cept of Ella, and when he endeavours to address her in warm strains, he is at once and for ever silenced. The love suits of the different candidates do not prosper; for whilst Ella dismisses the pretensions of Dalrymple, she effectually keeps cousin Hugh at arms' length, and, indeed, by her unworthy suspicions of his motives, causes his departure in anger; Lesbia, on the other hand, full of life and spirit as she is, is compelled to speak her mind pretty freely to Frank Hamilton, who is persecuting her with his absurd attentions and jealousy, and scowling at her like a maniac.

Mrs. Dobree and Ella proceed to Groschenheim on their autumn tour, and Lesbia is permitted, to her intense delight, to accompany them; for Mr. Hamilton discovers the private visit of a certain suspicious character to Mrs. Scarsdale, and does not care for Lesbia to remain any longer under her protection. The two English beauties divide the attentions of all male Groschenheim. Whilst the haughty and handsome Ella exerts an irresistible spell on Prince Philip, the son of the reigning monarch, and a chivalrous and prepossessing young man, the joyous, inerry, yet loving and clinging Lesbia selects, among her many admirers, the mature Stephen Dalrymple as the hero of her romance. Strangely does the heart of Mr. Hamilton contract when his ward asks his consent to her marriage with the ex-Austrian Hussar. Nevertheless, he makes no useless opposition. On accepting Mr. Dalrymple as the future husband of Lesbia, he only stipulates for the settlement of her small fortune on herself, a stipulation, by the way, with which the expectant bridegroom complied with very ill grace, and even before the wedding-day he endeavoured to influence her guardian to abandon it. Meanwhile we find Mr. Dalrymple receiving a mysterious visit from Mrs. Scarsdale, and he and the person bearing that

name appear to be connected together by some secret bond. The pair, who are in each other's power, agree together that, in the event of Dalrymple receiving any dowry from Mr. Hamilton besides his ward's fortune, he should pay her a good! percentage, whilst the pseudo Mrs. Scarsdale undertakes to hand over to her confederate an equal commission on her becoming Mrs. Hamilton, a consummation devoutly wished for, if not confidently anticipated. The two parties, who appear totally unacquainted with the principles of common law, draw up an agreement in two copies, which are duly signed and sealed, as if they were legal instruments in a court of justice; a wildly inconceivable delusion on the part of Dalrymple, who must have known that the agreement was not more valid than the undertaking of a thief to divide the property he has stolen.

Mr. Hamilton makes his private inquiries concerning Dalrymple, near the estate of his forefathers, and he finds the story told him to be perfectly correct. But Mr. Hamilton bites his lip when he learns that the future husband of his ward is actually one year older than himself, whilst he, George Hamilton, had considered himself too aged, too superannuated, to attempt to woo a fair young wife. He thinks it monstrous that a young girl should marry a man twenty-eight years her senior; whilst he himself had been treated as a patriarch, and requested not to sit in draughts. Nevertheless, Mr. Hamilton behaves nobly, and on the eve of the marriage he privately hands to the rapacious bridegroom a note for £500.

Lesbia's wedded life at first is a heaven of bliss in which her husband is the presiding divinity. Frank," her former admirer, when he findsshe is married, casts aside his frantic passion like an old coat. Lesbia was anothers, therefore she was nothing to him, is a kind of logic

unhappily not always possessed by real men in this world. At all events, she lived in a round of gaiety; and Frank, who it is to be presumed frequented the gambling tables of Groshenheim, with a view to learn the profession of diplomacy, confines himself to act as a sort of wise mentor to his foolish old love, Lesbia.

Meanwhile, Ella's twenty-first birthday arrives, and she is about to become mistress of her considerable wealth-but she is not happy. Her proud heart has been won by the gentle and chivalrous attentions of Prince Philip, who, unable to offer marriage to a woman not of royal or princely blood, through the inexorable laws of an absurd etiquette, vows to her an everlasting constancy. His character is, no doubt, the most pleasing in the book, and that of Ella also is welldrawn, though she is a young lady who cannot awaken much sympathy in the reader. The Prince's letters, which Ella burns on the morning when she becomes independent, are couched in a manly, unaffected language, sometimes rising almost to eloquence in its simple pathos. When they had, last met he had spoken to her as follows:-" He had resolved, cost him what it might, to pluck out his right eye, to cut off his right hand, rather than offend her with a love he dared not offer, or injure her by a devotion which he could not conceal. A Morganatic marriage would be unworthy of a pure, proud English girl. Nor could I offer disgrace or humiliation to you, my pure, proud, peerless, Ella? Yes, I must call you Ella. You are Ella' to me. I call you so in my dreams, in my prayers, in my heart. But I will go. I will always love you. It is a law of my being; it is stronger than I. You realise my ideal woman, Ella, and I worship you as a woman should be worshipped. I will love all womankind, and be gentle and corteous to all women for your sake,

For your sake I will be pure and true. But I will never call any woman wife. I will never caress any woman; I will bear the thought of you about me as in a shrine ; no presumptuous thought shall desecrate your image." And the poor, chivalrous young man concluded a speech which is spoilt by its length-we have only quoted a portion of itby falling at Ella's knees.

The German Prince, with £150 a year, is not allowed by his caste to wed a wealthy and high-mindedif not always pleasing-English girl, and two beings are made unhappy.

Ella had a singular surprise in store for her cousin, Captain Hugh Dobree. She summons him to her apartment, where she receives him with quiet stateliness. Hugh is prepared for something unpleasant, but not for the methodical statement she delivered, which concluded by offering him, in studiously insulting language, the half of her large fortune "unsaddled, unencumbered with the damning clause which, but for our intimate knowledge of each other, might have come to ruin all."

Hugh Dobree's indignation bursts forth, as would that of any honourable gentleman, and he expresses it in one of those long speeches of which the author is so fond, and which ends in a tirade of vulgar abuse. The obnoxious parchment conveying the property intended for him is thrust into the fireplace, and the enraged cousin stalks out of the room in a towering rage.

The pictures of Court society in Groschenheim are lively enough, and probably are near the mark of what life in small German states is likely to be. The characters of the Jewish bankers, however, Hirsh and Konigswarter, are of the purely traditional, conventional type formerly known to novel readers, when ignorance and illiberality were the order of the day. They are as true representatives of their race as the howling Irishman of the stage, who brandishes his

shillaleh and dances continually a jig; or the grinning French dancing-master, who subsists solely on frogs, are of their respective nationalities. Of the ladies of Groschenheim, the only one deserving of notice is the Countess Stadion, who had formerly cherished a passion for Dalrymple; for the more worthless a man, the more women are sure to worship him. But Dalrymple, though returning her love, was unable to ask her in marriage, for a very particular reason that will be duly revealed to the reader. This lady, notwithstanding the court scandal, appears to have followed an irreproachable conduct. She had married a man twice her years, and had repaid his devotion and confidence by wifely duty and respect. Once, and once only, she granted an interview to Dalrymple, under especial circumstances; and the object of it was a final explanation and a parting for ever.

Dal

Lesbia is at first very happy at Groschenheim; blind, in her admiration for her husband, to all his faults. But the child becomes suddenly a woman, and then gradually the scales fall from her eyes. rymple becomes cold and indifferent; his absences from home are prolonged; and in his own drawingroom his principal occupation is playing écarte with Frank Hamilton and Prince Immensikoff. Dalrymple, nothwithstanding his winnings, falls into embarrassed circumstances. Hirsch and Konigswarter press him for the repayment of sundry advances made to him. Driven at bay, he desires his wife to apply to Mr. Hamilton for the sum of £400, which he sorely needs. For the first time in her life, she refuses to comply with his request, and resists all his brutal efforts, which end in absolute violence. She falls into a swoon, in which he leaves her. When she revives, she is ill and bruised, and she stands gazing at herself in the glass, trying to recal

what has happened. After weeks of silent suffering, Lesbia has grown from an appealing, clinging girl, into a self-reliant, silent, reserved woman. She moves about slowly and painfully, like one in a daze, to the utter annoyance of her husband, who expected her to sue humbly for forgiveness.

Nevertheless, one of her nature, who could not live without love, finds existence insupportable in its isolation; and one summer evening, with many tears and much humility, she seeks her husband, and begs that there might be peace between them. He condescendingly grants her full pardon, accompanied by a severe reprimand, which she thankfully receives. Prince Immensikoff, who had been following about Lesbia incessantly, and yet coldly and politely, is on the eve of departure, and Dalrymple is heavily indebted to him for losses at cards. Dalrymple was making desperate efforts to retrieve his fortune, and one evening whilst playing with Frank, he sends his wife to fetch some gold from his secretaire. Lesbia returns not. The husband and Frank, after a time, follow her, when they hear a piercing scream. The curious agreement between Dalrymple and Mrs. Scarsdale has been found, and eagerly scanned by Lesbia, who is staring at the paper with agonised bewilderment. Frank is requested to withdraw, when Dalrymple cruelly and cynically tells her that she is not his wife; that he is already married, and that it would be to her advantage to remain in her present position and say nothing. His suggestion she indignantly repudiates.

Frank rushes to Prince Immensikoff, and tells him all. Those two men understood one another, for they love the same woman. It is astonishing what a bond that forms at times between two beings who have not another thought in com

For the boy's passion, after all, with a constancy rare at his age,

has never quitted him. The Prince agrees to act as Frank's second, but advises him to keep quiet for twentyfour hours, which with difficulty the latter is induced to promise, so intent is he on slaying Dalrymple in fair fight. Frank goes home, and writes long letters preparatory to his duel, which is never destined to take place. Prince Immensikoff takes an immediate opportunity of publicly insulting Dalrymple at the club, and a challenge occurs. Dalrymple remains away from Lesbia that night, and it is then that he bids Countess Stadion farewell.

When Frank reaches the ground, at the appointed time, it is too late. He has been robbed of his vengeance -Dalrymple is dead-shot through by Immensikoff. The duel makes a great sensation, for Dalrymple had been a factotum of the Grand Duke, and had enjoyed much influence at Court. But it does not appear that the police of Groschenheim troubled in any way Prince Immensikoff, who is allowed to go scot-free. The Prince, however, explains to Frank that he had fought the duel purely for Frank's advantage, for Lesbia would shrink from the murderer of the man who had been as a husband to her, whilst then would be no such bar to Frank's happiness hereafter. The blow falls heavy on poor Lesbia, who for a while is like one crazy. She shuts herself up in her apart ment, refusing to see any one. The news reached Berrylands, and Mr. Hamilton telegraphs to her that he would go and fetch her. But she declined; she could not face her friends after her disgrace. So, after having come to an arrangement with Hirsch and Konigswarter, as to the payment of Dalrymple's debt to them, she finds her way to Calais; she hardly knows how, probably through the assistance of Providence and kind-hearted travellers. At Dover, Mr. Hamilton experiences a sharp pang, as the wan wreck of a fair woman in a sad state of self

neglect was recognised by him as Lesbia. She scarcely speaks to him; does not notice him during the journey, whilst he accompanies her to London, and thence to her old friend, Miss Davidson, at Torquay; for Lesbia will not go to Berrylands.

Time works wonders. As Mahomet went to the mountain when the mountain would not obey his call, so Lesbia's friends gradually gather round her at Torquay, where she recovers something of her peace of mind and the whole of her good looks. Mr. Hamilton and Frank, and Ella and Hugh, all visit her; but she declines receiving them in the house under the pretence that she has nursed a fever case, and will only speak to them in the garden, keeping them all the while at arm's length. Mr. Hamilton had been much wounded at her tacit reserve; at her refusal of his services, especially in pecuniary matters; at her desire to assume the control of her property herself; and Lesbia is glad when he and all her friends leave her alone to her thoughts. For she had felt guilty and conscience-stricken before them, and had naturally experienced a strange embarrassment in their presence. Frank's love she resolutely rejected, and his threats to reveal her secret have no effect except to incense her against him. She could feel no affection for the lad, who if he could have existed at all as described, which is highly improbable, would have been a most offensive and disagreeable being.

Time, the great healer of sorrows, healed Lesbia's, and we find next the unmarried widow become once more a wife. Mr. Hamilton wished to protect her, to shield her with his name. She felt he would be father, brother, friend; and she accepted him as a husband. In due course she loves him tenderly, and her happiness appears complete, when a new life grows in her bosom.

But a heavy blow was preparing. Mrs. Scarsdale had been dismissed from Berrylands some months before; and she wanders to Groschenheim, where she finds Frank, and where she flatters his vanity and encourages his absurd passion for Lesbia. One day Frank receives a letter from his uncle, enclosing a remittance and informing him of his marriage, without mentioning the lady. The female villain-who is by the way a repulsive and scarcely natural creation vows revenge against the woman who ousted her from her comfortable position, and deprived her of the well-earned reward of years of intrigue and duplicity. She manages to worm from Frank Lesbia's secret-which she ought to have known herself and when the worthy pair read in the Times the name of the bride, the effect is so great on him, that by the combined influence of mental excitement and drink he is attacked by brain fever-that favourite disease with novelists. The lady does not stick at trifles. She breaks the lock of his desk, and, after examining his papers, she commits a very pretty forgery.

The unsuspecting Mr. Hamilton, to whom his wife was afraid to reveal even the simple matter of the first marriage of the scoundrel who had betrayed her, receives, one fine morning, a letter without signature, apparently in Frank's handwriting. The communication not only states the truth, but a great deal more than the truth besides. Mrs. Hamilton was never Mr. Dalrymple's wife. Mr. Dalrymple had been killed in a duel with Mrs. Hamilton's lover, Prince Immensikoff. Mrs. Hamilton had been engaged in a flirtation with Mr. Frank Hamilton, and two notes were enclosed, in which she stated that he only knew her disgrace, and entreated him not to betray her. The artful concoction has its effect. The conviction forces itself in

man.

George Hamilton's mind that his sweet, devoted wife, who has twined herself about his heart, is a vile sham-a degraded, lying, false woShe declares the writing to be a forgery; that Frank is incapable of so shameful a deed. He allows her no chance of a justification. He hastily discards her for ever, and she seeks refuge in Mrs. Davidson's arms, into which she falls-a raving lunatic.

So we have now Frank laid low with brain fever in Groschenheim, and Lesbia afflcted with acute mania at Torquay. Frank is cured first. When he received a letter from his uncle, inquiring as to the truth of the statements contained in that fatal document, Frank, who is not lost to all sense of honour, indignantly repudiates its contents, and writes a long explanation to his relative, fully exculpating Lesbia. He is eagerly desirous to discover the calumnious writer, and is only prevented from rushing to search for him by the startling confession from Mrs. Scarsdale, that she is the author of the epistle- his own mother -Dalrymple's first wife, though Dalrymple was not his father!

Poor Lesbia, meanwhile, was ravin delirium. When her babe is born to her, however, she recognises Ella, and she commences to have occasional rays of light. The whole dramatis persona, with the exception of Mrs. Scarsdale, of whom we hear no more in the book, and Prince Philip, who perishes at Sadowa, flock together at Torquay for the last scene.

The weak-minded Mr. Hamilton, who had followed his wife to that town, and had taken a house for her there, is now smitten with remorse, and can hardly reproach himself sufficiently for his credulity and harshness. Whilst he is wandering about, bowed down with sorrow and remorse, Mrs. Hamilton's nurse signs a declaration, confirming the fact that Frank was a changeling; that,