This, of course, she would do, as her attention to Michael since the verdict was given in his favour, in the short interval between that and the present contretemps, had been most affectionate and marked. The old Captain, too, had on more than one occasion volunteered advice as to the laying out of the coming five thousand.

The answer was an unexpected one :

"Captain Hartman presents his compliments to Mr. Lawrence, whose transactions in the affairs of life appear to be singularly unfortunate, and would suggest that a prison is not exactly the sort of mansion to which a carefully-nurtured young lady should be invited. From Mr. Lawrence's own showing, Captain Hartman fears that his incarceration will be lengthy, and suggests that this compulsory separation will afford a happy opportunity for severing a connection that was at first unsatisfactory, then doubtful, and is now impossible."

Michael read this note over and over till his eyes grew too misty to decipher the letters before he could thoroughly take in the whole cruelty of its purport. That he was no eligible match for any girl at that moment it was true; perhaps he had never been; perhaps would never be; but was this a time to impress such a fact? and were his the circumstances under which it should be enforced? Could it be possible that Clarissa could have shared in the calm, calculating tone of the letter? At least, it would be a consolation to know it under her own hand. To ascertain this, he enclosed her father's letter, simply asking her if she endorsed his sentiments.

Her answer, without the expression of regret, or even sympathy, merely gave him the information, in so many words, that her father had shown his letter to her already, and that Michael was free to consider it as her own!

Here ended dream number one! It is a hard ordeal to awaken to the dull real; but we must all undergo it in some form or other as a natural consequence of the indulgence of hopes too little tinged with the worldly. He had yet friends left, as the coming post would show.

But it did not bring so many letters as on either of the former occasions: the first, when friendship was unsuccessfully wooed; the second, when she was, unasked, won.

The first letter-but why suffer the tedium of another detail, when all were alike-all blank? That the man who first sued with disastrous results a reputable railway company, and then quarrelled with his legal adviser, must look to find no confidence in simple business men, was the burden of the first; the rest-merely a change of mode in the expression of the same idea. Thus ended dream number two!

Fortunate for him that he had no other dream. Had he no other? No; the shadow of one that rose up in his memory was already among the things of the past. It was of Julia, the girl whom he so fortunately at once believed to be above him, and so soon dis

covered to be for ever beyond his reach. To him she had ever been equable, kind, considerate. What a privilege to have had such a being to love! what an ecstasy to have been beloved by such a being!.

But these thoughts were purposeless, and it seemed out of place and character beyond decency to think of her in a prison.

It was while this thought was yet in his mind, for it was only slowly that he could part with any thought of her when once it nestled in his heart—there were such unexpected tendrils that spread about it that it seemed to lacerate his breast in removing them, so that in very tenderness to himself he was forced, when once there, to bear with them till their clasp relapsed with the hopelessness of keeping them there for ever-it was while this thought was yet in his mind that Admiral Westerne was announced, and saluted him.

"This is most kind of you!" said Michael, grasping his hand in gratitude. "Or, perhaps," he added, receding a step, as if he thought it better to do it of his own accord than be forced by a cold sneer, "you are not aware of my position."

"Then why here?" said the Admiral.

"Ah! true. I am in fault, and do you a hasty injustice."

'Yes, young gentleman; I am here, not only knowing your position, but for the purpose of seeing if I cannot repair it."

"You, sir?"

"Yes; why not?"

"Because, sir, I have applied to every man who I deemed it likely or possible to assist me-to men who have themselves, within these few days, volunteered assistance, and yet failed. In view of this fact, how can I anticipate service from a stranger?"

"You make me one by your measured phrase."

"Pardon me, sir; it is far from my intention; for, from the combined effects of my accident, disappointment, and the depressing air of this hateful place, I feel the weakness of a child and a very woman's craving for some one to cling to. You may think me a coward to so suffer, and a fool to acknowledge it; but I feel it with an intensity that I have not the power to conceal."

"I think nothing of the sort; I know your worth, and have seen your struggles for a start in life; for the rest, it is enough that you are without a friend. Will you let me supply the place ?"

"Sir, the very proposition carries its joyful answer with it. But perhaps you do not know my whole case?"

"I do, and more than you do yourself."

"Is it possible that you have so interested yourself?"

"As possible as true. An intimate friend of mine is one of the counsel in the cause, and he was discussing the case with me only yesterday, and I mentioned it at home, with some attendant circumstances that my daughter had heard differently stated at our friends'

the Hartmans. It seems, from all I can gather, that while you are detained here for a debt of two hundred pounds by your lawyer, he has himself pocketed a sum of five hundred pounds, for which he compromised the case, in lieu of the expense of a new trial, which the company was quite as anxious as yourself to escape from. This five hundred pounds you can obtain from your attorney without a question, as it is a case of gross fraud on his part."

"If now I were only free!" ejaculated Michael, his head throbbing with contending thoughts and emotions.

"That is the very point I was just reaching. If you were free, we could go to the lawyer at once, and I warrant your apparition, with me to back it, would give him a fit of the cold shivers. 'But how to get free?' you will say. Exactly; by paying the two hundred pounds. And how to get the two hundred? Why, take it out of the five when you get it. In the meantime, I am prepared to advance you the amount; and depend upon it, as soon as the villanous attorney finds his infamy exposed, he will be only too glad to hand you back his 'costs between attorney and client."

"And you say," observed Michael, "that your daughter spoke to you of me?"

"Mere friendship," remarked the Admiral, carelessly.

"I know it; have known a long time that her engagement would, of course, prevent-but pray forgive me: I talk folly."

"Engagement, Mr. Lawrence! With whom?"

"I do not know."

"Nor I, most certainly. From whom did you learn it?” "Clarissa Hartman."

"Who has just jilted you?"

"I suppose I must bear the phrase; it is true."

"I know it, for she told my daughter so; and she was shocked to hear it at the very moment you wanted a woman's sympathy."

"She was very thoughtful for me in my illness. True, I seldom saw her; but not a day passed without her messenger leaving proofs of womanly notions of good nursing with my attendant."

"Are you sure it was she? Is there no other woman in the world?"

"For me-but one; and yet-not for me!"

Come, come; no riddles. I have spoken plain business to you in plain terms. Who do you mean?"

"In plain terms then, sir-your daughter. And as this is the last time we shall, probably, exchange words about her name-for I feel that I can never meet her, either with your consent or hers, after the avowal-I will unhesitatingly declare that it was sheer despair of obtaining your daughter's love that made me seek Clarissa's—as I now verily believe, but as I then, on the honour of a gentleman, did not

suspect for the sole purpose of being able to be near her without observation or blame. I did love her-do love her-shall love heras devotedly as I trust he will love her to whom her heart is dedicated." "Well, then, that's yourself."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You once tore a leaf out of a small note-book, to write the names of some new music for her: on the back of this leaf were some of your thoughts pencilled down, of the same tendency as those just uttered. They were enough for woman's wit with woman's observation to make out. At first she thought the circumstance intentional, and was inclined to be offended; but subsequent inquiry and events-but why should I go on with a story that would have better suited my lips forty years ago, when she is at hand herself to tell it you with so much more point?"

"Julia-here?"

"Yes, in the carriage below."

"A visitor at a place where Captain Hartman and his daughter thought it pollution to enter ?"

"Never mind what other people think: enough that we do not think like other people."

So the Admiral descended, returned with his daughter, and saying, "I will be back directly; I am only going to discharge your debt for costs between attorney (precious attorney!) and client," the good Admiral left the young couple together.

Michael was bewildered, and Julia was not without confusion. He soon learned that, as long as there was a chance of his marrying Clarissa, Julia kept her sentiments in her own breast, although, from the first, reading his sentiments; even respecting herself, aright. It was she who had sent daily during his illness; but had, from an excess of tenderness for Michael, desired that he should think it was from Clarissa, to whom at that time she still believed he would be united.

We have little further to relate-and nothing but what must be obvious. The vagabond attorney gladly gave up the five hundred pounds compensation, and returned the two hundred pounds. Michael (the latter sum having, of course, been repaid to the Admiral) with 'the former sum entered into the coveted partnership with Morton and Co., in proud independence; had the gratification of, at sundry times, cutting the false friends who slavishly sought to make his acquaintance; and finally triumphed in the unspeakable pleasure of calling Julia Westerne-wife!

This is the season of good wishes and gushing sentiments; and so we conclude by saying: May we all have plenty of friends, and never any occasion to test them.

Beacons are lighting up-now here-now there—
Blazing on high:

Rousing, while shines their antagonist-glare,
Passion's wild cry.

Light not a torch, brother: shall friend or kin
Tempt with a brand
Signalling party hate? Let no such sin
Sully your hand.

Wherever Faith shall lurk, seek not to harm it,
Tho' not your own:

Wherever Rancour breathes, seek to disarm it
By your soft tone.

Seek for no triumph; but, with a pure aim,
Watch the sharp fight:

Suffer the wounded, in all ranks, to claim
Your aid by right.

Pour out a healing oil into the wound.
Seek not to know

Who is the stricken one. Where hurt is found,
There let it flow!

As the Physician's art-high beyond gain—

So be your care:

Be it-to soothe the breast riven by pain-
Enough 'tis there.