place perfect was there. A velvet lawn, rare Howers, effects of light and shade, cool rooms, exquisite wines, and a bevy of radiantly pretty girls were always at dear Lady Aspenell's. She was the widow of a Foreign Secretary and a very great lady indeed in the world of fashion, where she reigned by virtue of her own fascinations. Her son, a subaltern in a crack Hussar regiment, had been a friend of mine of long standing, and it was to him-for magna est veritas-I was indebted for the entree to Aspenell Cottage, where as a rule, no lower rank than a rich county squire was admitted.

What a change as by harlequin's wand it was from poor Dick Onslow's rooms-handsome and airy, and overlooking the famed chrysanthemums, as they were, to the fairy scene I was in the midst of! An hour back I was in a room littered with books, bills, papers, hats, coats, a gridiron, a tankard, sundry pipes, and tenanted by a moustached shirt-sleeved individual, who swore and sneered by turns, and grinned horribly at his empty purse. And now I was on a geranium-belted lawn, with a vision of gauzy dresses, shadowy bonnets, and fluttering ribbons surrounding lovely faces, while the ring of laughter, the pop of champagne corks, and the clatter of the croquet mallets resounded on all sides. Certainly I flirted desperately, and employed myself as recklessly as though I had been a millionaire instead of a Foreign Office clerk, and it seemed an extraordinary revulsion when I found myself deposited at the door of Dick Onslow's chambers, where I had promised to spend the evening.

His laundress met me with a letter, and, as I opened it, I saw through the half-opened door a mélange of litters, all of which betokened a speedy flight, which was further elucidated by Dick's hurried note.

"Off, Duns en masse. To Cousin in North. Then New Zealand. R. O."

I looked at the old woman, stared at the note, shook my head, and drove down to the Polyan thus, the club to which Dick and I belonged, one or two men had met him at the Eustonsquare Station, and had witnessed his speedy flight.

"Sewed up," said Verwood of the Guards, always knew he would be, poor fellow-s'pose he's gone to Baden. Roulette sometimes recoups one."

I heard no more of Dick. He had I knew a farmer-cousin in Cumberland who was in his way both a wealthy and good-natured man. There I supposed Dick to be learning agriculture, unless he had done as Verwood gurmised. A year passed, and Dick's name had faded in the Temple and at the brilliant Polyanthus. Society's waters soon close over the head of a drowning man, and his case was no exception to the rule.

I received one June day an invitation from young Aspenell to another croquet party at Richmond. Vivid recollections of the last thronged on me as I dressed for this one. I

compared the fairy-scene I was going to form a part of, with the Cumberland wilds where Onslow was probably directing, habited in cords, and boots reeking with wet earth, the draining of his cousin's yards, and I smiled half sorrowfully as I thought of poor Dick's useless taste for still Moselle and Clos Vougeot.

Arrived at Richmond, I found "a brilliant galaxy of beauty" as the Post put it, assembled. Having paid my respects to the gracious Lady Aspenell, I turned and surveyed the broad lawn, where were erected several sets of hoops.

At one of these a party, including a Duke, two Earls, and an Ambassador, were standing kept in countenance by the reigning beauties of the season. They seemed waiting. Never deficient in assurance, I asked my neighbour, a county baronet, and member great in his own sphere, but here only in the second rank, the cause of our vis a vis delay.

"Don't you know?" said he pityingly. "They're waiting for the Captain."

I was as ignorant as before, and, not wishing to shew my deficiency in the freemasonry of fashion, I held my tongue.

A slight murmur from our aristocratic neighbours shewed a new arrival, a man who advanced with an easy air of aplomb, and a dash of dignified importance. The Duke alluded to shook his hand warmly, and the new comer seemed very much accustomed to deferential treatment. He was dressed very fashionably and wore a heavy twisted moustache and imperial, while his cheeks, in the French fashion, were clean-shaved.

He took his place with the prettiest clusters of girls circulating round him, and watching the artistic style in which he begun to play. The group appeared silent as if studying some noted work of art; while the Duke got red in the face, and loose as to necktie, in his earnest endeavours to imitate the Crichtonian Captain.

Presently, as the game ended, Lady Aspenell herself came up with the same smile and empressement as she would have shewn towards the best parti of the year, and took the Captain's arm to the refreshment beauffet.

"Shall you be at Lord Averley's next week?" she said, while trifling with her ice.

"Yes," said the Captain, drinking his iced champagne slowly. "Yes, Lady Aspenell, one of the Austrian Archdukes is to be there to meet me."

My eyes opened. Who was this prodigy whose voice sounded curiously familiar?

"Oh, Captain Onslow," said Lady Aspenell: "I believe a good many of the best set will be there."

Captain Onslow! This would be Dick's soldier-cousin then. I had heard of his gallantry at Delhi, but I never knew how world-wide his fame was-so much so that a Prince of the House of Hapsburg was staying at a great Marquis's to meet him.

The extraordinary deference with which he was treated, and something about the beak which seemed familiar to me, made me ask young As

penell whether he could secure me an invitation. He did secure it by his mother's influential assis

tance.

Arrived at the Marquis's I soon found three or four men whom I knew, and, save at the grand dinner at eight, the bulk of the visitors rarely met together. We found different circles, the centre of the highest being His Imperial Highness. The wonderful Captain, who reminded me of one of Dumas' Musketeers, did not make his appearance for a day or two.

One afternoon, however, a troop of servants came out on the lawns, and set np various croquet sets. The centre one was reserved for the créme de la créme, and the Archduke listened attentively to the Marquis's explanation.

"It's quite a national game, your Highness, but Captain Onslow can explain its difficulties best."

"Aha!" said the Arch-duke, turning and greeting the Captain, who was imperturbable as usual.

"You weel tell,-abec Sie können, Deutich spiechen?" he added, gliding with relief into his own language.

The Captain bowed assent, and began in accurate Viennese-German an explanation of the wonderful game.

The Imperial learner then took his station at a hoop under the Captain's guidance, while the aristocratic surrounders looked on in equal awe of teacher and pupil.

"By jove," said I, half aloud, "Dick should get his swell cousin to give him a lift."

Even though some distance off, my words seemed partly heard by Capt. Onslow, who glanced for a moment at me, thereby making me look rather confused.

I soon however forgot this incident in the play necessary for my own circle, and I saw no more of the Captain till we all assembled in the smoking room. Here the Captain was regarded as an oracle, and his judicial utterances on horses, play, politics, and croquet, were eagerly listened to by his aristocratic admirers-peers, commoners, and M.P's.

He outstayed them all till he and I were left alone. The wreaths of smoke curled gracefully round our heads, and under their soothing influence I plucked up courage to address the great

enor

"Oh, Dick!" said he, puffing out an mous volume of smoke, "yes; he's a bad lot, very fast, and can't pay his debts."

"Well," said I, rather nettled, "I don't suppose he's the first man who's outrun the constable."

"Don't you?" said the Captain, drily. "Dick Onslow," said I, warmly, "was a very good fellow; what's become of him I don't know; but I never hit a man when he's down."

"You're singularly unlike the world then, old boy," said the Captain, speaking in his full voice and shaking my hand," and Dick Onslow must thank you!"

Yes! it was Dick in peopriá personá; his foreign moustache and military dress had disguised him well; but now I looked at him, and marvelled that my stupidity had prevented my discovering him before.

"But how are you such a swell, Dick? How a Captain ? Why such an authority in croquet?" said I, bewildered.

"In the wilds of Cumberland," said Dick solemnly, "I learned croquet of the Rector's daughters, whose health I drink in this soda and brandy. A good stroke at billiards, I soon became a crack croquet player. Seeing the fashion, an idea struck me that a professor of croquet might pay, and it has !"

66

But your rank as Captain ?” "In a regiment of Volunteers!" "Your German ?"

“Remains of my Bonn education. I trained my moustache, and let a certain trail of foreign soldiering hang about me as it were-voila tout !"

"I may add, old fellow," said Dick, leisurely, "that Carry Hastings, the heiress, was so devoted to croquet at Lady Aspenell's as to become a little devoted to its Professor. And we're duly engaged."

THE TULIPS IN HYDE PARK.-One of the most interesting sights in London has been the beautiful beds of tulips in Hyde Park, during the months of April and the early part of May. The beds extended the whole length of Park-lane, from Stanhope Gate to the Marble Arch, and at their prime were one blaze of magnificent colours. These were all planted under the direction of Mr. Mann, the Superintendent of the Parks. The principal sorts grown here, and which succeeded so well, are-Tournesol, double, scarlet and yellow; Rex Rubrorum, double, scarlet; La Candeur, double, white; Yellow Prince, single, yellow; and White Pottebaker, single, white. In the selection of to Messrs. George Gibbs and Co., 25 and 26, Downthese, great care is required; and much credit is due supplied the tulips, hyacinths, and crocuses for the street, near Hyde Park Corner, who, we are informed, Parks. It is worthy of record, as gratifying evidence of the love of floral display that especially belongs to the London "people," no damage has been sustained to the beds of flowers by the large gatherings of the working classes, who entered the Park from all quarters to take part in the recent "demonstrations,”

OUR PARIS

MY DEAR C—,

We are at last able to enjoy our Exhibition without fear of Prussian and "fusil à aiguille" at our heels, at least for a time; we are not sanguine enough to imagine that Monsieur de Bismark will grant us a very long delay, in spite of the promise at the late conference. However, if it be only for two months it will be that gained, and we shall have had time to receive and fête all the crowned heads and grand personages that our newspapers promise us, and of which we have already had an instalment. Several minor sovereigns have begun the long suite of monarchs coming. The young King of Greece was the first, when on his road to Russia for his future Queen. Then the King and Queen of Belgium, who were received in state, the Emperor going with a guard of honour to fetch them at the station. The Queen of Portugal has been for some time at the Palais-Royal with her sister the Princess Clotilde; and their father, Victor Emmanuel, is expected to join them with his son the Prince Amédeé as soon as the young Prince is married. But the most important visitor as yet has been the Prince of Wales, who has gained all our hearts by his affability and estimation of himself as a simple mortal. After two or three state promenades about the Exhibition, he declared that he desired his liberty, and should in future visit the Champ de Mars "sans cérémonie ;" in fact, he managed to escape from his suite on one of his State visits, and was found quietly quaffing a glass of ale at one of the English "buffets." He breakfasted several times at the Exhibition, once with a Grand Duchess of Russia, now in Paris, and seemed to enjoy himself uncommonly "quel charmant jeune homme!" Say the Parisians; not a spark of English "morgue" about him. Lady Cowley, the English Ambassadress, had the honour of receiving him and Prince Alfred at her hotel, where she gave in their honour a very grand fête on the 17th, to which the Emperor and Empress went, as well as all the grandees now in Paris. Her Majesty opened the ball with the Prince of Wales, who proved himself a most indefatigable dancer, remaining until five in the morning in continual activity. On the 18th the Empress entertained her Royal and Imperial visitors at the Tuileries. Three thousand invitations were issued for the ball. Their Majesties visit the Exhibition very frequently in the morning. The Emperor was there the other day with Prince Alfred before ten o'clock. They went all through the English department; spoke to many of the exhibitors. The Empress joined them at eleven, with Prince Oscar of Sweden, and a short time after, she went on board a small Swedish steamer, and, with Prince

Oscar at the helm, went down the river to St. Cloud to visit the Prince Imperial, who is there for his health, not being yet well from his accident in the winter, although they say he is much better and has recommenced his daily exercises with his tutor.

The concourse of people already attracted to our capital is prodigious; the streets are literally crammed with every conveyance, and yet there are not half enough, which renders the cabmen as impertinent as they possibly can be. They refuse to take you if too far off and no policeman be near to force them. Everyone complains, but what is to be done? It is quite amusingprovided you be not tired yourself to see the poor creatures casting imploring looks on the drivers as they pass, and the malicious laugh of the latter as they roll away. What will become of us if the increase of strangers continues, which is certain? We are to have the King and Queen of Prussia, who are to lodge at the Tuileries; the Emperor and Empress of Russia (for whom the Palace d'Elysée-Napoléon is preparing), the Emperor of Austria, and the Shah of Persia. The chief physician of the Sultan Mustapha-Pacha has been to choose a salubrious residence for his Sovereign, and the Queen of Madagascar intends sending princes of her family; without counting the sundry princes from kingdoms one only hears of on extra occasions, and who perhaps have no head physician to send, so must risk their precious selves with us without guarantee of perfect health. You may imagine the dinners and balls given to welcome all these strangers! Ministers and ambassadors vie with each other in luxury and splendour, as do all who surround the present dynasty. As for the old nobility, they have shut up their houses, and are off to the country. A grand banquet is talked of amongst the journalists, to be offered to the foreign journalists, and to be given in the Palace of the Champ de Mars. There have already been several, the most curious one offered by the Baron Lesseps, in the name of the Bey of Tunis, at his palace in the reserved park—an exquisite specimen, we are told, of oriental architecture. Six horsemen, in national costume, performed a fantasia before the palace at the commencement of the fête; each lady, on entering, received a bouquet, and in the patis (or inner court) was a Tunisian orchestra of Frenchmen-playing Tunisian music, while Tunisian water fell in cascades from the marble fountain surrounded with burning perfuming pans (Tunisian also I suppose), so that nothing lacked to transport us to the East but Tunisian men and women. It is the same at the Chinese theatre also, in the reserved park. Everyone hastens to see how the dramatic art flourishes in the Celestial empire

it is possible to be. "It is from a spirit of evangelical charity I imagine," said the Emperor, when Monsieur de Falloux went to the Tuileries to have the election confirmed by his Majesty, "that the same body should choose for its members two men so entirely different." "It is rather," answered Monsieur de Falloux, "from the spirit of her mission that the Académie has so done. She is the Republique des Lettres, and, as such, has no party spirit." Napoleon was evidently annoyed at Jules Favre's election; but during the interview with Monsieur de Falloux avoided mentioning any name. He only questioned that gentleman on Father

Gratry's works, and expressed his sympathy for the talented priest. He then turned the conversation on the famous Plantagenet statues, and on the Abbey of Fontevrault, once so celebrated, and which he seems inclined to have restored.

Report says that Queen Victoria is coming to Paris, and that she will be at the grand féte Prince Metternich, the Austrian Ambassador, intends giving in honour of his sovereign. If so, every monarch in Europe will visit our Exhibition. However shall we be able to live with com mon mortals after such distinguished guests! Adieu! Yours truly, S. A.

THE TWO SPRINGS.

BY DELLA DANE.

Away off in a little valley among the mountains stood a huge rock; not the size of a doorstone or a mile-post, but a great rock as large as a house, and a great deal larger than some houses. From beneath it on one side gurgled a little spring, clear, sparkling, and cold; and from beneath it on the other side gushed forth another exactly like it; and these two-springs wound off in tiny little streams, separated only by a ridge of yellow sand and pebbles, and a few rocks.

One bright, pleasant morning one little stream spoke to the other, and asked it what it was going to do all its life long; if it was forever going to loiter around the old rock from beneath which it bubbled, or if it was going to push onward through the valley, and try to be useful to the tiny flowers and tall trees that might need its moist coolness to make them grow more beautiful?

The stream replied that it saw no use in working so hard for nothing, that it was very happy where it was, and would be content to remain there forever. So there it stayed, and was delighted with winding itself up into little eddies about the rocks and knarled roots of the old trees, in travelling back and forth through its own little channel, and humming pleasant tunes to the few wild-flowers that grew on its borders, and in scooping out little shady basins, where beautiful birds came and dipped their' beaks and bathed their glossy plumage. It was a very pleasant life for the little stream to live, and it was very happy; but it would not grow any larger, so it was obliged to grow smaller. Rocks tumbled down the sides of the mountain

and obstructed its passage; the wind blew the sand into it, and the rain washed dirt and leaves and pebbles into it and entirely choked it up, and all the life it had left oozed away through the sand about the old rock.

The other little stream pushed vigorously onward in its course. Whenever it came to a ridge of sand, or bank of clay, it boldly went forward till it worked its passage through; when it came to a large rock, or any other insurmountable object, it patiently crept around it and then merrily glided along on its journey.

In its passage through the mountain valleys, other streams would come leaping down over the rocks, and seeing it so bravely pushing forward, would empty their waters into it, and all would glide along merrily together. In this way, by the time it reached the last of the mountain ranges, and was ready to start out through the more level country, it had become a beautiful stream. Thus onward it journeyed for miles and miles, all the time growing larger and larger. Tall trees waved above it, beautiful vines and flowering shrubs grew upon its banks, and grass of the tenderest green crept quite down to its margin to drink of its rippling waters.

By-and-by the Indian came out of his home in the woods, launched his little canoe upon the stream, and glided gaily down the current. Then others and others would come with their painted canoes, and by moonlight would sing their warsongs and boast of their brave deeds, while their oars carried them forward to scenes of new exploits; and merrily the stream would dance and sparkle to find itself in such brave company.

After many miles more had been passed, the white trapper came, and built his house of logs on its bank, and trapped the beaver, and hunted