has come to pick a quarrel with Bell; and large dining-room, in front of the fireplace, that she is likely to grant him everything a young man is standing. He has a timehe asks; and, if she does not, there will be table in his hand, which he is pretending infinite trouble and vexation. I consider to read, and his hat is on his head. He it most provoking-and most thoughtless hastily removes that most important part and inconsiderate on his part-to thrust of an Englishman's attire, when my Lady himself upon us in this way." enters the room, and then he comes forward with a certain apprehension and embarrassed look on his face. If he had been growing nervous about his reception, there was nothing, at all events, to be feared from Queen Titania, who would have welcomed the himself with an effusive courtesy, if only she had regarded it as

"And yet, after all," I say, as she fastens on a bracelet which was given her nearly twenty years ago now, "is there anything more natural? A young man is in love with a young woman

"It is his own fault," she interposes. "Perhaps. So much the worse. He ought all the more to have your compas-her duty. sion, instead of your indignant scorn. Well, she leaves his charming society to go off on a wild rampage through the country. A possible rival accompanies her. The young man is torn asunder with doubts and fears. He writes to her. She does not answer. His anxiety becomes a madness; and forthwith he sets off in pursuit of her. Is there anything in all this to brand him as an outcast from humanity?"

"Oh, Arthur," she says, her whole face lighting up with a gladness which amazed even me, who am accustomed to watch her ways, "I am really delighted to see you. How good of you to come and spend the evening with us on so short a notice. I hope we have not taken you away from any other engagement?"

"No," says the young man, apparently very much touched by this kindness, "and and-it is I who ought to apologize for breaking in on you like this."

door. Presently, a voice that he knew | Republican phenomena that had recently pretty well was heard outside ; and then been manifested in this country.

- ominous conjunction - the Lieutenant Now what conceivable connection is and Bell entered together. Von Rosen there between the irritation of an anxious had held the door open for his companion, lover and Republicanism? Master Arthur so that Bell advanced first towards our had never alarmed any of us by professing visitor. Her face was quite calm and a wild opinions on that subject or on any trifle reserved; and yet every one could other. We never knew that the young see that as she shook hands with the man had any political views, beyond a young man, there was a timid, half-con- sort of nebulous faith in the Crown and cealed look of pleasure and welcome in the Constitution. Consider, therefore, our her eyes. He, on his part, was gloomily amazement when, at this moment, he ceremonious. He scarcely took any no- boldly and somewhat scornfully announced tice of the greeting which the Lieutenant himself a Democrat, and informed us that carelessly addressed to him. He accom- the time was come for disinissing old supanied us over to the table, and took a perstitions and destroying the last monopseat on the right hand of Tita, with a si-olies of feudalism. There would be a lence that portended evil. We were likely heavy account to settle with the aristocto have a pleasant evening.

racy that bad for generations made laws Had he possessed a little more worldly to secure its own interests, and tied up the prudence or savoir faire, he would now land of the country so that an idle populahave made some light excuse for his being tion had to drift into the big towns and present. He ought, for furm's sake, to become paupers. All this was over. New have given us to understand that, as he times were at hand. England was ripe was obliged to be in Oxford, he had for a new revolution; and woe to them come on by rail to pay a3 a visit. But as that tried to stem the tide! it was, no explanation was forthcoming. The explanation of which outburst was Our Apemantus had apparently dropped merely this — that Arthur was so angry from the skies. He looked very uncom- and impatient with the state of things imfortable; and replied in monosyllables mediately around him, that he was pozto the various and continuous remarks sessed with a wild desire to upset and dethat Tita addressed to him. He had never stroy something. And there is nothing so spoken to Bell, who sat next him, and who easy to upset and destroy, in rhetoric, as was herself silent. Indeed, the constraint the present political basis of this country. and embarrassment from which she was Well, we looked at the lad. His face suffering began to vex the Lieutenant, who was still aglow; and there was something strove in vain to conquer it by every of triumph as well as of fierceness in it. means in his power.

The hero of the old Silesian song, when The barometer steadily fell. The at- his sweetheart has forgotten the vows she mosphere grew more and more gloomy, made, and the ring she gave him is broken until a storm of some sort was inevitable. in two, would like to rush away into The anxious efforts of Queen Tita to in- battle, and sleep by camp-fires, under the troduce some cheerfulness were touching still night. But nothing half so ordinary to see; and as for Bell, she joined in the would do for our fire-eater, who, because talk about our journey, and what we had he could not very well kill a Prussian lieuseen, in a series of disconnected observa- tenant, must needs attack the British tions that were uttered in a low and timid Crown. Was there any one of us four tone, as if she was afraid to draw down inclined to resent this burst of sham herolightning from the thunder-clouds. Lieu- ics? Was there not in it something of tenant von Rosen had at first addressed a the desperation of wretchedness that was word or two to our guest; but finding the far more entitled to awaken compassion ? labour not productive, he had dropped Had Arthur been less in love, he would him entirely out of the conversation. have been more prudent. Had he controlled Meanwhile Arthur had drunk a glass or his emotions in that admirable fashion two of sherry. He was evidently nettled with which most of our young gentlemen at finding the Lieutenant almost monopo- now-a-days seem to set about the business lizing attention; for Tita herself had given of choosing a wife, he would not have up in despair, and was content to listen. made himself absurd. There was someVon Rosen was speaking as usual of the thing almost pitiable in this wild, incohedifferences between English and German rent, ridiculous effort of a young man to ways, and social aims, and what not, until do or say something striking and picturat last he drifted into some mention of the esque before the eyes of a girl whose

affections he feared were drifting away, sentimental melancholy; and when he did from him.

manage to speak to Bell, he addressed her The Lieutenant, to whom this outbreak in a wistful and pathetic manner, as iť she way particularly addressed, took the affair were some one on board a vessel and he very good-naturedly. He said, with a saw her gradually going away from him, smile

her friends, and her native land. One “Do you know who will be the most little revelation, nevertheless, comforted disappointed, if you should have a Repub- him greatly; and lovers apt to magnify lic in England ? Why, the Republicans their misfortunes will note that he might that are very anxious for it just now. have enjoyed this solace long before if Perhaps some of them are very respectable only he had exercised the most ordinary men — yes, I believe that ; but if I am frankness. not wrong, the men who make the great “You got a letter I sent you to Oxfuss about it in your nation are not like ford, I suppose ?” he said, with a studied that. Agitators - is not that what you carelessness. call them? And, if you have England a • Yes," said Bell, with a little conscious Republic, do you think the government of colour in her face, as she bent down her the country will be given to those noisy eyes. persons of the present ? No – that is not “I am glad I had the chance of seeing possible, I think. When the Republic you to-night,” he continued, with the same comes, if it does come at all — and I do effort at self-possesion, “because I – I fannot know how much force is in this dem- cied you might be unwell — or some accionstration all your great men, your dent happened — since you did not send well-educated men, your men of good po- the telegram I begged of you.”. sition and good breeding and good feeling Here an awful moment of silence inter

- they will all come forward, as they do vened. Everybody trembled for Bell's renow, to see that the country is properly ply, which might provoke the catastrophe governed. And what will become of the we had been seeking to postpone. present Republicans, who are angry be- “ It was only yesterday forenoon I got cause they cannot get into Parliament, and your letter,” Bell says, apparently feelwho wish for a change that they may be- ing the silence uncomfortable ; and come great persons ? When you take and I meant to have answered it toaway the Crown, they will not all be night kings, I think: there is too much of good Oh, you were going to answer it?” sense in this country, and of public spirit, he says with his face suddenly getting that makes your best men give up their bright. own comfort to look after the government Yes,” she says, looking up with some - and so it will be then."

surprise. “You did not suppose I wouldn't " I hope there will be no violent change answer it?” in our time, at least," said Queen Tita. In fact, that was just what he had

“ Madame is anxious about the Church, supposed, considering that she had been I know,” remarked the Lieutenant, with grievously offended by the tone of his great gravity ; but he looked at Bell, and letter. Bell could not altogether conceal a smile. I meant to have let you know how we Arthur, watching them both, noticed that all were, and how far we had got,” says little bit of private understanding; and Bell, conveying an intimation that this sort the gloom on his face visibly deepened. of letter might be sent by anybody to any

This must be said, however, that when body. an embarrassing evening is unavoidable, a Nevertheless, Arthur greatly recovered dinner is the best method of tiding it over. himself after this assurance. She had not The various small incidents of the feast broken off with him, after all.

He exsupply any ominous gaps in the conversa- plained that the letter must have been detion; and there is, besides, a thawing in-layed on the way, or she would have got it fluence in good meat and drink which the the day before. He drank another glass fiercest of tempers finds it hard to with- of champagne, and said, with a laugh, that stand. After the ebullition about Repub- he had meditated surprising us, but that licanism, Arthur had quieted somewhat. the design had failed, for everyone seemed By the time we had got down to the to have expected him. sweets, and perhaps with the aid of a little “I only came down this afternoon; and champagne — the lad never drank much I suppose I must go back on Monday,” he at any time, I ought to say — his anger remarked, ruefully. had become modified into a morose and This looked so very like a request for an

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invitation that I was bound to offer him a | only it is very hard to remember. And seat in the phaeton, if he did not mind a as for pronunciation, I know I am very little discomfort. You should have seen wrong." the look of amazement and indignation Well, he certainly had marked forms of which my Lady darted across the table at pronunciation, which I have considered it this moment. Fortunately, Arthur did unnecessary to reproduce in recording his not notice it. He said he was very much talk. He said "I hef" for "I have," and obliged he feared he would have to re-"a goot shawt' for "a good shot." He turn if he went with us for a day or two, also made occasional blunders in accent, he would inconvenience us sadly but through adopting the accent of the Latin he would consider it before Monday morn- word from which the English word is deing. rived. But what were such trifles to the After dinner, Von Rosen got up and main fact that he could make himself unproposed that he and I should go down derstood? to the billiard-room which is in the end of the building abutting on the "how much more clearly Mademoiselle stable-yard and smoke a cigar. Surely speaks than any English lady, or any Enggenerosity could go no further. Arthur lish person I have known yet. It is very looked surprised; and wore quite a pleas-remarkable to me, how I have great diffiant smile on his face when we rose and left.

But perhaps it was merely selfishness that caused our Uhlan to leave the field; for as we two went down the passage, and made our way up to the spacious room, he said

"I am rather sorry for mademoiselle. She does not seem to be very glad to meet her old friend-perhaps because he is not in a good temper. That is why I did say we should go and play billiards - there will be a chance of explanation - and to morrow he will be all right. It is foolish of him to be disagreeable. All this time of dinner, I was thinking to myself how well he might make himself agreeable if he only wished with knowing all the polite phrases with ease, and being able to talk without thinking. For me, that is different, you know. I am bound in by stupid limits; and when I think to say something nice to anyone-then I stop because I know nothing of the words—just like at a wall."

--

"But this is very strange," he said;

culty to follow people who talk like as if they had several tongues rolling in their mouth and others speak very fastand others let the ends of the words slide away - but Miss Bell, she is always clear, distinct, and very pleasant to hear, and then she never speaks very loud as most of your people do to a foreigner."

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Perhaps," I say, "there is a reason for
Bell's clearness of speech."
Why?"

"Perhaps she takes pains to be very distinct in talking to you, while she manages not to show it. Perhaps other people can notice that she speaks with a little more deliberation to you than to anyone else."

Von Rosen was obviously much struck. "Is that possible?" he said, with his eyes full of wonder. "I have not noticed that she did talk slow to me."

"No - she conceals it admirably; but all the same such is the fact. It is not so much slowness as a sort of careful precision of pronunciation that she affects and you ought to be very grateful for such consideration."

"Oh, I think it is very good of her very good indeed — and I would thank her

for it

"Don't do that, or you will have no more of it. And at present my Lady is catching up a trick of talking in the same way."

"But I have remarked that you English always say that to a foreigner, and will not tell him when he is wrong. I know I am often wrong and always about your past tenses - your was loving' and did love,' and 'loved' and like that; and I believe I am very wrong with always saying 'do' and 'did,' for I studied to give myself free speaking English many years ago, and the book I studied with was 'Pepys' Diary,' Then he broke the balls; and by fair because it is all written in the first person, strength of arm screwed the white into the and by a man of good station. Now I find corner pocket. Nobody was more astonyou do not say 'I did think,' but 'I thought,' 'ished than himself, except the marker. It

"It is very kind," said the Lieutenant, turning to the table with rather a thoughtful manner. "You would not have expected a young girl like that to be so reflective of other people."