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“ “"11th is it ‘3 “"here mu I ‘3” she gasped .in bewildennent. “It‘s all right, dear. You are in your own :room. See, this is your bed. Don’t be frightened! You’re awake 110w, aren’t you ‘3 You know Who 1 mn ‘.” “Yes, deanâ€"you were halfway down the great stairs. \Vhen I heard the stairs creak,I thought itmust bemy husband come home. 011, you can’t tell what a turn it gave me when I caught sight of you there in your white nightdress ! I knew you must be asleep by the way in which you felt the ‘wall as you went along. But I managed to keep my self-possession, knowing how dangerâ€" one it is to wake people suddenly when they are like that. Your eyes were quite closed ‘When I came to your side, and you sufl‘ered me to lead you gently hack to your room {like a little child. But in attempting to lift you into bed I woke you ; and the moment your eyes opened your strength seemed to go. and you fell down. Don’t you remember ‘2” “Why, you came here last evening. Oh, dear, what a. fright you have given me 1” Mrs. Redmond sank down on the side of the bed, putting her hand on her heart. The candle on the floor, where Mrs. Redmond had set it, flared in the current of night air from the open window. Nessa. awoke suddenly. In the confusion 'Of ideas and impressions at that moment, she was conscious of a. shapeless dream, ofa brusqne movement, of a, light dazzling her eyes, and of a voice murmuring unintel- liglhly in her ear. Then, as her intelligence awakened, she perceived that she was crouch- ing on the floor beside {L bed, that the day:- zling light \ 'st nothing more than a chamber candle, and that somebody was supporting her, whom she presently recognised as Mr‘. Redmond. Nessa rose to her feet, and, still dazed, looked about her. She recognised the deep dormer windowsiLhe leaded panes of the easement she had put open, on which the ight of the moon was now reflected. It was him. Redmond by her side, with the long plain of shining yellow hair falling over her shoulders on the crimson dressing gown. “\Vhen did 1 come lieI‘eAâ€"I don’t under- stand ‘8" she said. “What have I been doing ‘3” asked Nessa, mow wide awake. “You have been walking in you1 sleep.‘ that s all; but you scared me out my wits’ “Walking 111 my sleep !” Nessa. repeated incredulously. “Don’t say a word about that. I am only too happy to have heard you. Heaven only knows what might have happened in a horrid old den like this if I had not discovered you. There’s a door somewhere that opens into the tower, where the floor has rotted away. If you had gone through there nothing could have saved you, you must have been killed. Get into bed, dear.” “I don’t remember anything! exclaimed Nessaw‘mot anything. Oh, I am so sorry I frightened you. Nessa. obeyed, quite overcome with aston‘ ishment at what she had heard. “Is it late ‘3 ” she asked. Mrs. Redmond,looking at the watch on 'the table as she picked up the light, told her it was half-past twelve, and then offered to stay with her ;l)ut Nessa would not listen to this. Such a thing had never happened to her before, and she was sure itnevei'would again. So, after a. little half-hearted persis- tence on Mrs. Redmond‘s pureâ€"she seemin much more terrified than Nessai~they said “goodnight” with an exchange of kisses, .and Mrs. Redmond went down to her bed- room on the floor below. Redmond was waiting there in the dark his hands in his pockets thumbing a piece of paper into pellets, in anxious suspense. He raised his eyebrows interrogatiV ely as his wife entered with her finger raised; she re- plied with a nod signifying that the prepared scene had been acted satisfactorily. “She was lying on the edge of the bed,” Whispered Mrs. Redmond after closing the door carefully. “I pushed her down to the floor and when she woke up staring about her like a fool, Inmde her believe I had found her half way down stairs “walking" in her sleep. Remember‘that it won’t do to tell two stories.” “I won’t forget” muttered Redmond ap provingly. ” “Now as I’ve made a beginning? we’ll just settle clearly what’s to be done next, and what part you are to play.” Remond nodded. they sat down together and plotted the destruction of the young girl who slept over their heads. Nessa awoke early the following morning, invigorated by her long sleep, and feeling not a pin the worse for what had happened in the night. It returned to her memory as she crossed the room to look out of the dormer window and then only aroused a pleasant self-interest. Most young persons feel flattered by the discovery that they are distinguished from the rest of young persons by some peculiarity. The sun shone brightly on the dark oaks; a. grey veil of mist hung over the valley, making it look like a. lake; an industrious spider was spinning his mar- vellous net in the easement; a drop of dew glittered like a jewel on a blade of grass springing out of the moss-covered parapet. These things were observed by the young girl as she stood by the open window, and gave her anew zest for life. It was quite earlyinot even seven o’clock. She shrewdly guessed that Mrs. Redmond ‘was not the kind of a. woman who rises early, and would not be down to breakfast before ten o’clock, or thereabouts; so she would have three hours for exploring the old house and looking about her. After all, she re- flected, it was not so had. She was free to do what she liked for the time. It was wonderfully romantic: and the prospect of a, severe tussle with Mr. Redmond was reth- re." cheelful than depicssing She did not hear much malice in her young heart. It was pretty clear he had misap iopriated some money; but every one is he le to get into difficulties, and we have all faults to be forgiven. Very likely she and he would dislike each other at first; but if they both gave way, and showed forbearance, they might in the end settle down comfortably In three years she would have more money than ever she could know what 'to do with, and she should not miss, and certainly would not begrudge, the sum necessary to put the ‘old house in order, and make some provi< THE BATTLE WON. THE FIRST STEPS CHAPTER V. \Vith these charitable intentions she occu- pied her thoughts while she dressed, and that took 110 time. Then she began to ex- plore the house, admiring the wonderful old furniture, and the pictures 011 the noble staircase, which looked all the finer for the dim light percolating through the ivy- seieened x1 1ndow Going no furthez than the th1 esliold of the \ ery dark rooms, fiom a fear of 1ats and lotten floozs, and slnink- ing back with a shiver from the black soil on the other side of the heavy iron-hound door 011 the landing, which undoubtedly must he the floorless tower that Mrs. Redâ€" mond had spoken about in the night, she wentdown through the old hall, with its trophies of antlers and armour, pausing be- fore the modern sword and plumed hat hung between tiger’s skins with the proud concep- tion that her_ father had worn that hat and carried that sword into battle and then she passed out through the open door into the open air. acres. She spent a, good ten niinut5s trying to settle how she would have the buildings and grounds arranged so that their charaet er might be retained, at the same time that they would be a. cheerful residence for her- self, where she might invite all her school friends to come, and Tinkleton, and Old Mrs. Vic as well. Her bosom swelled with the most delicious plans of entertaining every one she knew in the most- magnificent style â€"alwa.ys, of course, without pretentious os- tentation on her own part. And then she ran in to write to all those friends and tell them all about it, feeling, as she ran, thth it lavas good to live. She was standing beside Redmond, plait- ing her hair, as he replaced the letters and closed the envelopeg. He nodded without coking u “It willfhaVe to be done to- -night for cer- . tam,” she continued. “You can settle sion £01 Mr. and Mrs. Redmond without hurting that poor lady s feelings. How fresh and sweet and bracing the morning breeze seemed after the musty smell of those dark 01d rooms! She got her feet wet in the rank grass crossing to havea full View of the house. It was a grand old buildingâ€"that it was. No wonder she exulted in the knowledge that it belong- ed to her ; that she would he sole mistress there in a few years, with the possession of all the grounds about, with their magnificent Heaven knows how many letters she had written when Mrs. Redmond came downâ€"v and then there was a still a forgotten postv script to put in one of them. It was nearly eleven o’clock, and she had been writing all the time; but she was not a bit fatigued, and could have found twice as much to say. Mrs. Redmond was astonished to find her so fresh and bright after whathad happened in the night. She was disposed to regard it as a very serious matter. Nessa. laughed at it. But M15. Redmond would not treat the affair lightly. She knew so many instances Alliostly drw 11 from works of fictionâ€"411 which sleep w alking had led to fatal con‘ sequences; and gave them in such lengthy detail that it seemed she could think of nothing else. Nessa. would have given any- thing for a slice of bread and butter. “ You must lock me up, and then I shan’t frighten you an} more,” she said. “ is Mr. Redmond coming down to break- fast ‘1” she asked, on the first opportunity, by yafly o_f chaggipg thg subjec‘t.‘ U“ My dear, Ivhavven’t seen him since we met in the park yesterday,” Mrs. Redmond replied, with the utmost coolness. “ \Vhen there’s anything unpleasant at home he generally finds business to keep him away. And knowing What he has to expect from us, it’s very likely that he won’t show his face here for a, week. we certainly will not Wait breakfast for him.” She rang the bell, to Nessa/s heartv satisfaction, but turning, she asked, "Did you ever see the opera. of Somnambula, dear ‘3” Nessa, shook her head. “ Oh dear, oh dear 1” she said to herself. “Now she’s got on to plays, I shall hear all about Lady Macbeth, and nobody knows who else 1” But Mrs. Redmond’s solicitnde took a new channel when the girl brought in the tea and Eggs: The heavy, sallow-skinned young woman passed the back of her hand over her dull eyes, and replied that it was still “ a-split- ting fit to bust,” and attributed her disorder to “ the boil.” “ It is nothing of the kind,’ said Mrs. Redmond, decisively. “ The doctor must see you. Tell Denis to get the chaise ready for me. I shall Wantit in an hour. I am sure that dreadful girl is sickening for some- thing,” she added to Nessa. “It may be scarlet fever or smallpox. “70 will go over to Lullingford, and call upon Dr. Shaw, if you would like the drive. I have a perfect horror of illness.” Nessa accepted the invitation readily. “ I shall be ready in about half an hour,” said Mrs. Redmond, when they rose from the tahle. “ Have you any letters for the she asked. As soon as she was out of sight, Mrs. Red- mond took the letters up to her room, where her husband was sitting in a dressing gown, with a bottle of whisky and a sporting paper for refreshment. She laid the letters side by side on the table with the flaps upward, soaked in handkerchief, and spread it care- fully over them. Then she began to dress. Taking off the handkerchief ten minutes later, she found that the flaps yielded to the insertion of a. knife blade. post A “Yes ;all these.” “Give them to me, and I will put them in the bag, dear.” Then there was some discussion about what they should wear, and Nessa ran up to her room to dress. “Open them and read what ‘she has been writing about," she said in a whisper to her husband. Redmond, who had been watching the pro- ceeding in silence, obeyed. ‘ ‘Does she talk about walking in hersleep '2" the Woman asked. “OhY yes; something about it in every one of them.” Mrs. Redmond expressed her satisfaction by a nod. “N0 suspicion that she has been deceived '2” “Not a. word.” “That will all serve as evidence on our side there should be any question. Close the letters carefully, and send them to the post when we are gone. I’m going to take her over to Dr. Shaw. She must have something to takeâ€"a. mixture of some kind.” ow’s your head this morning, Emma 9n Mrs. Redmond turned from him in silence with a contemptuous jerk of her head. \Vhen she looked in the glass to see if her hair was all right, she caught a glimpse of him wiping the perspiration from his livid face with a handkerchief. “Remember,” she said, going back to him, “ there’s no shuilling out of this. It’s your only escape from the gaol and the workhouse. If you’re not here when the time comes, I'll take the girl away and set the lawyers to work ” Redmdnd’s hands trembled so violently that he had to lay down the letter he was trying t2 egclose: Nessa, enjoyed the drive to Lullingford in- tensely. The r 1pid movement, the fresh air, the beauty of the sky, and trees with their undei growth of aolden brake and red- dening bramble, togethei with a. sense of freedom and nascent power, intoxicated her. Her exuberant gaiety and young en- thusiasm made her the most delightful coni- pzmion in the world, even to Mrs. Redmond, who detested the country, and saw nothing but horrid toudstools and soraggy wild flowers in the coloured fungus and stray hairbells that drew cxcluniations of delight from the girl. where she’s to fall from. W'e shall be back about four. You’d better keep out of our wag t_i11 yog’rg wagted. ” Mrs. REleond allowed her to take the reins and whip while she changed her gloves as they neared the little town. That was a, supreme joyim foretaste of that delightful future when she would have such an equi- page, but with two ponies, and ill to her self. They left the chaise at the hotel, where Mrs. Redmond ordered lunch to he prepar- ed, and went through the High Street, and here Nessa had a glorious quarter of an hour before some drapery and milhnery stores. Long ago she had successfully rebelled against walking out in procession with the young ladies of Eagle House, and obtained the privilege of going out with Miss Tinkle- ton alone, but that was a tame affair indeed in comparison with shop- gazing in the com- pany of a “ oman of the world with expensive tastes, like Mis. Redmond. Poor old Tinkletnn‘s taste was all for for prints that would wash and stuffs that would turn, and she could look at nothing that was not marked, a bargain at some- thing three farthings, whereas Mrs. Red- mond had 21.11 eye for colour and effect, and fixed her critical choice upon the most de- lightfully delicate and ephemeral fabrics with areckless regard to cost. She laughed at Nessa’s old-fashioned notions, and the girl, only too anxious to learn what was “correct” in this new world to which shewasborn, took the rebukegrate- fully, and liked her friend all the better for it. Nessa, impulsive, affectionate, and utterly ignorant of evil, saw nothing in her new friend to dislike, and a great deal that struck her inexperienced mind with admira- tion. She clung to Mrs. Redmond’s plump arm, and in the fulness of her heart could ill conceal the warmth of her feelings. Mrs. Redmond was not dull to this silent hom- age ; it was a longr time since she had en- countered any one so fresh and naive and bright. She really liked the girlâ€"as much as it was in her nature to like any onceâ€"and quite regretted her approaching loss. Never- theless she did not for one instant hesitate to ring the bell when they came to Dr. Shaw’s house at the bottom of the hill. By that time Nessa had entirely forgotten the ostensible object of their drive to Lullingv ford. They were shown into the consulting room. Present] the inner door 0 ened . P , and Dr. Shaw came IIIâ€"fl meagre, elderly man, with dark, penetrating eyes: dee -sunk under a broad white forehead. He owed stiflly to Mrs. Redmond, and smiled on Nessa. as he took his seat. People smiled 011 her as one does instinctively upon a beautiful child. The doctor inclined his head, and resign- ed himself to the inevitable. Not a week passed without a visit from this woman upon some imaginary ailment of her own or Emma’s. He listened, his eyes resting on the paper knife he toyed in his long fingers, but his thoughts were chiefly occupied with Nessa. Who was she ‘3 How had she fallen into the hands of Mrs. Redmond? What was the painted woman doing with this fresh, innocent girl? \Vhat on earth were the girl’s friends about to let her associate with an nnwholesome woman? He disliked Mrs. Redmond. He knew her and her vices, and wondered how any one else could fail to see her physical and moral 'unhealthi- ness through the palpable mask of paint and dye and society manners. “I’ve come to see you again about that drgazdfu} girl, Elrgnagisaid Mys. Rgqund. “It’s an ordinary bilious attack“ noth- ing more,” he said, looking up, his eyes resting first on Nessa, as \Irs. Redmond concluded her account of Emma’s symp« toms. “I believe it is the beginning of fever. I must beg you to come and see her. If it is any thing catching I mustsendher awayto her friends at once.” “011, thanks, awfullyâ€"thanks ! And now, doctor, I wish you to prescribe for this young lady,” Mrs. Redmond said, laying her hand on Nessa’s arm. “I am very much occupied. However, if you insist, I will do my best to call in the course of the day.” Dr. Shaw looked sharply at the girl, who seemed no less astonished than himself by this demand. He smiled, as Nessa’s surprise gave away to uncontrollable mirth. “Thcie’ s nothing whatever to laugh at, ” said Mls. Redmond “It IS not 1111t111al,and it is 001 tainly dangerous fox :1 young girl to walk 111 hei sleep.’ The doctor assented to this, and listened with serious attention to Mrs. Redmond’s account of the afiair, while Nessa. sat with bent head, amused and vexed by turns. It was so ridiculous to make :1 fuss about such a. trifle. She raised her head and met the theta" s eyes, blushing as if she had com- mitted a. feult w hen he spoke to l1e1. “You do not look a‘likely subject for nervous disorders of this kind,” he said, kingly. “I Elm sure I have never misbehaved my- self beforeâ€"in that way,” she replied, with a luggh. “ You have never been so violently ex- cited as you were yesterday and the day be- fore,” suggested Mrs. Redmond. Nessa admitted than this was true. “Of course,” said Dr. Shaw, “great and un- usual mental excitement might account for CHAPTFR V1. AT HER M EKCY “I couldn’t. I should never be able to close my eyes for fear of smnething happen- ing. And you cannot expect me to puta servant in the room who is probably sicken- ing for some horrid infectious complaint]. Surely you can give something to produce slee .” The doctor reflected :1 moment. \Yhut was he to do with this obstinate fool of a woman ‘2 It was impossible to convince her that Nessa would be better without the use of drugs. If he refused to administer any» thing, he was perfectly sure that she would go to the chemist and procure some poison- ous stuff, such as she herself was in the habit of takingâ€"«a concoction strongr enough to half kill a, young girl unaccustomed to the use of narcotics. The best way was to comply with the request, and practise a harmless deception. \Vith this conclusion he rose, saying that possibly a mild sedative might have 3. good effect, and left the ladies for a few minutes. "Then you had better have some one to sleep in the same room for a few nights.” “ But the excitemenn may not abatemthe attack may be repeatm ,” insisted Mrs. Redmond. “It will do you no harm to take this be- fore going to bed,” he said, putting a. bottle wrapped in White paper into Nesszi’s hand. That was true enough; the bottle con- tained nothing but pure water tinctured with cochineal and disguised with pepper- mint. Mrs. Redmond went away triumphant. But she was not simple enough to believe that she had overcome the doctor‘s scruples. W'hen they returned to the Towers, and she was alone in her room, she took the bottle from her sealskin bag, in which she had put it “for safety,” removed the paper carefully, and poured away the pink liquid. She re- filled the bottle from one of her own. The efficacy of that mixture in producing sleep she knew. a case of this kind, but I really see no cause for serious alarm. There is no reason to fear a. repetition of the attack, especially if the excitement abates. “Dr. Shaw is responsible for whatever happens now,” she said to herself, a.» she wrapped the bottle in the paper she had taken it from. They dined alone. Nessa tasted cham- pagne for the first time and liked it. It looked so pretty in the delicate glass held up to the light, with the string of bubbles rising from the bottom, and it was quite as nice to the taste asilemonadeâ€"nicer, in fact. She agreed with Mrs. Redmond that it was the only thing a. lady ought to drink at dinner, and resolved that when the time came she would fill her cellars with Cliquot and the Boy and Meet, and all the wines her friend talked about so glibly, and learn the diflerence between them. They lingered over dessert, Nessa listening with avidity to Mrs. Redmond’s airy gossip about London, and that wonderful society in which lords and dukes seemed to be as plentiful as heart could desire. Oh what a contrast between this life of delicious trifling and the ponder- OHS routine of her late existence, when one scuttled away from the table the moment a meal was finished, with nothing better than instructive recreation to look forward to l The girl thought that a butterfly must feel some such rich delitrht as hers in flitting aimlessly among b1 ight flow er s after its pain ful experiences as_ a cateipillar. It was getting dusk when Mrs. Redmond rose from her chair and changed the subject. It was clear that ])r. Show would not come now. Emma. had better go to bed ; she was certainly sickening for something, and there 'as nothing else for her to do. She went into the kitchen and sent the heavy girl, nothing loath, to her room. Upstairs, lVIrS. Redmond found her husband, with a face the colour of lead, pacing the bedroom. 6'» “Are you ready Shevasked ina low bone, as she took up the sealskin bug. He nodded in silence; and then, over coming the difficulty of speaking, he falter- ed, “For God’s sake, be quick! This is hell!” She scanned the quaking coward from head to foot, and, seeing his irresolution, thought it advisable on quitting the room to turn the key upon him. Downstaixs she found Nessa sitting in the cloaming by the open window, and for the Elsi: time that day looking grave. Her mind seemed to have taken on the subdued tone of the trees and sky. Night was falling upon her. Mrs. Redmond sat down in the ch: opposite, the bag in her lap. “ ‘Vhy, how awfully solemn you look she exclaimed. “I have been thinking,” said Nessa. ; and then, in a tone of interrogation, she added, “ Mr. Redmond has not come home ‘2” “ N0 ; surely that has nothing to do with your gravity.” “ Yes, it has. I want to see him. I have something to say." Mrs. Redmond laughed. “ Of course you hm e, my dear , so have I. He 5 pe1fectly awme of that, and keeps out of 0111 \V (1y 1n consequence. 1 “But f want to Epologise to him,’ said Nessa}, (1}1ieply. “ “ IV 01; when you Bad to acknowledge your- self in the wrong ‘3” “ I never did have to acknowledge myself in the wrong, my dear.” “ How nice l” said Nessa, naively, with a. sigh. “ I’m always doing wrong, and find- ing it out just when it’s too late to be un- done. ” “ Apélogisé l” exclaimed Mrs. Redmond with superb disdain. “ [never apologised to any one in all my life 1” 1 1 “I should like to know what wrong you’ve done my precious husband.” “1â€"1 I have been thinking that I was very rude to him yesterday.” “Rude I \Vell,\vhen you find a. man rob- bing youâ€"~” HBut I’m not sure that he has robbed me. It’s just like me to jump at a conclusion. I have no right to demand an account until I am twenty~one, and then he may be prepared to render it.” “If I tell you that he has spent every penny of the money entrusted to him for your maintenance; that he is he elessly in debt; and is cutting down the tim er to pay his current expenses; what then?” “Then I aui very sorry for him. He must have been very unfortunate to lose the money â€"he must have made some g1eat mistake. I have made so many that I should be the last to think unkindly of him 011 that ac- count.” “ That’s why I wanted to see him,” the girl continued, in the same reflective tone. ‘V‘ I am so happy here that I should like to be at peace with every one. Surely we could live amicably to ether if we tried. After all, a. few thousan pounds is no great loss. And a few trees out of all those will the chair m Mrs. Redmond made no response, but sat nursing her knee, and eyeing, sidelong, the girl who had fallen into are\'eric. She hesitated about taking this final step. N0 ; that would not do. \Vith this reflection, Mrs. Redmond press~ ed the fastening of her bag. It opened with. a snap that aroused Nessa. from her inedi- tations. “ My dear, we were both going to sleep, I do believe,” said Mrs. Redmond. “ Get a. glass. Here’s the mixture Dr. Shaw told. you to take." It had grown so dark that they had to light the lamp to find a clean lass. Mrs. Redmond poured out the drug, Tessa llold< ing the glass, laughing and protesting. “"11011 the b ttle was emptied, Nessa, with a wry face, lifted the glass to her lips, and. drained off the syrup. ” And pray what reason have you to change your opinion 1” “ \Vhy, surely a man who is afraid to face a. schoolgirl cannot be capable of such des« perate designs 7” “ But it’s too {early to go to bed yet,” she saidngptting (103x11 thg‘pmpt‘y glass. _ never be missed. Perhaps they ought to be thinned out. I shall still have more trees and more money than ever I shall know what to do with. And then, if I could help him to recover his losses I Should like to, for I am sure that he would not wilfully do me any harm. I have wronged him. Oh, you don’t know what dreadful things I thought he might be guilty of doingathe most horrible wickedness 1” “ Oh, yevs. “"0 will sii (lOVvVn and have a. goggl long chat.” They sat down; but soon Nessa found her friend’ys light gossip g1 OW 111g unaccountably inaudible, while an insurmountable drowsi- ness are )t upon her senses. M15. Redmond watched her keenly, and chatted 011 until the girl’s lids dropped. Nessa roused herself with an effort, and in a state of stupor submitted to be guided upstairs. \Vhen they were in the little bed- room she sat down on the bed, and, with a. last effort of consciousness, threw her arms about her friend’s neck and kissed her. Mrs. Redmond (lid not consider it necessary to re- turn the kiss, for Nessa, was already asleep and the next moment slipped sidelong heav- ily upon the bed. She stood over her in the dim light for some minutes. Then she raised the sleeping girl’s arm and let it drop. It fell inert. She shook her. Nessa. made no sign of consciousness. “You had betfc} go up to your room, dear.” “Mrs. Redmond went downstairs and un~ locked the door of her room. Her husband stoodagainst the windowâ€"his figure just visi ble in silhouette against the grey light. Mrs. Redmond scratched a vesta and lit a candle. He followed her automatically up the stairs. A it is true that it mustvgene'r-Elly entail murder, but that is certainly not the rea- son for our loathing of it. It is something deeper than this; and the distinction we draw between the flesh of men and of ani- mals is at first sight a little curious. One can imagine the inhabitants of another planet, whose ph sical necessities did not force them to eat eshâ€"to take life in ord- er to liveâ€"regarding us with much the same ~kind of abhorrence with which we look on cannibals. Most of our natural instinct, are based upon natural laws, which, when 1 broken, are sure to Visit the breaker with their penalties. The eating of unripe fruit, of putrid meat, and of poisonous matter are ‘ some of these. But no penalty in the shape of disease seems to be attached to canniba- lism. “Come on,” she said, beckoning him from the door. The word cannibal is associated in our minds with scenes of the most dehased sav- agery that the imagination can picture ; of men in habits and appearance a little lower than the brute; of orgies the result of the most degrading religious superstition. It is not until one has lived on terms of friend» ship with cannibals thatonc realizes that the practice is not incompatible Wlth an intelliâ€" gence and moral qualities which command respect. And after all, if one can for a. moment lay aside the instinctive horror which the idea calls up, and dispassionately consider the nature of cannibalism, our re- pugnance to it seems less logicallygrounded. What, then, are thc motives that lead men apart from thepressure of famine, to practice cannibalism ‘3 Among certain African tribes and lately in Hayti, it hasbeen the outcome of a debased religious superstition or that extraordinary instinct connnon to all races which leads men to connect the highest re- ligious enthusiasm with the most horrible orgies that their diseased imagination can concehe. The feelintr that leads members of sects to bind themselv es togethei by the celebration of same mlapeakal‘fle rite perhaps led to the accusations laid against the Christ~ ians of the second century and the H1111- ga11an Jews of the nineteenth. But 111 the South Seas, although the motive has been falsely attlibuted to a CIaVing f01 animal food, it was gene1ally thelast act oftxiumph over a fallen enemy. Thus Homer makes Achilles, triumphing over the dying Hector, wish he could make mincemeat of his body and devour it. Triumph could go no fur- ther than to slay and then to assimilate the body of your foe and the belief that by thus making him a part of you yo 1 acquired his courage in battle IS said to have led a chief of old Fiji to actually consume himself the entire body of the man he had killed by daily roasting what remained of it to pre- vent decompo’sition.“Blackwood Alagaziwe. The Marquis of Lorne has paid a graceful compliment to a deserving Canadian liter- atcur in having forwarded copies of Henry J. Morgan’s recent interesting monograph on the Elgin period in Canadian history to the Queen and the Prince of W'ales. It will be remembered that the article in question, which first appeared in the Ottawa Citizen, in addition to sketching the life of a pro- minent and estimable lady of the Queen’s household, the late Hon. Mrs. Robert Bruce, gave some interesting details of her brother- in-law, Lord Elgin’s, eventful political career in Canada and India. Lord Lorne was well pleased with the article, which he describes as excellently executed. Several members of the Bruce family have also Written to Mr. Morgan thanking him for his interest- ing' and sympathetic sketch. “That a time so long ago,” says Lady‘ Thurlow, “should stillbe remembered in Canada, is a thing which touches us deeply, and for which we are glad to express our gratitude. ” A Plea for Cannibalism. (To 1:15 CONTINUED)