encircled him. "It isn't so at all," he 66 Going to lock us all out and begin to cut down the trees, eh, Brydon? Like old Gladstone, eh? No time like the present, is there? Brydon fastened on the one point in the circle at which he could strike. "Nothing of the kind," he said, perversely exulting in his own defeat, since it enabled him to contradict the smiling young man. "Miss Wyone has sent me about my business haven't you, Miss Wynne? She blushed. 66 cried. 'Oh, not like that!" she companion as they went, with their shad ows falling far across the shaven turf. In He hurried out of the garden, never turning his head, and consequently was unaware of the curiously intent gaze with which Miss Wynne followed him. fact it was lost on every one but Miss Hillier, who was thinking that her young hostess would make a charming picture. She went further, and thought of a young artist friend at Kensington who would be the very man to paint it. "Just the kind of thing to suit him, I wish he were here! Against a bit of that old, mellow brick wall-how well she would come out! And the sentiment of the thing, tooexactly what he would enjoy - it's a thousand pities he isn't here. A Guardian Genius - oh, I see it all! A line or two of description to explain it, and it's just what the public would understand and like. He might do something with the "Don't you let him take the key, Miss idea, perhaps, but that's not like seeing Wynne," said the young squire. "Don't the real thing. Only, isn't the guardian you trust him. Give it to Miss Hillier-genius a little too sad? Can she be reshe'll see him out at the little door, and penting as she looks after Mr. Brydon? double-lock it after him, won't you, Miss Hillier?" "But you have—and the proof of it is that I'm going, as I told you just now, didn't I? I can't think how I can have been so stupid as to bring the key away, but, if you'll allow me, I'll go out by that little door-it's nearer for me." 66 "Do I look like a turnkey?" said that young lady languidly. Really, Mr. Haldane, I wasn't brought up to the profession. And I'm sure Mr. Brydon is an honorable enemy "Oh, you're too trustful! Ladies always are." No doubt it would be a fine thing to sell her house and grounds for about double what she gave for them -one could do so much with the money and yet I didn't think she was that kind of girl. But this certainly does look like repent ance." Acting on this suspicion, Miss Hillier went up to her hostess with warm con"I wonder at it," Miss Hillier replied. gratulations. "I am so glad - so very "Are you really going, Mr. Brydon? glad," she said. "It would have been Good-bye, then, and you'll let me wish desecration. I'm so glad you felt it so you all success in cottage-building-some- | too – where else!" "Thank you," said Brydon. "You'll be sure to find some other place for your little cheap houses. won't he, Miss Wynne, if he only looks? Oh, I don't mean to be rude to them - they'll be charming little houses, I dare say, and I shall be quite interested in hearing about them now I know they are not to be here. There must be plenty of room, without spoiling this sweet old place. Good bye." Brydon listened, looking straight at her with an air of dumb resignation. He shook hands with Miss Wynne, then turned to Eddington. I'll walk to the gate with you," said the old lawyer, and the pair went off together, taking the most direct way to the little door, by a great clump of Portugal laurel, quivering and shining in the sun. Eddington walked in his erect, old gentlemanly fashion, but Brydon slouched carelessly and moodily, and seemed to swerve a little from his —so thankful it was in your hands." "I don't know," said Miss Wynne vaguely. The gate opened into Garden Lane and a figure vanished through it. Eddington came strolling back alone, looking at the flower-beds. Miss Hillier could not repress an exclamation. "What a relief! He is gone." "Yes. I only hope it is right. You think it is, don't you?" "Right?" cried Miss Hillier raptur ously. "Your defence of the garden? Right! It is much more than right—it is noble-it is perfectly beautiful! Jessie's brother, one of the tennis-playing youths, spoke up instantly. "Oh, but that's all over didn't you hear? He's not going to have it - she won't sell. I would I'd stand out for the very last farthing, but then I would. I wouldn't be fool enough to lose a chance like that!" "Wouldn't you, Owen?" said the thin, superior voice. "Well, I don't think Miss Wynne will be fool enough, either. I fancy Mr. Brydon will get what he wants - soon. What a lovely moon!" leaned forward and spoke impressively. | to retrenchment and to reform. At the "Jessie, mind you write and tell me about battles of the hustings men haggled at the garden, when it is all settled, you words and were supported on either side know." by endless arrays of figures. The contest waxed fierce about small measures and raged about still smaller persons, till the bewilderment of the newly enfranchised voter was complete. To remedy this state of things on the Radical side, Birmingham called the caucus into existence. This new institution does not pretend to enlighten, but only to control the elector. It compels him to delegate his choice to a select few, who in their turn are subordinate to a central authority, which im. poses its will both upon the constituency and the representative. The Primrose League, on the contrary, interferes neither with the choice of electors nor with the candidates. It seeks to educate the masses and to organize them, so that they shall voluntarily vote for the cause of order. "Do you really?" Jessie exclaimed. "I thought she was quite determined. What makes you think that?" "I don't know, but I do think it. Only write to me when she sells it I should like to know." The carriage rolled smoothly on between the hedgerows, and Miss Hillier sat thinking. "It's not the money," she said to herself, "it's a case of conscience, but that's just as fatal. He'll surely get in." She seemed to see Miss Wynne's conscience working si lently, inexorably, as waters work in the dead of night, filtering through tiny unseen channels, widening their narrow ways, sapping the heavy dyke, flowing, streaming, rushing with resistless force, till daylight comes, defences fall, and all lies open. "A guardian genius has no business to have a conscience!" thought Miss Hillier, "though to be sure the idea for a picture is just as good. I really must tell Mr. Wargrave. Only, if she feels like that, why doesn't she let Mr. Brydon have his cottages at once?" In October, 1883, when the fortunes of the party were at their lowest ebb, a few friends met in a private room of the Carlton Club, to discuss the depressing subject of Conservative apathy, and to listen to a scheme which had sprung from the brain of Sir Henry Drummond Wolf. This was a project for enlisting the young men of various classes, who hitherto had borne no active part, in some body which should replace with advantage the paid canvassers, abolished, and wholesomely abolished, by Sir Henry James's new act. It was thought that if the opportunity were offered, there was abundance of active spirits willing and ready to enroll themselves in small clubs of friends, and to take up the work of aiding registration, promoting sound principles, and generally encouraging the nearest Conservative association. The "Habitation " or club scheme was founded on the probability that a strong spirit of emulation would be developed among the members and also among the Habitations. There was ample ground for believing that recruits might be obtained with ease, by appealing to the veneration with which the memory of Lord Beaconsfield was cherished. Gifted as that statesman was with marvellous It is the manifestation of the latent political instinct, he had touched chords strength inherent in the patriotic and con- which did not cease to vibrate when he stitutional party. The old Tory had be expired, and he left to his countrymen a come too fossilized to march with the age, legacy of convictions which only needed while the Conservative as he existed a few expression in a formula. Of the pro. years ago was sadly deficient in vigor. found regard in which the memory of To the Radical cry of "Peace, retrench- Benjamin Disraeli was held we had ocu ment and reform" he could only respond | lar demonstration every nineteenth day of that he was more peaceful, more disposed | April, the anniversary of his death, when From The Nineteenth Century. MANY seek to know the origin and purposes of the Primrose League, and how it has come to possess a creed, a prophet, and a symbol, and to be a distinct and vivifying factor in the politics of England. all classes in numberless thousands bore | toria Street), with a vast staff of employés, the primrose. It was obvious that if the young and energetic of these multitudes, Instead of wearing the flower for the day, were to take it as a permanent badge of brotherhood, a confraternity might be established with an unlimited future. The principles of Lord Beaconsfield and of the constitutional cause were preeminently those opposed to the spread of atheism and irreligious teaching, to the revolutionary and republican tendencies of Radicalism, and to the narrow and insular mode of thought which despised our colonies and found utterance in the words "Perish India." The creed of the League, therefore, was set forth as "the main tenance of religion, of the Constitution of the realm, and of the Imperial ascendancy of Great Britain," or, in shorter form, "Religion, Constitution, and Empire." At first the intention prevailed of shrouding the appearance of the League under a certain veil of mystery. Those who belonged to it were to have grades, but "the ruling councillor" was not to be publicly named. There were several excellent reasons for this. Never was an important undertaking more modestly be gun. We did not approach the chiefs of the party. We did not communicate with the men of leading or even with the rank and file, because we knew and it proved so for a long year and more - that so novel a conception would not find favor amongst those wedded to old methods of procedure until it should command attention by suc cess. occupied in sorting and attempting to cope with masses of correspondence from all parts of the country. The chiefs of the party have been glad to accept the highest honors of the League, and have testi. fied to the great results achieved. Many and many a public man, who laughed at first at our "strange nomenclature," and was incredulous of our success, has since eagerly sought our aid in founding Habitations in his county or borough, and has largely benefited by the work done by the knights, dames, and associates. Perhaps the simplest key to a comprehension of the procedure of the Primrose League is to state the conditions and mode of conduct of a Habitation. Any person can join the League by sending his name to the central office in Victoria Street, with a crown - half-acrown being his entrance fee, and half-acrown his year's tribute. Upon his signing a declaration of fidelity to the principles of the League, he receives his diploma of knight harbinger, and provided with this he, with not less than twelve other knights, can apply for a warrant to form a Habitation. After this follows the elec tion of a ruling councillor, the appointment of secretary, treasurer, wardens, and other officials. Great latitude is allowed to all Habitations so long a they are careful to keep within the strict statutes of the parent League. They may admit associates and fix their tribute at sixpence or whatever sum they deem proper, and they may keep within small limits or extend themselves, as some have done, to thousands, according to the necessities of the town or county in which they are situate. The first and most obvious business of a Habitation is to attend to registration. I could name counties, such as Suffolk and Hampshire, where the network of Habi tations is so complete that every vote in The very class for which the League every house in the various electoral diviswas instituted was the first to respond, ions is accounted for. The members of and only a few weeks had elapsed when Habitations volunteer to take some small already some hundreds had joined, and district or half a street, and to notify the work of forming Habitations was in full all deaths, departures, or arrivals, so that swing. The hundreds soon swelled to the registration may be carefully kept up thousands, and a grand banquet in Free- by the Conservative association to which masons' Tavern marked the first public they communicate these results. The next appearance of the League upon the world's duty is to maintain a permanent canvass stage. Since that day it has increased by by means of individual persuasion or pubhundreds and tens of hundreds until this lic meeting, and to be ready to canvass moment, when a thousand a day is the out-voters at times of by-elections. E.g., average entry of new members. It is an election comes off at York or Devon. needless to say that the offices necessary port; the election agent sends to the cenfor conducting so gigantic a business have tral Conservative office at Westminster expanded into extensive premises (in Vic. | the names of out-voters resident in Lon The League was started in a somewhat dismal and dilapidated second floor in Essex Street, Strand, where the original band of enthusiasts met constantly. A paragraph in a newspaper and a few advertisements at once awakened public curiosity and interest, and adherents speedily sent in their names. don, Leamington, Brighton, etc. The 19th of April, on which occasion the central office sends in the names and ad- Grand Council renews its members and dresses to the Grand Council in Victo its life by the votes of those present. On ria Street. They are at once classified the last occasion, besides spectators, there and sent to Habitations in the towns were twenty-five hundred delegates presnamed, and the various districts of Lon-ent. Important statutes and ordinances don; and each local Habitation has it at were framed or modified, for, as this new once in its power to send voluntary can-institution grows, many are the new revassers for each name sent in. Of course, quirements to meet its vast expansion, as when an election comes on, all Habita. well as to satisfy the demands for progress tions, following the example of the Con- and improvement which are put forward servative associations, suspend their ex- from active centres. istence, and can take no corporate action. The Habitation such as it has been deBut the individual members, acting no scribed is bound to take heed of prelonger as members of the Primrose cepts issued by the Grand Council, such League, but as individuals, can volunteer as, for instance, the suspension of its to join the committees organized by the functions during election time; but in all election agent. And in these days, when other matters it is left a wide liberty, and expenses are curtailed and it is no small frames it own by-laws subject to superior difficulty to meet the demands of an elec | approval, which is rarely withheld. No tion from the exiguous sums allowed by questions of the smaller current politics the law, the services of volunteers are in- disturb its deliberations. These should valuable, when, as in elections I could tend only to the upholding of religion, conname, a number of ladies undertake to stitution, and empire, and necessarily em write out the addresses on thousands of brace men of different tenets, united envelopes, or when scores of young men firmly in support of these cardinal princivolunteer two hours a day each for the ples. purpose of delivering circulars, etc., all of which reach their destination, since it is a point of honor to hand them in- a very different state of matters from that which obtained in the days of paid agents and messengers. Excepting at the election period, the Habitation can organize public meetings, invite able speakers, or obtain from the central office some of their staff of lec turers to explain and develop the objects of the League and further its spread. One of the chief duties incumbent on every Primrose centre is to combat and destroy the Radical fallacy that in modern politics classes are antagonistic. The League, on the contrary, brings all classes together. All vote on a footing of absolute equality, and all meet on terms of the truest fraternity. To this end, it is best that all social gatherings should be held in some public hall, where every knight, dame, or associate can contribute of his knowledge or talent to the instruction and amusement of the evening. We have seen hundreds of such meetings where the enunciation of sound constitutional principles has been varied by ballad-sing ing and instrumental performances volunteered by those best qualified to please. Within its limits the Habitation preserves strict order and discipline. It obeys the precepts of the Grand Council, and annually sends delegates to Grand Habitation, which is held in London on or near the The members of the League work for the return of constitutional candidates whenever they present themselves, irre. spective of their professions on minor points. Only when the question of the day touches one of its three great princi. ples does the League take distinct action. When the honor of the empire was at stake with the life of the heroic Gordon, every Habitation sent up a petition for his rescue; and now again, when the exist ence of the United Kingdom is menaced, the League has been active in the defence of our imperilled constitution. The most remarkable feature, however, of this stirring political development has been that for the first time in our history women have taken an active part in con. troversies hitherto reserved to men. The reason of this, in the first place, is the novelty and suddenness of the Radical and Fenian onslaught. Women, with an instinct peculiarly their own, divined at once the dangers involved in the new doctrines and theories- perceived that if churches were to be, overthrown, education divorced from religion, property held to ransom, the constitution to be riven asunder, England must be in presence of as serious a revolution as ever threatened social order or preceded a Reign of Terror. The women of England speedily adopted the Primrose banner, and the dames, armed with sweet influence and persuasive eloquence, boldly came for. third hundred thousand was reached; while to day there are more than three hundred and fifty thousand knights, dames, and associates banded together in an enterprise that may now be esteemed a permanent institution. In round numbers there may be said to be fifty thousand knights, thirty thousand dames, and two hundred and eighty thousand associates. The knights pay a trib ward to take their share in the labors of the organization. Their aid has proved invaluable. Many a lady well known in the world has spoken at meetings, chiefly of friends and neighbors, who have surrendered to the expressions of heartfelt conviction. Many another has devoted all her time and energy to the formation of Habitations in her county or borough; while the working woman has not been behind her sister in enthusiasm or self-ute of half-a-crown yearly; so also do sacrifice. The first badge of honor for special service given by the League was conferred on a woman in the west of Eagland, whose daily bread depended on her labor, but who had devoted all her spare time to the cause, and who had richly deserved the honor by her conspicuous services. The ladies have an executive committee of their own meeting every week-working in conjunction with the chief authority; and in business capacity, attention to their manifold duties, and powers of management, they have proved themselves in every respect fitted for the responsible duties they have undertaken. The ladies have a fund of their own, and employ it well in the distribution of Primrose literature. The reader of the London and county press, on taking up almost any newspaper, will see what constant activity is every where displayed by the dames, who in every parish in England are endeavoring to promulgate the fundamental principles necessary for the safety of the commonwealth. No ranting pothouse politician, full of fallacies, can compete with the men and women who, stepping out from the accustomed reserve of their own homes, come forward to meet their fellows in fraternal intercourse, and to discuss with them the origin of error and the ways of truth. The enormous increase in the number of the League dates especially from the time when the ladies first took up their place in its organization, and it is only due to them to acknowledge in how large a measure the great success achieved has been owing to their efforts. When the first festival was held in 1884, after the new-born institution had been nine months in existence, there were a few thousand members, chiefly knights. By Primrose day, 1885, more dames had joined, and two thousand associates, and our muster-roll was upwards of eleven thousand. Before and after the election of 1885, the League expanded so rapidly that it was difficult at headquarters to keep pace with the demand for diplomas and warrants. On Primrose day, 1886, the the dames, with the exception of those belonging to the Dames' Grand Council, who pay a guinea. The associates pay nothing to the Grand Council, but a small tribute, generally sixpence, to their own Habitation. The books and balance-sheets of the League have been audited by public accountants, and were approved by a committee of delegates at the last Grand Habitation. It is not usual to publish the accounts of political associations. Three years ago opponents would have laughed at the poverty of the League; now they carp at its wealth. But with the money it receives it has to maintain an organization that has become very large. It issues millions of tracts and leaflets; provides thousands of lectures where local eloquence is deficient or timid; maintains a large staff that necessarily increases with the work, and finds, for instance, that a thousand pounds does not cover the year's postage. Of the Grand Council, which meets once a fortnight with an average attendance of thirty, there is hardly a man of whom it may not be emphatically said that he is a man of business, and the best interests of the League are therefore closely looked after. It may be mentioned that already a portion of the tribute is remitted to Habitations to aid them in maintaining and perfecting their individual organization. Some sorry sneers have been directed against the nomenclature and decorations of the Primrose League, but the answer to these is found in the fact that all are proud to bear the titles which testify to their energy and chivalrous work. The badges are of enormous value, for they are not only a certificate of membership but an absolute introduction into all Primrose circles, and thus give every member the opportunity of using his talents and influence in every part of the country. They afford also the opportunity of pro. motion in rank, and are accompanied by the distinction of clasps conferred for good service. Every associate can earn promotion, without fee or tribute, to high rank, upon representation by the Habi |