonable to suppose that there might be a crowd4 ,the old gentleman looked round anxiously as each new-comer opened the door1 fearing evidently that some stranger would take the seat next him4 ,his fears1 however1 were vain ones on that night1 and at about twenty minutes before eight1 looking round as the door opened1 his face lighted up with joy as his friend1 a rather good-looking1 dark young man1 pushed his way across the gallery to his side4 8,dear ,professor ,crowitzski10 he said affectionately1 8,i am sorry to be so late4 ,i knew you would be anxious1 but ,i have come straight from ,grignoletti's house in the ,avenue ,road40 8,my dear boy--my dear boy10 returned the old man tremulously1 8,i have been anxious about you for several reasons4 ,i have thought much about your interview with ,grignoletti and its possible result1 and ,i also began to fear you would not get here in time to hear the ,brahms ,sextett1 which is placed first upon the programme to-night4 ,i would not have you miss it if you could possibly help it2 you should hear ,brahms as often as you can4 ,do not neglect the other masters of course4 ,hear and study the works of all2 but especially those of that great trinity1 ,bach1 ,beethoven1 ,brahms4 ,now1 however1 tell me about yourself4 ,did ,grignoletti hold out any hope to you80 8,indeed he did10 said the young man1 8almost too much1 for ,i do not quite see how the hope is to be realised4 ,he spoke in high terms of my voice1 said ,i had a career before me1 and advised my entering the ,royal ,academy at once1 saying he should not let me study with anyone but himself40 8,that is a high compliment10 said the ,professor4 8,grignoletti is the finest teacher of singing in ,london4 ,moreover1 he is a true artist and an honest man4 ,he will say nothing to you he does not mean4 ,but tell me what difficulties stand in your way40 ,herbert ,maxwell sighed4 ,it was so hard to see the bright pathway of his highest wishes shining in the distance1 and to realise that between him and the beginning of it lay a dark stream that could only be crossed by means of golden stepping-stones4 8,i'm afraid money is the chief difficulty10 he said rather sadly4 8,the ,academy fees are ten pounds a term4 ,the half-term examination is next ,monday1 and ,i have not the means of raising five pounds4 ,you know my mother and ,i depend entirely on my weekly wage1 and it is not a very large one40 8,i know--,i know10 replied the old man2 8but supposing this amount could be found1 how would you support your mother and yourself when you give up your present work8 ,if you mean to adopt singing as your profession1 you must give your whole time to the study of music40 8,it was in that matter that ,grignoletti showed himself so very kind10 said ,herbert4 8,he asked me how ,i lived1 and promised1 if ,i were admitted to the ,academy1 he would find work for me by which ,i could earn at least as much as ,i do now1 and which would also increase my musical knowledge4 ,he----0 ,a sudden storm of applause interrupted him1 in which he joined vigorously1 as ,joachim1 followed by the other artists1 emerged from the curious little well at the end of the platform1 where those of the players and singers who are not performing assemble to listen to those who are1 sitting on the stairs or on the settee just inside4 ,nothing more was said by the old ,professor or ,herbert himself on the subject of his musical education4 ,the concert absorbed them both entirely1 and in the intervals between each item on the programme no other subject was discussed by them but the music and the performers4 ,it was a shorter concert than usual1 and as they were slowly making for the door with the rest of the crowd1 the old man said to his young friend1 8,can you come home with me to-night1 my dear boy8 ,i have something more to say to you1 and ,i cannot say it here4 ,i do not think it will make you very late40 8,i shall be very glad to10 replied ,herbert1 8and very glad to hear anything from you4 ,you are the only person in the world to whom ,i can go for advice about music4 ,it is very good of you to take so much interest in me40 ,at ,piccadilly ,circus they got into that red omnibus which is affectionately called by those who use it constantly 8,the ,kennington ,lobster10 and travelled over ,westminster ,bridge some little distance down the wide ,kennington ,road4 8,green ,street10 said the ,professor after a time1 and the conductor stopped the omnibus almost immediately4 ,they got down and turned into a little street on the right-hand of the main road2 one of those streets still to be found here and there in some of the older parts of ,london1 though they are fast being swept away by the remorseless builder to make room for the huge piles of model dwellings that are springing up on every side4 ,it was a narrow street of small but still respectable-looking houses1 not detached4 ,each had a tiny square of garden in front of its one window1 and a path of flagstones led from the gate to the front door4 ,the old man stopped at ,no4 #i1 opened the door with a latch-key1 and led the way up a narrow staircase to the second floor4 8,wait a moment till we have a light10 he said2 8you may fall over something in my tiny room40 ,it was a tiny room indeed that ,herbert found himself in when the ,professor had lighted the lamp1 and1 as might have been expected1 not a luxurious one2 but it was as neatly arranged as a ship's cabin1 and everything was scrupulously clean4 ,on one side of the room stood a very narrow bed covered with a patchwork quilt1 at its foot a tiny square washstand of painted deal4 ,an old-fashioned mahogany chest of drawers piled high with books1 a small deal table in the middle of the room1 an old stuffed chair by the fireplace1 and a low wooden one by the head of the bed completed the tale of furniture1 with the exception of--a piano6 ,it was of the small1 old-fashioned1 cottage kind1 with a square lid and faded green silk fluting for its front4 ,it looked thin and worn like its master2 but there it was4 ,it proved1 too1 that its owner must be a musician1 for there was nothing on the top of it4 ,there was not much room anywhere1 save on the little table1 to put anything down2 but the ,professor would have been horrified at the idea of using the piano as a resting-place for anything4 ,he would not even let ,herbert put his hat on it4 8,i should like to hear you sing10 he said1 going to a large square pile of something by the piano covered with an old cloth4 8,do you know the #8,elijah'80 ,he lifted the cloth as he spoke and disclosed a quantity of music2 sheet music1 loose and bound1 and scores of many famous works--all old1 all worn1 but still his treasures4 ,he picked out a vocal score of the 8,elijah0 and put it on the piano desk4 8,yes10 said ,herbert4 8,shall ,i try #8,if with all your hearts'80 ,the old man nodded with a smile1 and1 sitting down on the crazy music stool1 laid his aged hands upon the aged keys4 ,it needed but two bars to show ,herbert that his old friend was a real artist4 ,the piano's tone was like a tone ghost2 but it was in perfect tune4 ,the ,professor saw to that himself4 ,and his touch seemed so to caress the yellow keys that they gave him the very best they still had in them4 ,as the song proceeded1 the old gentleman smiled and nodded gently to himself1 as if he1 too1 were pleased and satisfied with what he heard4 ,he had good reason4 ,herbert's voice was of that rare delicious quality given perhaps to one singer in a generation4 ,full1 rich1 intensely sympathetic1 without a trace of that metallic hardness in the upper notes so often found in tenor voices4 ,he sang the great solo with the utmost simplicity1 but with a beauty of expression that would have gone straight to the heart of any audience1 musical or unmusical4 8,my boy1 you have a gift--a great gift10 said the ,professor solemnly at the end4 8,see that you use it well4 ,you may1 if you choose1 be one of the singers of the world2 but it will mean more than three years at the ,academy1 and then to sing at ballad concerts4 ,aim at the highest1 and make up your mind that it must be your life work4 ,you must let me help you put your foot on the lowest rung of the ladder4 ,you can climb yourself afterwards40 ,he went to the bed and drew from underneath it a small old-fashioned box covered with skin with the hair on and studded with brass nails4 ,this he unlocked1 and took from it a small yellow canvas bag4 8,i have here10 he said1 8a kind of nest egg which ,i have managed to put by from time to time out of my little income4 ,it is the exact sum you need just now1 and you must pay your first fees with it40 8,my dear ,professor10 stammered ,herbert1 completely taken aback1 8indeed1 ,i cannot6 ,i should never forgive myself for taking money that you might possibly want for all sorts of things before ,i had a chance of paying it back again60 8,nonsense60 replied the old man1 rather sternly4 8,you must take it6 ,i will have it so4 ,i should never forgive myself if ,i allowed your young life and precious talent to be wasted because you were in want of what ,i had lying idle6 ,you can repay me some day when you can spare it40 8,but what will you do in the meantime80 asked the young man rather diffidently1 for he felt a delicacy about inquiring too closely into the old man's circumstances4 8,my dividend falls due to-morrow10 was the reply4 8,there is not the smallest reason for your refusing to take this4 ,go home to your mother1 tell her everything is decided1 and take care of your voice for the next week4 ,shall you be at the concert next ,monday8 ,perhaps not1 if you are kept late at your work4 ,if ,i do not see you there1 will you come here the next day and tell me about it all80 ,his young friend promised this gladly2 and in order to cut short his expressions of thanks1 the ,professor took up the lamp and lighted him downstairs1 giving him a last warning against taking cold or overtiring his throat as he let him out4 8,he is a good boy10 he said to himself as he went back to his little room4 8,i am very glad ,i was able to do it4 ,it is for the young ones to carry on the world4 ,we old ones who have served our time must stand by and encourage the others40 ,he set about preparing his frugal supper--a small loaf and a pennyworth of milk1 which he took from a cupboard in one corner of the room4 ,he put the milk into a tiny tin saucepan1 and1 as of course there was no fire in the grate1 he lighted a little spirit lamp1 set the saucepan over the flame1 and sat down to watch till it boiled4 ,his mind was still running on ,herbert ,maxwell and his probable career1 and from that it wandered back to his own young days4 ,gradually he seemed to live through the whole of his past life4 ,he recalled the early home life in the comfortable house at ,clapham2 his kind ,polish parents who had been driven like so many others from their own country2 his childish passion for music which had caused him so often to be laughed at by his ,english schoolfellows1 and the decision of his parents that he should adopt it as a profession4 ,then came those happy student days at ,leipzig1 with the growing consciousness of his own powers and the encouragement of his teachers and fellow students1 his dbut at the ,gewandhaus1 with the applause and laurel wreaths1 succeeded by his first concert tour in ,germany4 ,he remembered his return home1 to his parents' joy1 and his success in ,london as a player and teacher1 with constant tours on the ,continent1 during one of which he met that lovely girl he afterwards wooed and won1 to spend those few happy years with him till her sudden death abroad4 ,then followed a ghastly blank1 with isolated memories of being in some great building with many other people1 who were all waited on by kindly men and sweet-faced women1 and he could remember the feeling of having been ill and not knowing how4 ,till one day1 when he had grown stronger1 the knowledge came to him that1 for a time1 his mind had left him4 ,he vividly recalled his return to ,england1 to find himself forgotten and eclipsed by others who had sprung to fame during his long absence1 his failure to obtain either engagements or pupils1 and1 finally1 the collapse of the bank in which almost all his savings had been placed4 ,at this point1 as if in sympathy with his thoughts1 the spirit-lamp went out with a little 8fuff10 and the milk1 which was on the verge of boiling over1 collapsed too4 ,this recalled him from his sad memories1 and he tried1 as he ate his bread and milk1 to put them out of his mind and to think of the pleasanter events of the evening--of the fine concert1 how splendidly ,joachim played1 and of his young friend1 whose mother would be so glad at her boy's good fortune4 ,but he could not rid himself of them1 and even through the night his broken sleep was haunted by harassing dreams and vague feelings of some impending evil4 7,to be concluded47 ,,about ,,peggy ,,saville4 ,,by ,,jessie ,,mansergh 7,mrs4 ,g4 de ,horne ,vaizey71 ,author of 8,sisters ,three10 etc4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,robert did not make his appearance next morning1 and his absence seemed to give fresh ground for the expectation that ,lady ,darcy would drive over with him in the afternoon and pay a call at the vicarage4 ,mrs4 ,asplin gathered what branches of russet leaves still remained in the garden and placed them in bowls in the drawing-room1 with a few precious chrysanthemums peeping out here and there2 laid out her very best tea cloth and d',oyleys1 and sent the girls upstairs to change their well-worn school dresses for something fresher and smarter4 8,and you1 ,peggy dear--you will put on your pretty red1 of course60 she said1 standing still1 with a bundle of branches in her arms1 and looking with a kindly glance at the pale face which had somehow lost its sunny expression during the last two days4 ,peggy hesitated and pursed up her lips4 8,why #8of course1' ,mrs4 ,asplin8 ,i never change my dress until evening4 ,why need ,i do it to-day just because some strangers may call whom ,i have never seen before80 ,it was the first time that the girl had objected to do what she was told1 and ,mrs4 ,asplin was both surprised and hurt by her tone in which she spoke--a good deal puzzled too1 for ,peggy was by no means indifferent to pretty frocks1 and as a rule fond of inventing excuses to wear her best clothes4 ,why1 then1 should she choose this afternoon of all others to refuse so simple a request8 ,just for a moment she felt tempted to make a sharp reply1 and then tenderness for the girl whose mother was so far away took the place of the passing irritation1 and she determined to try a gentler method4 8,there is not the slightest necessity1 dear10 she said quietly4 8,i asked only because the red dress suits you so well1 and it would have been a pleasure to me to see you looking your best4 ,but you are very nice and neat as you are4 ,you need not change unless you like40 ,she turned to leave the room as she finished speaking2 but before she had reached the door1 ,peggy was by her side1 holding out her hands to take possession of twigs and branches4 8,let me take them to the kitchen1 please6 ,do let me help you60 she said quickly1 and just for a moment a little hand rested on her arm with a spasmodic pressure4 ,that was all1 but it was enough4 ,there was no need of a formal apology4 ,mrs4 ,asplin understood all the unspoken love and penitence which was expressed in that simple action1 and beamed with her brightest smile4 8,thank you1 my lassie1 please do6 ,i'm glad to avoid going near the kitchen again1 for when cook once gets hold of me1 ,i can never get away4 ,she tells me the family history of all her relations1 and indeed it's very depressing1 it is0 7with a relapse into her merry ,irish accent71 8for they are subject to the most terrible afflictions6 ,i've had one dose of it to-day1 and ,i don't want another60 ,peggy laughed and carried off her bundle1 lingered in the kitchen just long enough to remind the cook that 8,apple ,charlotte served with cream0 was a seasonable pudding at the fall of the year1 and then went upstairs to put on the red dress1 and relieve her feelings by making grimaces at herself in the glass as she fastened the buttons4 ,at four o'clock the patter of horses' feet came from below1 doors opened and shut1 and there was a sound of voices in the hall4 ,the visitors had arrived6 ,peggy pressed her lips together and bent doggedly over her writing4 ,she had not progressed with her work as well as she had hoped during ,rob's absence1 for her thoughts had been running on other subjects1 and she had made mistake after mistake4 ,she must try to finish one batch at least to show him on his return4 ,unless she was especially sent for she would not go downstairs2 but before ten minutes had passed1 ,mellicent was tapping at the door and whispering eager sentences through the keyhole4 8,peggy1 quick6 ,they've come6 ,rosalind's here6 ,you're to come down6 ,quick6 ,hurry up60 8,all right1 my dear1 keep calm6 ,you will have a fit if you excite yourself like this60 said ,peggy coolly4 ,the summons had come and could not be disregarded1 and on the whole she was not sorry4 ,the meeting was bound to take place sooner or later1 and1 in spite of her affectation of indifference1 she was really consumed with curiosity to know what ,rosalind was like4 ,she had no intention of hurrying1 however1 but lingered over the arrangement of her papers until ,mellicent had trotted downstairs again and the coast was clear4 ,then she sauntered after her with leisurely dignity1 opened the drawing-room door1 and gave a swift glance round4 ,lady ,darcy sat talking to ,mrs4 ,asplin a few yards away in such a position that she faced the doorway4 ,she looked up as ,peggy entered and swept her eyes curiously over the girl's figure4 ,she looked older than she had done from across the church the day before1 and her face had a bored expression1 but1 if possible1 she was even more elegant in her attire4 ,it seemed quite extraordinary to see such a fine lady sitting on that well-worn sofa1 instead of the sober figure of the ,vicar's wife4 ,peggy flashed a look from one to the other--from the silk dress to the serge1 from the beautiful weary face to the cheery loving smile--and came to the conclusion that1 for some mysterious reason1 ,mrs4 ,asplin was a happier woman than the wife of the great ,lord ,darcy4 ,the two ladies stopped talking and looked expectantly towards her4 8,come in1 dear6 ,this is our new pupil1 ,lady ,darcy1 for whom you were asking4 ,you have heard of her----0 8,from ,robert4 ,oh1 yes1 frequently6 ,i was especially anxious to see ,robert's little friend4 ,how do you do1 dear8 ,let me see6 ,what is your funny little name8 ,molly--,dolly--something like that ,i think--,i forget for the moment60 8,mariquita ,saville60 quoth ,peggy blandly4 ,she was consumed with regret that she had no second name to add to the number of syllables1 but she did her best with those she possessed1 rolling them out in her very best manner and with a stately condescension which made ,lady ,darcy smile for the first time since she entered the room4 8,oh--h60 ,the lips parted to show a gleam of regular white teeth4 8,that's it1 is it8 ,well1 ,i am very pleased to make your acquaintance1 ,mariquita4 ,i hope we shall see a great deal of you while we are here4 ,you must go and make friends with ,rosalind--my daughter4 ,she is longing to know you40 8,yes1 go and make friends with ,rosalind1 ,peggy dear6 ,she was asking for you10 said ,mrs4 ,asplin kindly1 and as the girl walked away the two ladies exchanged smiling glances4 8,amusing6 ,such grand little manners6 ,evidently a character40 8,oh1 quite6 ,peggy is nothing if not original4 ,she is a dear1 good girl1 but quite too funny in her ways4 ,she is really the incarnation of mischief1 and keeps me on tenter-hooks from morning until night1 but from her manner you would think she was a model of propriety4 ,nothing delights her so much as to get hold of a new word or a high-sounding phrase40 8,but what a relief to have someone out of the ordinary run6 ,there are so many bores in the world1 it is quite refreshing to meet with a little originality4 ,dear ,mrs4 ,asplin1 you really must tell me how you manage to look so happy and cheerful in this dead-alive place8 ,i am desolate at the idea of staying here all winter4 ,what in the world do you find to do80 ,mrs4 ,asplin laughed4 8,indeed1 that's not the trouble at all2 the question is how to find time to get through the day's duties6 ,it's a rush from morning till night1 and when evening comes ,i am delighted to settle down in an easy-chair with a nice book to read4 ,one has no chance of feeling dull in a house full of young people40 8,ah1 you are so good and clever1 you get through so much4 ,i want to ask your help in half-a-dozen ways4 ,if we are to settle down here for some months there are so many arrangements to make4 ,now tell me1 what would you do in this case80 ,the two ladies settled down to a discussion on domestic matters1 while ,peggy crossed the room to the corner where ,rosalind ,darcy sat in state1 holding her court with ,esther and ,mellicent as attendant slaves4 ,she wore the same grey dress in which she had appeared in church the day before1 but the jacket was thrown open and displayed a distractingly dainty blouse1 all pink chiffon1 and frills1 and ruffles of lace4 ,her gloves lay in her lap1 and the celebrated diamond ring flashed in the firelight as she held out her hand to meet ,peggy's4 8,how do you do8 ,so glad to see you6 ,i've heard of you often4 ,you are the little girl who is my bwothar's fwiend40 ,she pronounced the letter 8r0 as if it had been 8w10 and the 8er0 in brother as if it had been 8ah10 and spoke with a languid society drawl1 more befitting a woman of thirty than a schoolgirl of fifteen4 ,peggy stood motionless and looked her over1 from the crown of her hat to the tip of the little trim shoe1 with an expression of icy displeasure4 8,oh dear me1 no10 she said quietly1 8you mistake the situation4 ,you put it the wrong way about4 ,your brother is the big boy whom ,i have allowed to become a friend of mine60 ,esther and ,mellicent gasped with amazement1 while ,rosalind gave a trill of laughter1 and threw up her pretty white hands4 8,she's wexed60 she cried4 8,she's wexed1 because ,i called her little6 ,i'm wewwy sowwy1 but ,i weally can't help it1 don't you know4 ,it's the twuth6 ,you are a whole head smaller than ,i am40 ,she threw back her chin1 and looked over ,peggy's head with a smile of triumph4 8,there1 look at that1 and ,i'm not a year older4 ,i call you wewwy small indeed for your age40 8,i'm thankful to hear it6 ,i admire small women10 said ,peggy promptly1 seating herself on a corner of the window seat1 and staring critically at the tall figure of the visitor4 ,she would have been delighted if she could have persuaded herself that her height was awkward and ungainly1 but such an effort was beyond imagination4 ,rosalind was startlingly and wonderfully pretty2 she had never seen anyone in real life who was in the least like her4 ,her eyes were a deep1 dark blue1 with curling dark lashes1 her face was a delicate oval1 and the pink and white colouring1 and flowing golden locks gave her the appearance of a princess in a fairy tale1 rather than an ordinary flesh and blood maiden4 ,peggy looked from her to ,mellicent who was considered quite a beauty among her companions1 and oh dear me6 how plain1 and fat1 and prosaic she appeared when viewed side by side with this radiant vision6 ,esther stood the comparison better1 for though her long face had no pretensions to beauty1 it was thoughtful and interesting in expression4 ,there was no question which was most charming to look at2 but if it had come to a choice of a companion1 an intelligent observer would certainly have decided in favour of the ,vicar's daughter4 ,esther's face was particularly grave at this moment1 and her eyes met ,peggy's with a reproachful glance4 ,what was the matter with the girl this afternoon8 ,why did she take up everything that ,rosalind said in that hasty1 cantankerous manner8 ,here was an annoying thing--to have just given an enthusiastic account of the brightness and amicability of a new companion1 and then to have that companion come into the room only to make snappish remarks1 and look as cross and ill-natured as a bear6 ,she turned in an apologetic fashion to ,rosalind1 and tried to resume the conversation at the point where it had been interrupted by ,peggy's entrance4 8,and ,i was saying1 we have ever so many new things to show you--presents1 you know1 and things of that kind4 ,the last is the nicest of all2 a really good1 big camera with which we can take proper photographs4 ,mrs4 ,saville--,peggy's mother--gave it to us before she left4 ,it was a present to the schoolroom1 so it belongs equally to us all1 and we have such fun with it4 ,we are beginning to do some good things now1 but at first they were too funny for anything4 ,there is one of father where his boots are twice as large as his head1 and another of mother where her face has run1 and is about a yard long1 and yet it is so like her6 ,we laughed till we cried over it1 and father has locked it away in his desk4 ,he says he will keep it to look at when he is low-spirited40 ,rosalind gave a shrug to her shapely shoulders4 8,it would not cheer me up to see a cawicature of myself6 ,i don't think ,i shall sit to you for my portrait1 if that is the sort of thing you do1 but you shall show me all your failures4 ,it will amuse me4 ,you will have to come up and see me vewwy often this winter1 for ,i shall be so dull4 ,we have been abroad for the last four years1 and ,england seems so dark and dweawy4 ,last winter we were at ,cairo4 ,we lived in a big hotel1 and there was something going on almost every night4 ,i was not out1 of course1 but ,i was allowed to go into the room for an hour after dinner1 and to dance with the gentlemen in mother's set4 ,and we went up the ,nile in a steamer1 and dwove about every afternoon1 paying calls1 and shopping in the bazaars4 ,it never rains in ,cairo and the sun is always shining4 ,it seems so wonderful6 ,just like a place in a fairy tale40 ,she looked at ,peggy as she spoke1 and that young person smiled with an air of elegant condescension4 8,it would do so to you4 ,naturally it would4 ,when one has been born in the ,east1 and lived there the greater part of one's life1 it seems natural enough1 but the trippers from ,england who just come out for a few months' visit are always astonished4 ,it used to amuse us so much to hear their remarks60 ,rosalind stared and flushed with displeasure4 ,she was accustomed to have her remarks treated with respect1 and the tone of superiority was a new and unpleasing experience4 8,you were born in the ,east80 8,certainly ,i was60 8,where1 may ,i ask80 8,in ,india--in ,calcutta1 where my father's regiment was stationed40 8,you lived there till you were quite big8 ,you can remember all about it80 8,all ,i want to remember4 ,there was a great deal that ,i choose to forget4 ,i don't care for ,india4 ,england is more congenial to my feelings40 8,and can you speak the language8 ,did you learn ,hindostanee while you were there80 8,naturally4 ,of course ,i did40 ,a gasp of amazement came from the two girls in the window1 for a knowledge of ,hindostanee had never been included in the list of ,peggy's accomplishments1 and she was not accustomed to hide her light under a bushel4 ,they gazed at her with widened eyes1 and ,rosalind scented scepticism in the air1 and cried quickly-- 8,say something then4 ,if you can speak1 say something now1 and let us hear you40 8,pardon me60 said ,peggy simpering4 8,as a matter of fact ,i was sent home because ,i was learning to speak too well4 ,the language of the natives is not considered suitable for ,english children of tender age4 ,i must ask you to be so kind as to excuse me4 ,i should be sorry to shock your sensibilities40 ,rosalind drew her brows together and stared steadily in the speaker's face4 ,like many beautiful people she was not over gifted with a sense of humour1 and therefore ,peggy's grandiose manner and high-sounding words failed to amuse her as they did most strangers4 ,she felt only annoyed and puzzled1 dimly conscious that she was being laughed at1 and that this girl with the small face and the peaked eyebrows was trying to patronise her--,rosalind ,darcy--instead of following the ,vicar's daughters in adoring her from a respectful distance1 as of course it was her duty to do4 ,she had been anxious to meet the ,peggy ,saville of whom her brother had spoken so enthusiastically1 for it was a new thing to hear ,rob praise a girl1 but it was evident that ,peggy on her side was by no means eager to make her acquaintance4 ,it was an extraordinary discovery1 and most disconcerting to the feelings of one who was accustomed to be treated as a person of supreme importance4 ,rosalind could hardly speak for mortification1 and it was an immense relief when the door opened and ,max and ,oswald hurried forward to greet her4 ,then indeed she was in her element1 beaming with smiles1 and indulging a dozen pretty little tricks of manner for the benefit of their admiring eyes4 ,max took possession of the chair by her side1 his face lighted up with pleasure and admiration4 ,he was too thoroughly natural and healthy a lad to be much troubled with sentiment1 but ever since one winter morning five years before1 when ,rosalind had first appeared in the little country church1 she had been his ideal of all that was womanly and beautiful4 ,at every meeting he discovered fresh charms1 and to-day was no exception to the rule4 ,she was taller1 fairer1 more elegant4 ,in some mysterious manner she seemed to have grown older than he1 so that though he was in reality three years her senior1 he was still a boy1 while she was almost a young lady4 ,mrs4 ,asplin looked across the room1 and a little anxious furrow showed in her forehead4 ,maxwell's admiration for ,rosalind was already an old story1 and as she saw his eager face and sparkling eyes1 a pang of fear came into his mother's heart4 ,if the ,darcys were constantly coming down to the ,larches1 it was only natural to suppose that this admiration would increase1 and it would never do for ,max to fall in love with ,rosalind6 ,the ,vicar's son would be no match for ,lord ,darcy's daughter2 it would only mean a heart-ache for the poor lad1 a clouded horizon just when life should be the brightest4 ,for a moment a prevision of trouble filled her heart1 then she waved it away in her cheery1 hopeful fashion-- 8,why1 what a goose ,i am6 ,they are only children4 ,time enough to worry my head about love affairs in half-a-dozen years to come4 ,the lad would be a ,stoic if he didn't admire her4 ,i don't see how he could help it60 8,rosalind is lovelier than ever1 ,lady ,darcy1 if that is possible60 she said aloud1 and her companion's face brightened with pleasure4 8,oh1 do you think so80 she cried eagerly4 8,i am so glad to hear it1 for this growing stage is so trying4 ,i was afraid she might outgrow her strength and lose her complexion1 but so far ,i don't think it has suffered4 ,i am very careful of her diet1 and my maid understands all the new skin treatments4 ,so much depends on a girl's complexion4 ,i notice your youngest daughter has a very good colour4 ,may ,i ask what you use80 8,soap and water1 fresh air1 good plain food--those are the only cosmetics we use in this house10 said ,mrs4 ,asplin1 laughing outright at the idea of ,mellicent's healthy bloom being the result of 8skin treatment40 8,i am afraid ,i have too much to do looking after the necessities of life for my girls1 ,lady ,darcy1 to worry myself about their complexions40 8,oh1 yes4 ,well1 ,i'm sure they both look charming2 but ,rosalind will go much into society1 and of course----0 ,she checked herself before the sentence was finished1 but ,mrs4 ,asplin was quick enough to understand the imputation that the complexions of a ,vicar's daughters were but of small account1 but that it was a very different matter when the ,honourable ,rosalind ,darcy was concerned4 ,she understood1 but she was neither hurt nor annoyed by the inferences1 only a little sad and very1 very pitiful4 ,she knew the story of the speaker's life1 and the reason why she looked forward to ,rosalind's entrance into society with such ambition4 ,lady ,darcy had been the daughter of poor but well-born parents1 and had married the widower1 ,lord ,darcy1 not because she loved him or had any motherly feeling for his two orphan boys1 but simply and solely for a title and establishment1 and a purse full of money4 ,given these1 she had fondly imagined that she was going to be perfectly happy4 ,no more screwing and scraping to keep up appearances2 no more living in dulness and obscurity2 she would be ,lady ,darcy1 the beautiful young wife of a famous man4 ,so1 with no thought in her heart but for her own worldly advancement1 ,beatrice ,fairfax stood before ,god's altar and vowed to love1 honour1 and obey a man for whom she had no scrap of affection1 and whom she would have laughed to scorn if he had been poor and friendless4 ,she married him1 but the life which followed was not by any means all that she had expected4 ,lord ,darcy had heavy money losses1 which obliged him to curtail expenses almost immediately after his wedding2 her own health broke down1 and it was a knife in her heart to know that her boy was only the third son1 and that the two big1 handsome lads at ,eton would inherit the lion's share of their father's property4 ,hector1 the lifeguardsman1 and ,oscar1 the dragoon1 were for ever running into debt and making fresh demands on her husband's purse4 ,she and her children had to suffer for their extravagances1 while ,robert1 her only son1 was growing up a shy1 awkward lad1 who hated society1 and asked nothing better than to be left in the country alone with his frogs and his beetles4 ,ambition after ambition had failed her1 until now all her hopes were centred in ,rosalind1 the beautiful daughter1 in whom she saw a reproduction of herself in the days of her girlhood4 ,she had had a dull and obscure youth2 ,rosalind should be the belle of society4 ,her own marriage had been a disappointment2 ,rosalind should make a brilliant alliance4 ,she had failed to gain the prize for which she had worked2 she would live again in ,rosalind's triumphs1 and in them find fullest satisfaction4 ,so ,lady ,darcy gloated over every detail of her daughter's beauty1 and thought day and night of her hair1 her complexion1 her figure1 striving still to satisfy her poor1 tired soul with promises of future success1 and never dreaming for a moment that the prize which seemed to elude her grasp had been gained long ago by the ,vicar's wife1 with her old-fashioned dress and work-worn hands4 ,but ,mrs4 ,asplin knew1 and thanked ,god in her heart for1 the sweetness and peace of her dear1 shabby home2 for the husband who loved her1 and the children whom they were training to be good servants for ,him in the world4 ,yes1 and for that other child too1 who had been taken away at the very dawn of his manhood1 and who1 they believed1 was doing still better work in the unseen world4 ,until ,lady ,darcy discovered that the only true happiness rose from something deeper than worldly success1 there was nothing in store for her but fresh disappointments and heart-hunger1 while as for ,rosalind1 the unfortunate child of such a mother---- ,mrs4 ,asplin looked at the girl as she sat leaning back in her chair1 craning her throat1 and showing off all her little airs and graces for the benefit of the two admiring schoolboys1 gratified vanity and self love showing on every line of her face4 8,it seems almost cruel to say so10 she sighed to herself1 8but it would be the best thing that could happen to the child if she were to lose some of her beauty before she grew up4 ,such a face as that is a terrible temptation to vanity40 ,but ,mrs4 ,asplin did not guess how soon these unspoken words would come back to her memory1 or what bitter cause she would have to regret their fulfilment4 7,to be continued47 ,illustration ,,all ,,about ,,oatmeal4 ,,by ,,dora ,,de ,,blaqui,,re4 ,the native land of the common oat seems to be absolutely unknown1 but as in many other cases1 the best authorities have given it an origin in ,central ,asia4 ,the wild oat from which it descends is found in ,europe1 in ,north ,africa1 ,siberia1 ,japan1 and the ,north-,west ,provinces of ,india2 and it was well known to the ,greeks and ,romans1 though it is not one of the cereals that are mentioned in the ,bible4 ,but the common oat1 as we know it1 is an improved form 7says ,professor ,buckman7 derived by a continued and selective cultivation from the aboriginal wild oat1 of which ,i have been speaking4 ,the word oat or oats is from an old ,english word ata1 from the verb etau1 to eat2 and it means anything in the way of food which can be eaten4 ,the botanical name of the genus is avena1 and there are upwards of forty species in it1 which are generally natives of cold or temperate climes4 ,it can be grown in a wider range of climatical differences than wheat1 but in a less range than barley1 while in every temperate region it has become recognised as a food for horses4 ,in the more northerly parts1 where less wheat is grown1 it has formed the staple food for man1 under the two well-known forms1 i4e41 of porridge and oatcake4 ,a drug has been distilled from it under the name of ,avena ,sattisa1 which is supposed to give the qualities of cheerfulness and spirit2 the same qualities1 in short1 which the oat is considered to give to horses4 ,in the returns of #ahid1 for the ,united ,kingdom1 we find that oats are more cultivated than wheat1 but it is much to be regretted that the use of oatmeal as food is becoming unfashionable amongst the poorer classes in ,england1 who consider that wheat is a more refined food1 and who leave off oatmeal when possible4 ,the ,highlanders of ,scotland are an example of muscular vigour1 and also of the clear intellects which are fostered under its regimen2 one of the old ,edinburgh reviewers says1 8,we cultivate literature on a little oatmeal10 and1 at some time of the day1 in ,scotland1 the native consumes oatmeal under some form or other4 ,porridge for breakfast is known in other lands as well as in ,scotland1 and is quite as well liked1 particularly when a generous larder affords cream in thickness and plenty4 ,but to be a true son of ,scotland you must be above such frivolous additions4 ,the kernels or grain of the oat1 deprived of the husks1 are called groats1 or grits2 and in old days they were used entire in broths and soups1 like hot barley4 ,when bruised you will recognise them very well1 as forming part of a sick folk dietary4 ,sowans1 known also as seeds or flummery1 is made from the thin pellicles or inner scales which adhere to the groats in the process of shelling4 ,these are steeped in water for a few days1 till they ferment and become sourish4 ,they are then skimmed and the liquid boiled down so much1 that when cold it will become of the thickness of gruel4 ,in ,wales this is known as ,sucan ,budrum1 and is prepared in the same manner2 but it is boiled down even more1 to become1 when cold1 a firm jelly1 like blanc-mange4 ,it has a high reputation as a nutritious1 light food1 for weak stomachs4 ,chemically speaking1 in this change1 the starch has been converted into dextrin and sugar1 the latter passing at once into acetic fermentation4 ,sowans is used as a light supper dish1 with milk1 cream1 or butter1 and sweetened with sugar to taste4 ,bread is made of oatmeal mixed with pea-flour in parts of ,lancashire1 as well as in ,scotland4 ,a peck of oatmeal and another of peameal may be mixed thoroughly together1 and sifted through a sieve to which add three or four ounces of salt1 and make into dough with warm water4 ,then roll into thin cakes or flat rolls1 and bake on a hot plate or in the oven4 ,this1 of course1 is unfermented bread4 ,in ,scotland the thick cakes of oatmeal are called bannock1 and the thin ones cakes1 and in the farm-houses a great number are made at once and stored on a rack close to the ceiling1 where they will keep for a long time if quite dry4 ,when needed1 they are crisped before the fire and slightly browned4 ,bread is also made of oatmeal and wheat flour2 also oatmeal and rice4 ,take a peck each of flour and oatmeal and half a peck of potatoes1 peeled and washed and boiled4 ,knead into a dough with yeast1 salt1 and warm milk4 ,make into loaves and bake as usual4 ,rice is made in the same manner4 ,in the early centuries oatmeal was eaten almost altogether raw by the ,scot1 as indeed was the flour of wheat1 and ,i daresay every other kind4 ,in ,mrs4 ,stone's delightful book1 ,teneriffe and its ,seven ,satellites1 she gives an account of the food of the population of the islands1 and says that it was undoubtedly a primeval usage derived from the mysterious ,guanches1 the first inhabitants of the ,isles1 a civilised people who embalmed their dead1 but have long since ceased to exist as a separate people4 ,this flour is prepared by first roasting the wheat itself1 then grinding it1 and afterwards storing it in bags for carriage4 ,it is eaten simply mixed with cold water1 and is not only palatable1 but delicious1 with a sweet and nutty flavour1 caused by the previous wasting of the grain4 ,even now1 in many parts of ,scotland1 oatmeal is eaten uncooked and stirred simply into hot or cold water1 with salt1 mixed together in a basin4 ,this is called brose1 a word derived from the ,anglo-,saxon1 and the same as breuis and broth1 the word meaning the liquor in which meat or anything else is boiled and macerated4 ,kail brose is made of green vegetable1 mixed with the oatmeal1 and it may have meal or broth as well4 ,plain brose is called often 8sojer's brose10 as it was made in haste1 and 8crowdy0 is also a ,scotch word1 used to describe any food of the porridge kind1 or a mixture of oatmeal and any liquid at hand1 which might be milk1 or even something far stronger4 ,the cooking of oatmeal marks an advance in civilisation1 ,i suppose4 ,even the very word porridge is more recent1 and marks an epoch when the ,scotch received some instructions from one of the ,latin nations2 the original word being either from the ,latin porrus1 a leek1 or the old ,french porree1 or a pottage1 made of beets with other pot herbs1 a kind of food made by boiling vegetables in water with or without meat4 ,the person who taught me to make the best of porridge was an ,irishwoman1 and her method was to stir the oatmeal into the pot containing the boiling water1 which must be bubbling fiercely1 and must also have been salted4 ,the oatmeal she sprinkled in with her left hand 7having the oatmeal close to her7 and stirring all the time busily with her right hand4 ,long experience will tell you how thick to make it1 and it wants at least half an hour's boiling to cook it properly4 ,but the most delightful form of gruel is that made by a ,scotchwoman with milk and not water2 and this needs well boiling too4 ,many people1 however1 prefer the gruel made by steeping the oatmeal in water for some hours1 and pouring off the water and boiling that4 ,the best gruel1 ,i consider1 is to be obtained on an ,atlantic steamer2 especially if it should happen to be of ,scotch extraction1 and to have a ,scotch stewardess4 ,there is some consolation in your sorrows at sea1 if you can get some of the chicken broth they make on the ,cunard steamers1 which is quite too good to be forgotten4 ,they put barley into it1 ,i think1 or perhaps rice2 but whatever the flavour is1 ,i have never succeeded in obtaining the same on shore1 and ,i am inclined to think it is the long boiling that is the secret4 ,when cold it forms a solid and nearly clear jelly4 ,there is plenty of oatmeal1 too1 in haggis1 that essentially ,scottish dish1 which ,robert ,burns called 8,the great chieftain of the pudding race40 ,the component parts of a haggis are a sheep's head and liver1 boiled1 minced1 mixed with suet1 onions1 oatmeal and seasoning1 moistened with beef gravy1 and put into a haggis bag and boiled4 ,a haggis will keep for some time1 as it is quite firm1 and may be packed for a journey4 ,but in that last event the onions must be omitted in the making of it4 ,both black and white puddings are indebted to oatmeal for some of their filling1 but few people1 unless educated up to it1 appreciate either of these delicacies4 ,cock-a-leekie is a ,scotch name for a very ancient ,english dish1 that was known as long ago as the #adth century by the name of ,malachi4 8,ma0 is the old name for a fowl1 and ,malachi means sliced fowl4 ,so1 though the modern rendering seems to promise that the leeks in it would be too prominent for most people1 it is a mistake4 ,the fowl is first half roasted1 then boiled in broth1 then cut up1 and served with a quantity of vegetables1 mostly onions4 ,spices were added1 and the broth was thickened with fine oatmeal4 ,there are some ,english recipes in which oatmeal plays a part1 and the first that ,i remember is what is called tharfe cake1 in ,yorkshire1 which is baked for the fifth of ,november4 ,i give a very old family recipe for it4 ,take four pounds of fresh oatmeal and rub into it one pound of butter1 one pound of brown sugar1 a quarter of a pound of candied lemon peel1 and two ounces of caraway seeds well bruised4 ,mix the whole with three pounds and a half of treacle4 ,when the cake is baked1 which should be in a slow oven1 pour over it a little flavouring while hot4 ,parkin is also a ,yorkshire cake1 which resembles tharfe cake1 but is not so good4 ,the following is also an old recipe for it1 and both of these cakes will be found very good for children's use4 ,rub half a pound of butter into three pounds of fine oatmeal1 add one ounce of ginger1 and as much stiff treacle as will make it into a stiff paste4 ,roll it out in cakes of about half an inch thick1 lay these on buttered tins and bake in a slow oven4 ,the tops may be washed over with milk1 if you prefer it1 as it has a more appetising effect perhaps4 ,all the modern recipes for parkin contain baking powder and sugar1 but for the first there is no need at all1 as all these ,yorkshire cakes are not at all of the light order1 and are both heavy and stiff1 nor are they intended to be very sweet4 ,one of the dishes in which oatmeal plays a part1 is in the savoury or sweet porridge seen in ,derbyshire and the north of ,england4 ,it is made as follows3 ,oatmeal two or three tablespoons1 onions two or three ounces1 milk one pint1 butter a quarter of a pound1 pepper and salt one teaspoonful4 ,boil the onions in two waters2 when tender shred them finely1 and add them to the boiling milk1 sprinkle in the oatmeal1 add the butter1 pepper and salt1 boil during from ten to fifteen minutes1 pour into soup plates and serve with sippets4 ,instead of onions1 grated cheese may be stirred in with the oatmeal4 ,to make sweet porridge proceed in the same manner4 ,take the same quantity of oatmeal1 but instead of onions and pepper put in two or three ounces each of sugar1 sultanas and currants1 and candied peel if you like it1 and serve in the same manner4 ,this is a very excellent porridge for children's suppers4 ,in ,america1 the coarse oatmeal is used for frying oysters4 ,they are rolled in it--instead of either in flour or crackers--before frying1 and a very good addition it makes4 ,the oatmeal may also be used for chops or cutlets1 if you have no crumbs4 ,i had nearly omitted a ,persian dish1 of oatmeal and honey1 which is a kind of porridge made by beating up a tablespoonful of oatmeal and the same quantity of honey with the yolk of an egg1 and then pouring on it a pint of boiling water and boiling the mixture for a few minutes4 ,the following is an oatmeal pudding4 ,take of oatmeal one pint1 of boiling milk two pints1 of eggs two and of salt a little4 ,pour the boiling milk over the oatmeal and let it soak all night4 ,add the eggs1 well beaten2 butter a basin that will just hold it1 cover it tightly with a floured cloth and boil it an hour and a half4 ,eat it with cold butter and salt4 ,when cool it may be sliced and toasted and eaten as oat-cake buttered4 ,a porridge of rice and oatmeal was once very popular amongst vegetarians4 ,it was made by boiling eight ounces of rice in a pint of water1 and as the water was absorbed1 gradually adding two quarts more1 also add half a tablespoon of sugar and some salt1 and lastly stir in eight ounces of oatmeal1 and let the whole boil for twenty minutes4 ,if it be liked sweet1 add two ounces of sugar1 but if savoury add pepper1 salt and some onions boiled and chopped4 ,our forefathers were very fond of oatmeal flummery1 but it has quite gone out of fashion1 though an excellent dish4 ,put a pound and a half of fine white oatmeal to steep for a day and a night in cold water1 and pour it off clear1 adding as much more water1 and let it stand for the same time2 then strain it through a fine hair sieve1 and boil it till as thick as hasty pudding1 stirring it slowly all the time1 and being most careful to prevent its burning4 ,when you first strain the water off1 put to it one large tablespoonful of white sugar and two tablespoonfuls of orange-flower water2 then pour it into a bowl and serve4 ,it is eaten cold1 and with new milk1 or cream1 and sugar4 ,i am sure my readers will have heard very often of 8flummery10 and perhaps may like to try it for themselves4 ,an oatmeal hasty pudding also comes from ,yorkshire4 ,beat the yolks of two eggs with half a pint of new milk1 cold1 and a little salt4 ,thicken this with fine oatmeal1 and beat to a very smooth batter4 ,set a pint and a half of new milk on the fire1 and when it is scalding hot pour in the batter1 stirring it well that it may be smooth and not burn4 ,let it be over the fire till it thickens1 but do not permit it to boil1 and the moment you take it from the fire pour it into a dish4 ,it is eaten with cold butter and sugar1 and either a little lemon juice or vinegar4 ,in that delightful book1 ,the ,chemistry of ,cookery1 by ,mr4 ,w4 ,mathieu ,williams1 the well-known scientist and lecturer1 a book that ought to be studied by every housekeeper1 ,i find that he advocates the idea of porridge being made for some days before it is required1 then stored in a closed jar1 and brought out and warmed for use4 ,the change effected in it is just that which may theoretically be expected1 i4e41 a softening of the fibrous material1 and a sweetening1 due to the formation of sugar4 ,this may be called an application of the principle of ensilage to human food2 for ensilage is a process of slow vegetable cookery1 a digesting or maceration of fibrous vegetables in their own juices1 which loosens the fibre1 renders it softer and more digestible2 and not only does this1 but1 to some extent1 converts it into dextrine and sugar4 8,although in many respects10 says a recent writer1 8oatmeal and flour are very similar1 the effect produced by them upon the system is very different4 ,oatmeal is richer in oily1 fatty matter than any other cultivated grain1 and its proportion of proteine compounds exceeds that of the finest wheaten flour4 ,although so nutritious1 it cannot be used as a substitute for flour2 the peculiar character of its gluten preventing the meal being made into fermented bread4 ,but in other forms it may be made into very pleasant food1 such as biscuits1 gruel1 oatcake and porridge4 ,oats are a natural grain in ,england1 and are cultivated at less expense than wheat4 ,this last is better adapted for making good fermented bread1 and so is more in request4 ,but perhaps the time may come when we shall return to the use of unfermented bread1 and shall think that bread made from other grains1 and unfermented1 is quite as good1 or even better1 than the fermented bread of flour4 ,at the present time1 however1 wheat is more consumed than any other grain10 and with this long quotation ,i will conclude4 ,illustration3 ,g4,o4,p4 ,,answers ,,to ,,correspondents ,,study ,,and ,,studio4 ,h4 ,m4 ,i4--#a4 ,your hymn tune shows the need of instruction in harmony4 ,there are several consecutive fifths in it1 and other faults which study would enable you to avoid4 ,we should advise you to take lessons4--#b4 ,dr4 ,lemmi's ,italian ,grammar is published at #es4 by ,messrs4 ,oliver ,boyd1 ,edinburgh1 and by ,messrs4 ,simpkin1 ,marshall ,co41 ,london4 ,,wheelbarrow4--,if you write to the office of ,the ,boy's ,own ,paper1 #ef1 ,paternoster ,row1 we believe you will find that a chart of the colours peculiar to the different colleges of each ,university has been published4 ,at all events1 we refer you to the ,editor4 ,,topsy4--,we should prefer the ,senior ,cambridge and the ,cambridge ,higher ,local out of the four examinations you mention4 ,,in our ,september part we informed ,,ruby that the couplet 8,crabbed age and youth ,cannot live together40 was from 8,the ,passionate ,pilgrim10 by ,shakespeare4 ,in so saying we handed on the information of three recognised authorities on 8quotations10 and observed that 8,the ,passionate ,pilgrim0 appears without note or comment in numerous editions of ,shakespeare's works4 8,the ,passionate ,pilgrim10 a miscellany of twenty 8,songs and ,sonnets10 was first published in #aeii1 and the words 8,by ,w4 ,shakespeare0 are on the title pages of the #aeii and #afab editions2 but of the twenty poems only five are certainly by ,shakespeare1 and the poem in question 7,no4 xii4 of the series7 is not one of these4 ,its author1 in fact1 is unknown1 although it appears now1 and appeared three centuries ago1 under ,shakespeare's name4 ,,wild ,,rose4--#a4 ,in bar seven of your composition you have the second inversion of a chord1 which should not be followed by the first inversion of another chord4 ,it is1 however1 an interesting attempt1 and we should urge you to persevere4--#b4 ,your writing is rather too small and crabbed1 and seems to us as though in childhood you had not learned to 8turn0 your letters well4 ,copy any model you admire1 and you will soon improve4 ,,donovan and ,,tilly ,,whim4--,we can direct you to three amateur reading societies1 mentioned in this column during the past year or so1 but can take no responsibility whatever with regard to them4 ,address--,the ,half ,hour ,reading ,society1 #b1 ,headingley ,terrace1 ,headingley1 ,leeds2 ,the ,queen ,reading ,society1 secretary1 ,miss ,isabel ,g4 ,kent1 ,lay ,rectory1 ,little ,abington1 ,cambridge2 ,miss ,e4 ,l4 ,tangye1 ,the ,elms1 ,redruth1 ,cornwall4 ,the ,national ,home ,reading ,union1 ,surrey ,house1 ,victoria ,embankment1 is being continually recommended by us4 ,,sister ,,harriet4--,your most satisfactory plan is to write to the publisher of the books you name1 asking your questions1 and enclosing a stamped envelope for reply4 ,unless the authoress objects to the particulars being known1 you are sure to receive an answer4 ,,anonymous4--,you give no name nor pseudonym in your inquiry about the ,civil ,service4 ,,our ,,open ,,letter ,,box4 ,a4 ,,martin wishes to find a poem called 8,voices at the ,throne10 beginning 8,a little child-- ,a little meek-eyed child1 ,sitting at a cottage door40 8,,sweet ,,marie0 is informed that her quotation1 8,laugh and the world laughs with you1 ,weep and you weep alone10 is from one of ,ella ,wheeler's poems of ,passion--8,solitude40 ,we thank our masculine correspondent for his help and his very kind letter4 ,,ethel ,,rimmer has more replies from ,,soldier',s ,,daughter1 ,,alice ,,nimon1 and ,c4 ,,perkins1 whom we thank4 ,,klondyke1 in answering ,ethel ,rimmer1 requests a recipe for 8the ,american ,harlequin ,cake10 and inquires the name of the ,english agent1 ,gold ,coast4 ,these queries are scarcely literary2 but as they occur in a letter concerning a literary subject1 we print them here4 ,,can anyone direct 8,,doubtful0 to the verses beginning 8,the woman was old1 and ragged1 and gray1 ,and bent with the chill of a winter's day08 ,,mabel ,,entwistle sends a reply to ,la ,marguerite's question concerning painting on panel1 which we copy verbatim3-- 8,surely she refers to chrystoleum painting4 ,chrystoleums are photographs taken from ,academy pictures and then painted on4 ,it is possible to affix these 7whether painted on convex or flat glass7 on to a panel4 ,if this is what ,la ,marguerite means1 if she will write to me1 ,i shall be pleased to send full particulars and give her any help ,i can1 as ,i have had considerable experience in chrystoleum painting4 ,but if she refers to the painting on the surface of photographs in water-colours1 that is something ,i have wanted to learn for some time1 and shall be equally glad to obtain information upon4 ,this art requires a special medium and treatment of photo1 ,i know1 but ,i cannot get to know exactly4 ,trusting this may be of some use1 8,i remain1 8,sincerely yours1 8,,mabel ,,entwistle40 #a1 ,william ,street1 ,darwen4 ,,medical4 ,a4 ,z4--,mussels form a food of considerable value1 but they are by no means free from danger4 ,as a food they are fairly nutritious and digestible1 though far inferior in both these points to oysters4 ,the dangers of eating mussels are very real1 although they have been grossly exaggerated4 ,they depend in part upon whether the mussels have been feeding upon sewage4 ,mussels taken from the mouths of rivers or elsewhere where they can come into contact with sewage matter should never be eaten4 ,the danger is much greater when the mussels are eaten raw4 ,if they are boiled first the likelihood of harm resulting is considerably less4 ,practically all germs are destroyed by boiling1 so that there is little fear of contracting typhoid from eating boiled mussels4 ,indeed the danger of catching typhoid is far less from eating mussels than it is from eating oysters1 because the latter are nearly always eaten raw1 whereas the former are usually cooked4 ,but besides the dangers of contamination with sewage1 there is another danger in eating mussels1 that is1 that mussels are very liable to quickly decompose1 and in their decomposition to set free animal poisons of the most virulent description4 ,this is the chief cause of the numerous deaths which occur from partaking of mussels4 ,but when we consider the vast number of mussels eaten in ,england1 especially in the ,north1 it is no wonder deaths should now and then occur4 ,,ariel4--,if you wish your daughter to become a physician you must send her to a hospital where lady students are taken4 ,she cannot by any possibility learn medicine without clinical instruction4 ,the medicine which can be learnt from books is of no value without practical instruction4 ,there is not such a thing as an amateur medical man or woman4 ,a person is either a qualified and registered medical man1 or else he is a quack1 or a 8medicine man0 if you like4 ,the law has lately shown its objection to such persons in very strong terms4 ,,anxious ,,one4--,there are two causes of double chins1 age and obesity1 and they usually operate together4 ,we cannot1 alas6 mitigate the effects of advancing years4 ,we cannot prevent ,father ,time from meddling with us4 ,the treatment of obesity we have over and over again described4 ,the chief points to attend to are to reduce the amounts of starchy or sugary food taken2 to take liquids only in great moderation2 to forego alcohol in any form1 and to take plenty of exercise daily4 ,tight lacing and wearing tight collars are also said to produce double chins4 ,,violet4--,in an article called 8,diet in ,health and ,sickness10 published in this magazine the year before last1 you will find information about the treatment of obesity4 ,the chief points to attend to are3--reduce the quantity of farinaceous and sweet food2 avoid alcohol in all forms1 and only take liquids of any kind in moderation2 take plenty of exercise and avoid all drugs and nostrums4 ,,ladice4--#a4 ,one attack of eczema does predispose to others2 but it is quite possible1 indeed it is probable1 that you will completely overcome the disease in time4 ,the application that you are using is good1 but the following is better1 viz43--lime water1 olive oil and oxide of zinc1 equal parts of each1 shaken up into a cream4 ,this forms a very soothing application4 ,is your hair free from scurf8 ,eczema of the face often follows from seborrha4--#b4 ,april #h1 #ahfh1 was a ,sunday4 8,,an ,,old ,,reader40--,we are sorry to say that we can give you but little help4 ,the description of your illness is not sufficiently lucid for us to come to any conclusion as to what is wrong with you4 ,and your account of the present trouble with your legs is also so incomplete that we can make nothing out of it4 ,it may be due to flat-foot or sciatica1 or one of a vast host of conditions4 ,you had far better see the doctor who attended you during your last illness1 as what you have now may be only a sequel to that disease4 ,,cat ,,tony4--,eustachian obstruction sometimes ends in complete deafness4 ,more often partial deafness ensues4 ,it is a very difficult complaint to treat4 ,complete cure is the exception rather than the rule2 but some improvement is usually gained by medicinal measures4 ,sometimes it gets better of its own accord2 but it is foolish to rely upon its doing so4 ,though certainly dangerous to hearing1 it is not of itself of any vital danger4 ,,sybil4--,you tell us that you weigh #i st4 #ab lb41 but you neglect to state your height4 ,how is it possible for us to know whether you are stout or not8 #i st4 #ab lb4 is certainly rather heavy for a girl of seventeen2 but then everything depends upon your height4 ,the weight is nothing extraordinary2 and as you say that your health is perfect you had far better take no notice of your condition4 ,unless really necessary1 it is better for stout persons to remain as they are than to attempt to reduce their weight by means which must of themselves injure the health4 ,a ,,subscriber ,,to ,,the 8,g4 ,o4 ,p40--,obviously you must be careful not to overtire yourself or get wet1 since these bring on the attacks of neuralgia4 ,during the attacks cover the course of the nerve with cotton wool1 and take ten grains of citrate of caffeine4 ,a small blister or other form of counter-irritation may give you relief2 but it must not be used when the attack is acute4 ,,girls' ,,employments4 ,,wood ,,violet 7,civil ,service74--,a well-educated girl1 such as the one you describe1 is wise to try to enter the ,civil ,service at the age of sixteen4 ,under the new rule she is eligible from sixteen to eighteen for one of the posts of girl clerks4 ,these girl clerks receive a salary of #ce the first year1 #cg #ajs4 the second and #dj the third4 ,they can afterwards be promoted to the rank of ,female ,clerks1 if they have shown themselves to be possessed of superior intelligence1 otherwise they become sorters4 ,the advantage of entering the ,service young is1 that a girl understands the routine of office work by the time she is old enough to hold a clerkship1 whereas women entering for a clerkship as outsiders have their duties to learn4 ,a ,female ,clerk begins at a salary of #ee1 and may eventually obtain a maximum of #ajj1 and further may be promoted4 ,a ,female ,sorter1 in ,london1 receives #abs4 to #a a week1 and in the provinces #ajs4 to #bas4 #f;d4 a week4 ,there are also prospects of promotion for sorters4 ,the examination is held in the ordinary ,english subjects1 together with ,french and ,german4 ,edinburgh would be the nearest examination centre for you4 ,the examinations are advertised in the principal papers on a ,thursday some weeks before the date fixed4 ,you would doubtless see the announcement by watching the pages of ,the ,scotsman4 ,having seen the advertisement1 write at once to the ,secretary1 ,civil ,service ,commission1 ,london1 ,s4,w41 asking for a form of application4 ,this you return1 with the necessary details respecting yourself filled up1 and you will then be informed the precise address of the place of examination and the other particulars you require to know4 ,we think we have now told you all that is necessary4 ,we have only to add that a girl who intends entering this examination should now occupy herself more particularly in acquiring a neat clerical handwriting1 in studying ,english composition1 and in perfecting herself in arithmetic and geography4 ,,la ,,comtesse 7,dairy ,work74--,you would expend #e very wisely1 it seems to us1 in taking a month's course of training at the ,reading ,dairy ,institute4 ,you had better wait till the spring1 as you suggest1 and then devote your attention as closely as possible to the practical dairy work and cheese-making4 ,from renewed inquiry which we have made on the subject we still learn that women licensed at such schools as this obtain excellent posts as dairy-maids and managers of dairies1 and receive salaries of about #be with board and lodging4 ,you should try on the completion of the course to get an appointment in the dairy of some large landed proprietor1 and you might be willing to forego something in wages at first in order to work under a competent superintendent4 ,the ,principal of the ,dairy ,institute1 we imagine1 must constantly be asked to recommend trained pupils4 ,in any case you should consult him as to the whole question of your suitability and prospects before engaging to take the course of tuition4 ,,anxious 7,suggestions74--,if the sight of your one eye is thoroughly strong and satisfactory1 you had better learn dressmaking4 ,but if the eye is at all weak1 it would be unwise to try it1 and in this event cookery or laundry-work would be better4 ,in the end we believe you will not be sorry that you have been considered ineligible as a shop-assistant4 ,it is only in youth that a shop-assistant can be sure of obtaining employment2 whereas the skilled worker at any trade can always earn her living4 ,,laundress 7,superintendentship or ,opening for ,laundry74--,if you have received a thorough training in laundry work1 by which we mean not less than a year spent in learning the business1 then by all means advertise for a post as superintendent or manageress4 ,the ,national ,laundry ,association has lately fully corroborated all that has been said on the subject in the 8,g4 ,o4 ,p40 by drawing the special attention of educated women to the prospects that this business now offers under the steam laundry system4 ,we hear continually of places where a laundry is required4 ,harringay1 in the north of ,london1 is one of those most recently mentioned to us4 ,requests have reached us also from ,lichfield1 ,elstree and ,richmond-on-,thames to recommend laundresses to establish themselves in those localities4 ,h4 ,a4 ,t4 7,training in a ,children's ,hospital74--,at nineteen you are too young to be admitted as a probationer to any ,london children's hospital4 ,but when you are twenty you would be eligible1 so far as age is concerned1 for the ,east ,london ,hospital for ,children1 ,glamis ,road1 ,shadwell1 ,e4 ,the vacancies there1 however1 are extremely few in proportion to the number of applications4 ,no premium is required1 and a salary of #aj is given the first year1 #ab the second1 and #bj the third1 with laundry and uniform4 ,,teacher4--,we infer from your letter that the school in which you taught two years ago was a ,national ,school4 ,it ought not then to be difficult for you to obtain employment of the same kind again4 ,the ,guardian1 ,the ,church ,times and ,the ,schoolmistress1 are the most likely papers in which to find advertisements of vacancies4 ,a 8,g4 ,o4 ,p40 ,,reader 7,hospital ,nursing74--,you can certainly apply to the matron of any of the chief ,london hospitals for admission as a probationer4 ,you should enclose a stamp in order that the matron may reply to you4 ,,miscellaneous4 ,e4 ,,saunders4--,the receipt you name is legal1 and we think you need feel no uneasiness4 ,if properly stamped1 dated1 and signed1 no names of witnesses are required4 ,,petite4--,your letter does you much credit4 ,the secret of preserving the colour of the flowers is to change the sheets of blotting-paper frequently2 between which you lay them for the pressing4 ,your writing is very legible1 but you reverse the rule for making light and heavy strokes4 ,the copperplate copies employed for teaching to write would show you what we mean4 ,,orthodox4--,the mistake of the so-called 8,peculiar ,people0 consists in their overlooking the divine injunction to 8obey them that have the rule over you40 ,they are guilty of a breach of the law in not sending for a medical man to give an opinion of the case1 and offer his advice and assistance1 whether they avail themselves of his skill or not4 ,we are speaking of adults4 ,in the case of infants and children1 of course1 parents are bound to give them the benefit of medical aid2 and in both cases a true and undoubting faith in the promises--in connexion with prayer--may be exercised with the use of means nowhere forbidden in the ,bible4 ,the danger of the spread of any disease has to be provided against by the law--an act of mercy1 not of cruel persecution1 as these well-meaning but misguided people imagine it to be4 ,,delta4--,to preserve peas1 fill some wide-necked1 dry bottles with good corks1 place them in a pan of cold water1 with a little hay at the bottom1 and set it on the fire1 raising the temperature very gradually to #afj4 ,keep it at this point for twenty or thirty minutes4 ,as the peas will shrink1 fill each bottle1 as far as the commencement of the neck1 with peas from another bottle1 taking care not to bruise them4 ,when all the bottles are filled1 remove the pan from the fire1 take out each bottle separately1 fill it to within an inch of the cork with boiling water2 cork immediately1 avoid shaking1 and tie down the cork4 ,cover well with wax1 and replace the bottles in the pan1 where they should be left to cool gradually till cold4 ,then place the bottles in a dry1 cool place1 lying on their sides1 turn them partially round twice a week during the first couple of months1 and once or twice a month afterwards4 ,,mother4--,your question is one often raised4 ,should you desire to add a name to those already registered for your child 7born in ,england71 you must make application to the registrar who entered its name within seven days of its baptism4 ,we mean to say--supposing that1 six months after its registration1 you wished to add a name at its baptism1 go to the same registrar and state your wish within a week after the baptism4 ,procure the certificate of the latter from the clergyman 7for a fee of one shilling71 take it to the registrar1 and pay a second fee of a shilling for the insertion of the name in the original registration4 ,,margot4--,the honour of having been the first navigator who sailed round the world was earned by a ,portuguese--i4e41 ,sebastien del ,cano1 who accomplished the voyage in the ship ,vittoria4 ,the unfortunate leader of the expedition was ,ferdinand ,magellan1 who passed through the ,straits ,november #bhth1 #aebj1 and was killed on one of the ,philippine ,islands the next year4 ,the first attempt to discover the ,north-west passage was made by ,corte ,real in about #aejj2 also a ,portuguese4 ,but the first expedition correctly so-called was made by ,sir ,hugh ,willoughby in #aeec1 who wished to discover a ,north-west passage to ,china4 ,but he was blocked up by ice and frozen to death on the coast of ,lapland4 ,a4 ,,cross4--,there are 8,y4,w4,c4,a40 ,homes in ,london4 ,amongst them1 ,cloudesley ,home1 #cd1 ,barnsbury ,street1 ,islington1 #ag1 ,aubert ,park1 ,highbury1 ,seymour ,house1 ,portland ,place1 ,lower ,clapton1 ,ealing ,house1 ,uxbridge ,road1 ,ealing1 ,kent ,house1 #hi1 ,great ,portland ,street1 ,princess ,house1 ,brompton ,road1 besides restaurants4 ,probably a communication of your arrangements in regard to letting rooms to young women at a reduced rate during the summer months1 board as well as lodging supplied1 at from #ads4 a week1 would bring your visitors from town4 ,we are not acquainted with ,corrymore1 near ,warminster1 ,wiltshire2 but from what we have seen of ,wiltshire1 we can imagine the country to be pretty and the downs attractive4 ,e4 ,,de ,m4--,all girls who take our paper1 and look to us for advice and instruction1 we consider to be 8our0 girls4 ,you are quite right in saying that you have more blessings than crosses4 ,sometimes the eyes of people are blind to this great truth4 ,the great love of our heavenly ,father towards us and ,his unerring wisdom in the trial of our faith and patience is but little realised4 ,we hope your marriage will be for your happiness4 ,,ethelinda4--,your hand is formed1 and well formed4 ,the ,french phrase1 8,au revoir10 is an abbreviated one4 ,in full it should be1 8,au plaisir de vous revoir0--8to the pleasure of seeing you again40 ,as we have so often told our readers1 ,french pronunciation cannot be given by ,english letters--at least1 not often4 ,the first word 8au0 78to07 is an exception1 for the sound is that of the letter 8o40 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's note3 the following corrections have been made to this text4 ,page #bch3 ,yorkskire changed to ,yorkshire--these ,yorkshire cakes4 ,page #bci3 crakers changed to crackers--flour or crackers4