it so useful to pick up things here and there. Your sister had promised me a recipe for anchovy toast, and I had brought my book down to copy it in-that was all.'

Almost desperate, the Captain made one more manly struggle. (I will try her with the Bell of Bokherat, thought he, and if that fails, I give her up).

'Perhaps, then,' he resumed, 'you are a lover of original poetryyou write a little yourself?' (Amelia shook her stolid head) 'or you prefer to hear it gushing from the living spring, instead of through the medium of letter-press? If I might venture to repeat a little thing of my own, which I composed in India, about an alarm-bell in a tower, in the district in which I was then quartered, it might interest you. Some persons to whom I have repeated it have been good enough to say that they had never met with anything more-a-touching, even-a-beautiful and pathetic; (their kindness only, of course,) but you shall judge—

"Oh! sweetly, sadly, softly still,

A sorrowing sound each heart to thrill

Sweeps through the vale.

The booming bell of Bokherat !

What wild, wild woe has whirl'd on that

'Oh! stop the man,' cried Amelia, (she meant the driver) Fermatevi! Captain Cavendish, I am certain I saw some wild strawberries there, under the hedge; do get down and pick them for me: I am so fond of those strawberries!'

And Amelia showed more animation than she had displayed throughout the drive. In a state of utter collapse, the Captain descended from the vehicle, and looked for the supposed fruit, which turned out to be merely red leaves. I am glad of it,' thought he, savagely, when he began slowly to come to himself, after the shock he had received. 'I am glad I was not made the instrument for ministering to her low tastes. Strawberries! and in the very midst of the Bell! What a fate to marry a woman like this!

"I to herd with such a narrow forehead;

So intensely vacant of our glorious gains!"" 'Heaven forbid!' No more attempts did the wretched Captain make to draw Amelia out: he had drawn only too much out as it was, and a perfect silence was preserved between them during the rest of the way. When they arrived at the chosen spot for the pic-nic, he eagerly sought Clotilda; but that lady received him with decided frigidity, and calling Mr. Harman to her side, she contrived to keep him there for the rest of the day, and made herself as agreeable as she possibly could, to his great amusement, and the evident uneasiness of Captain Cavendish, who, in consequence, made up his mind to propose that very day. She gave him no opportunity, however, taking possession of Mr. Harman for the drive home. Amelia and Mrs. Melville went together, and he found himself with his niece. The Captain had not had a happy day, and wore a lugubrious countenance.

Come, Uncle Ned, don't look so wobegone,' said Amy, laughing. 'What on earth has happened to you? Have you proposed to one of the Misses Brooks, and been refused, or what?'

'Amy,' replied her uncle, with solemnity, 'you are shortly to enter the married state; and I should think, I should hope, you feel that there are certain subjects on which light jesting is unsuitable. No, Amy, I have not proposed to Miss Brooks; had I done so-had I ventured to do so a person so superior in all mental endowments to the ordinary individuals of her sex might, in fact probably would, have refused me; but

'Nonsense, uncle,' said Amy. 'You know better; it is quite evident she is in love with you (and just see how she was playing off Mr. Harman against you to-day); but I hope you are not in love with her, for I am sure you might find a nicer wife.'

A gratified smile overspread the Captain's features, and his gloom began to take wing.

As to Miss Brooks's sentiments towards me, my dear,' said he,' they

severe lady's-maid of forbidding aspect, rejoicing in the name of Grimshaw, who has already quarrelled with the whole establishment on account of various personal grievances. Her room is at the top of the house; she is sure the windows have not been opened for a month; the bed is too hard; the pillows too soft; the sheets are rough; the chairs are of cushionless deal; the basin and jug don't match in pattern, and

'Oh! come, come,' said Mrs. Melville, laughing, 'you are inventing; besides, how could she say all that to the people? for I do not suppose she is an Italian scholar.'

No, but the wretched courier is obliged to act interpreter, and a nice time he is having of it, I should say. Then there is a papa, six feet three, age fifty, accustomed to lord it wherever he goes (except, I presume over the maid), and lastly, there is a daughter, rather pretty, blonde, great blue eyes and that sort of thing, but very languid and die-away; in fact, intended to be taken for a very fine lady indeed. I think so, but let us be charitable! The name, I grieve to say, is not beautiful, in fact, it is Bodger-and Sir John Bodger is a widower and an alderman, and has made heaps of money in the City. All these facts I have gathered in the course of my short conversation with him.'

'There can be no doubt you have made a pretty good use of your opportunities,' said Amy; ' perhaps they may be nice people, although their name is Bodger.'

Bodger!' said Clotilda, who came up at that moment with her cavalier, in a tone of ineffable disgust; the idea of anything called Bodger being even bearable! who are you talking about?' So the story was told over again.

And there!" said Mr. Harman, in conclusion, clapping Captain Cavendish on the shoulder, is a City heiress for you, my boy; you had better try your luck with her.' The captain, of course pricked up his ears and looked interested; but Clotilda, who had long made up her mind that Mr. Harman was not

the

At dinner they made acquaintance with the new arrival. The perfidious Captain contrived to sit next Miss Bodger, and Clotilda had the pleasure of seeing him make himself as agreeable as he could to her after his own fashion; she responding to his transcendental remarks and poetic quotations, by a languid smile and occasional interjections of La! how sweet!' and Captain was perfectly pleased. Sir John sat on his daughter's other hand. 'Madam,' said he, addressing Miss Melville, 'I am sure you agree with me that this is a most savage, most detestable country, without even the necessaries of life, I may say: I asked just now for champagne, having finished the little stock I brought with me; and, would you believe it? not a bottle have they in the house-not one bottle! though, by the way, you must ere this have discovered that for yourself."'

'I should never have dreamt of finding such a thing here,' said Mrs. Melville; but I seldom drink it at any rate.'

'Indeed! my daughter, Miss Bodger, invariably drinks it at luncheon and dinner at home. You may, therefore, judge how great the privation is to her.'

'One comfort for her is,' replied Mrs. Melville, that they say there is nothing so good as a complete change in every respect when one is abroad, and I think there is something in that.'

Sir John looked disgusted. 'My daughter is a young lady of great delicacy and refinement,' said he; ' and I own I tremble at the effect which the want of her ordinary comforts may have upon her.'

That must spoil your pleasure greatly,' said Mrs. Melville. I am

thankful to say I have no such fears for my daughter. She is very strong, and a little roughing seems to do her good.'

'How very fortunate you are,' replied Sir John, glancing first with contempt at Amy's blooming cheeks, and then with pride at the sickly complexion of his daughter. Maria Jane has always been a tender plant, yet she would come to the Tyrol. Her intimate friends, the families of Alderman Stobbs and Sir Thomas Gubbins have all been in Switzerland, so she said, "Papa, we must go to the Tyrol; and then Jane Stobbs and Mary Anne Gubbins will be dying of envy all winter when they hear me talk of it. And if they go next summer," said she, "we'll wait till they are fairly off; and we'll go to Denmark that everybody talks of now (if it does not take more than two hours to cross to it), or to Iceland, or to some place where they've never been;" for the dear girl never could bear anything commonplace, and I am sure the young ladies here will agree with me,' added the worthy knight, with a sweeping bow which included Clotilda, and poured a little balm into her chafed spirit.Young ladies!' and that wretch, throwing languishing looks upon Maria Jane at such a rate. Miss Brooks made up her mind to patronize Sir John.

No; I for one don't agree,' said Amy. I love Switzerland, and am never tired of going there-besides, one ought to be glad that so many people can enjoy it now, who could not formerly, before the journey was so cheap and easy.'

'The hotels are so comfortable, besides,' added Amelia, that that makes up for everything else.'

Sir John stared. 'Surely,' said he, it cannot but be revolting to persons of delicacy and refinement to have to rub shoulders with the common herd," I may say, at every moment?'

'You are quite right, Sir John,' interposed Clotilda, as Amy was about to reply. 'I quite share your daughter's feelings. The last time I was at the Hôtel des Alpes, at Interlachen, and the Schweizerhof, in Lucerne, I really was disgusted

at the mob of vulgar people one encountered, and I was thankful to get out of them.'

'I am charmed to find you agree with me, replied Sir John, his brows relaxing, and a gracious expression pervading his countenance, at finding himself no longer differed from, a position he was little accustomed to, and he and Miss Brooks engaged during the remainder of dinner in an animated conversation, if conversation it could be called, which consisted in a chorus of dislikes to vulgarity, and non-refinement, and common-placeness, and the rough travelling of the Tyrol.

Mr. Harman watched Captain Cavendish with intense amusement. It was evident there would now be a struggle in his mind between the comparative merits of Miss Brooks and Miss Bodger, which would in all probability end in favour of the latter. After dinner, Maria Jane, being delicate, retired to her apartment in company with Grimshaw and a four-volume novel, and was no more seen that day. Sir John, after a nap in an un-easy chair, with a handkerchief thrown over his face to keep off the flies, strolled out in front, and was speedily joined by Clotilda, who had kept watch upon his movements from an upper window. In the course of a walk, a good deal more sympathy in all Sir John's tastes and ideas developed itself, and a few allusions to her maternal uncle, Sir George Trevelian, a real live baronet, quite confirmed Miss Brooks in a very high position in Sir John's estimation.

'Upon my word, my dear,' said he to his daughter, as he paid her a visit to say 'good night,' that Miss Brooks is a most clever, intelligent person; a baronet's niece, too, and her uncle married Lady Erminia Travers, a daughter of Lord Medlicott: really a very high connection!'

'She does not look very aristocratic, papa,' returned Maria Jane; 'but that's nothing. I am sure some of the duchesses I have seen going to the drawing-rooms are plain enough. I prefer her to that Melville girl-she is just like a dairy-maid.'

'Exactly, my dear; how rustic she looks beside my dearest Maria

Jane! I was quite struck by the contrast.'

'La, papa!' said Maria Jane, smiling; and can you tell me who that handsome young fellow is who sat at the end of the table?'

'That gentleman, I ascertain, is a baronet's son-a Mr. Harman, son of Sir James Harman.'

'Is he, indeed?' said Maria Jane, opening her eyes. I hope I shall be next him to-morrow, instead of that old goose who was beside me to-day.'

'I feared you were being a good deal worried. Good night, my love; make yourself as comfortable as you can in this wretched place.'

Captain Cavendish of course sought his confidant in the evening. 'I am glad, my dear fellow,' said he, 'I followed your advice and did nothing rash about Miss Brooks. You see there is no saying what may happen now. How did you think I got on with Miss Bodger at dinner? I have no doubt Miss Brooks is a much cleverer person; but there is something highly interesting about Miss Bodger; and she has a fair complexion, and she is an only child-an only child, my dear Harman, think of that! From Sir John's appearance I should say he has 20,000l. a year, at least. I suppose he would not make his son-in-law take his name, would he? that might be awkward - Bodger Cavendish-Cavendish Bodger-Well, that does not sound so very bad, eh?" 'What's in a name?' said Harman, smiling.

'Very true; what is in a name? I defy any one to detect in the name of Bodger anything which does not convey the idea of-a-the most intense-what shall I say?-respectability and wealth.'

And the Captain assumed a ferocious expression, as if he were already the affianced husband of Maria Jane, and prepared to do battle for her name with all the world.

Several days passed happily away. Miss Bodger took a fancy for a collection of red leaves of all shades, and Captain Cavendish wore himself out looking for them. The fair lady (with Amelia and Mr. Harman) was generally seated

on a rock awaiting his return, and very often mercilessly sent him away again without allowing him to rest, feeling sure she saw something in the distance much prettier than he had brought; but the Captain felt rather flattered than otherwise. At last, one afternoon, the Brookses received letters from England, telling them that their only brother was suddenly ordered to Canada with his regiment, and that they must come home at once if they wished to see him before he sailed. On this becoming publicly known, Sir John Bodger and his daughter declared that they were sick of the Tyrol, and longing to get back to London, and would be happy to make the journey with the ladies, if agreeable to them; and it was agreeable. Captain Cavendish tried hard to persuade his sister to change her plans and go also to England, but she was determined to remain in Tyrol, or some quiet place, till close upon the time for her daughter's marriage. So she agreed to accompany the party as far as Innsbrück, where the parting took place. Mr. Harman and Captain Cavendish were, of course, at the station, to 'assist' at the departure; and the latter busied himself with Maria Jane's shawls and wraps, and made himself generally useful to her.

'Dear me, Mr. Harman!' said Miss Bodger, playfully rallying that gentleman, 'see what it is to be in the army: I declare Captain Cavendish is far more attentive and useful to ladies than you are!'

'Well, as you observe, Miss Bodger,' said he, 'I am not in the army-not even a volunteer,—and we poor civilians have no chance at all with these army fellows.'

Maria Jane looked as if he might have had a chance if he tried; and when he shook hands with her the process appeared to raise her colour slightly. Good-bye,' said she, hastily; good-bye, Captain Cavendish. Don't forget Nightingale Grove, Wimbledon, and come and see us whenever you come home. Thank you for all your trouble about the leaves; I am sure you have been dreadfully good-natured. Good-bye!' And the train went off: it was