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BUSINESS. “1 don’t quiio understand,” said Nessa, when they were alone in the box, and Mrs. Redmond had disposed herself where she could be seen to advantage. “\Vhat did you mean when you said we should-be in this Nessa. IZOked roiiinlthc lhronged building. The overture was being plat} Cll. Ringufter ring of gas jets sprung into flame. The leetric light glared out of the great white glasses. At the thought that she might be one of these all these peoplehml come to see, lhat this music was to herald her, and this light to illuminate her, the young girl felt her heart lmnnd, and her hair crisp, and a thrill in every nerve of hcrhody. Show “Mean ! \Vhy, that if you don’t muff it, We shall get an engagement here.” “.11111111115115agood so1't’MI‘s. ‘01111101111 explainw]. 111 11 \01110 111th 300111011 coldly 11111011111111)»: :0 Nchrfl‘i _ 111111111110r L’Z‘LIS. “H11 ,115 511'. 30L 011 11111 before I “as fool 0110111111 101111111131 :111111 if 110 111111 not 1110111191: (111 the 1:111, he \11111111L 1111 not 1r<1i1wt<111111kcl11y- self Cheap. If he \\ '11113 11111, 1111311 1111\0 to take you 115 wall. \‘1'0’11 1111 11111111, 01111111111)? irfmu‘ 111111111 week. ,1 111311 do us, won’t At that 11101110111 a burst of music from (110 {1101111 \1i1hin <cei1ictitn pinchiim that 51111110 tiiumph “hid” the 111111111301 :mvmcd fol New“, 11111 Rilt‘ [110111111111 \\it]1 ”such elation us 511:» 111111 11mm befrn‘c experi- 111110011. Sho him] not failed to see Lhc nutnngcr‘s admiring ghmcuq at, N Sn, and was shrewd enough In know HmL her ll'\11(‘11"‘l:'(‘1110)lt was mm'u dupmnhnn upon \ sun influence than No M's on}; 'cmxmt upon hm but, “I Wouldn’t trust her with {my girl in the Show," he continued, in his delihemtc tone, as Nessa un'osscd the bountiful creature‘s head “But 1 shall consiucr mysulf no 117114.20 of hmsmmmon if \(vu dont saddle her before 31mm- chn in the Show a month.” “ Mu ' '15 we“ llzwe it down on paper, clmppiu,” said Mrs. Redmond. “ “'0‘“ into the (Mice, and settle it at 01100,, if ML flunk-aster pluuscx‘ " Nessa assentetl: well they went into an Office where there were a table, two chairs, and a marvellous litter of pictures, pru- grannnes, photographsy lithographs, tintetl designs of costume7 specimen properties, letter elips, hill files, and smlam‘ater hettles. M r. Fergus offered the chairs to the ladies. M‘rs. l'lednmntl preferred to sit thVVIl on the earner of the table, allmringthe manager to avail himself of the odd ehair and seat himâ€" self before his blotting pad. Then came a discussion as to the terms of the agreement, which was for the most part incomprehen- sible to Nessa. There were so many wernls unknown to her, and her lICiltl was all of a whirl and the strangeness of everything about her, and the bewildering prospect epening before her. Huwever, Mrs. Red montl, new that she was in the element to which she hatl been horn, showed herself as shrewd antl clearâ€"headed as Fergus himself, and get her own way in all the stipulations with regard to dresses. dressing,r room, “ ex- tra shows,” ainl the like. She signed the agreement for herself and Nessa which was a relief to the girl, who was in doubt: as to what her Christian name was to he, and took charge of the counterpart signed by the manager. They went down the long double row of stalls, each occupied by a. sleek horse, his name mum cmunelled plate upon the wall beyond. Nessa, who loved horses, was in mstasw . “Thcres the flower of the flock,” said Fergus, stopping~JEsperancel How are you, beauty?" 0111111 411 \‘111 1i|10“.' 111111 1101' 11'111 011(1211101110111 was 111111'0 11011011112111 1111011 \Lassz'm 111111101100 1112111 N0 «4115 0114111 01110111 1111011 lltl'n‘ . but, as 5110111111521111,a:5110 111111121 11111 11111l;0 1101'- self 0110111). “011, 1 3112111 1111113 (111 1111'0113‘11,’ 3110 21(1- .1011 . “von 1021\1' it 2111 10 1111' 11111111.’ “ But I know 1111111111101 11111111L this 111151- 1109. ,” Kessw 311111. “You 110011111 10". 11111.Y(111 02111 sit '21 1101' so ; 111111" '1011(1(',11()11'jl1. 1110 011111 l111113 112121 011t01'011 in 111001 ~ion, 711111 11110 11:11' 21211111; 1111-. 11mg 011111111211 211' 01111. “1 511011111 1101 111111 to 211)]10111' lil<0 (11211 2’” Novsu “131d 1111 11001111101), 11111102111115,r 21 r1"111.p111 ”"1115 211'05.~(11'11S 32100111112115 11111121 111101111 21llow:1111'0 <11110511i11fl8. “1)111111; 3, 011 111111' 1110 1011 111111110 trunks? N0 : ‘111111‘s 0111' M111.” A1111 5110 111111111111 11111 row 11f six girls 111 11111111,: 112111111 011 111-2111111111 11101111“. Nmsa yuxo '11 111110 siq‘h (1110111 . “'1‘110y 110 1110 1‘2100 s100‘1lccl11150 l111:~:i11oss,7 Mrs. 11011- 111011110011111111101111011111111; <111L1110n111111101's in 111011111<j1'211111110. “111W (011111 I 1111 1.11111. ?" N “l 10 1101'01‘ 11111111111 anything.” “011, it s (-2131 enough. The jumps are all 12111011. .1 0011111 (10 0111 on my 1101121,” “Could you?” said Nessa, naively, looking at 1101' stout 00111110111011, 111111 taking 1101' words literally. N110 W11t0110111110 races with 110011 interest, and growing ('1101101110111. 11. woke 11111;]10 0111 (10111115211111 adventurous spirit 1111111 111111 1011 1101' into 111isuliiel' 11111 5011001. She felt $11211 if 0110 were in 1110 11100 she would set 1101' 110150 at anything, 211111 11111110 11. win by 1,110 511110110100 11f1101' own \ ‘111. In 1110 last 12100 5110 1111111011 1101's0lf (111 1110 leading 1111130 :1101' 112111111111'1111111 instinaivclv {LS if $110101111101'1'111<.1101' 5111111111015111110011, 1101' ‘sa 21511011. As he, rose {bayou the (1001‘, Mrs. Redmond winked with significant satisfaction at NOSSK behind his back. it. “I \\ 011111111 be left behind by that girl 11 1th the 01111110 111111011. “1 011 shall 11m 0 the 0111101 hum) of heat 111g he1 as 50011 as you like to Lly. Come and sec 1110111123.” features set, and her eyes flushing with in- (huniml u pluck. She was lillitC uncnn» Scions that Mr. Fergus had 001110 into the box, and 'WM sitting not 2L yard from her, listening to Mrs. Redmond, hut with his eye fixed under the tilted upon herself. shrewd, husines, brim of his “gihun “You‘d beeit ’cm, wnuhln't you, MISS DRIP cast V" he said, as the race ended and 3055‘). s hmly relaxed. “1 :1112111 110 11010 0111Mom1ny 11101111110 and will put; you 1111011441 your 11113111053, Fe]- "118 mid, 1(111111) , .1 11011 they “1-10 1111111111: at the 1611m11111011t 11111 “\ ()u are \ CV3 ' “ind ’ 1(‘1)1i0i1\(, 9:1 then conscmns of 1101 own silence and 1)er " 11101111, 3110 mhlcfl, “1 11111 afraid must. think 1110 very stupid.” “My dear Miss Danunstcr, I slmuhl not have engaged you at sight if I had thought you stupid. And,” he added, dropping his voice, as Mrs. Redmond turned tnfinish her brandy and soda, “I certainly Should not have taken Totty in again if I had not felt; r37) CHAPTER XIX THE BATTLE WON. .11iu’n the mun-[1301 :mgm'cd sht- t1‘:onflxh<1 \\it]1 such 112111 never bcfm‘c experi- and em- you iv '1‘113111-511 trot round the arena, however, (set, 1101' 11101111 in 111011011 111111 revived her ‘ spn its Fergus kept by her $1110, coaching ‘l1u1. as they went. “Look 1111 the audience when you‘re trot- tintr. '1‘11111 will be your 111011111 for the, first ,“ 11111; 01' so ' tidy 0111 111111'0, safe 111111 sure, 111111 knows 1101 business. Rain 11 bit l1111su1'111l111t 5 11.1111: slanting place is down Lhcrcln 11111111111'1'0“: Give her 11 out 111111 let 1101' U17 “111,11 \11: 001110 11111113 Do three tuI 115 115 1111111 as 3011 like e, 1111(11111111\ 011t11kc the 111si1le 11111112 to p of 1119111111.11dtl1c 0111- 81110 111 the lmttoln. 1111110 your speed 111 j between : now then, 011‘.‘ I “ \Vhy don‘t yon hcgin that cotillion? i\\'hut are you waiting for, Jennings?” ‘ called Mr. Fergus. . "Set ain‘t complete, sir; Waiting fm Mzulzunc do Vex-c.” (This was the latest name adopted by Mrs. Redmond.) “ She’s begun uh‘czuiyi” muttered Fergus. tThcn cullinsr EL man who was raking the ; Lain, ho scnb him with u peremptorymessage ito Ml“. Redmond, and told him to bring { Mignon and Ventui‘iui‘e from the stalls. quite sure that you will compensate for all the trouble She’il give us my . v -M _ _,, , It occurred to S'essa the next day, and not before, that this engagement would ex- pose them to discovery by the men who were seeking them. lut‘ Mrs. Redmond, Who had now got over her fright, ridiculed gestion. «. “.‘V 1 1113111 \101L1111w11S 1'011vovhh111111 (111'13‘115 12111111- 11) 11111 1111511111 .S 1101' SOS \101'0 1101111; 51111011111111 1)1ll'l()\\S r11 111101'SL<11111011111011111111\\11\1110 1111 15,) \1111'0 S111111111w'11 11 \1111111', 111111111010 w 11S 11 1011111SL111 11011.0 of 11111111013 shiftinu', 110(1fS1111t1111", \111LL1 111111111111,1)1'110111SS\\L(1]1- 11111 1110 0111 11'11111' 111 '111r uf :‘1'001115, \\ 11151111111 111111S1111111'y11111311(1111111'1111111111S “X 0111' 111'0SS111111'011111 1s 11111111101 Si\. '11101'0 111s, S11111X11' 1‘ L‘IWIIS \11111 111111 1111:1111 011111410 of N0SS11,1011\ 1110 X11 S. 1101111101111 with 1111 0111 friend recogni/cd 111110113 1110 111111111 01' 1m 11 of 10:1.fL1'S 111 the 01111‘111111301()1)1)V. “ Betta take off your jack 11 111111 111111. I 11 go 111111 find 111 1110 111111 11 $111 . Nessa felt C’a miserable sinking at her heart. For some days she hail struggled against the evidence of her senses to believe that her friend was honest aml good and generous ; just as she had striven at times to continue a pleasant dream in spite of awaking w‘mseiousness that the Vision \'ELS unreal ; and now the accumulating evidence was Loo strong to be ignored, and Mrs. leilnmnil’s eharaeter looked as (lull and artificial as the hippmlrome itself appeared by the light oi day A goml many illusions lliMl heen dispelled in this last half hour, and she felt that things and people must be judged by the light of reason ‘ather than hy the glamour of inclination. But the material View was Very depressing to her voung niinll. “I‘m sorry for you, dear. She’ll lczwo you till she’s repaid herself and (Alf/111' the ubligation.” “ Have you known Totty long?” he asked, turning to Nessa. “ No ; not it very long while.” “ Ah, I have. Probably I know a good deal more about her than you (10:30 per- haps I ought Lo tell you that she’s a. danger- ous wonnm. You’re bound to live with 1101', I suppose 2’” .1. .. , ‘ u . . . " I am under great uhhgatmn to 1101‘," Saul Ne 33, warmly. “ I can never repay 1101‘ for all she 11st done for me.” Bessa went into the large dressing room, removed her jacket, and was lost in wonder at the assortment of farals and powders on the tables, when Fergus returned with 2L skirt and riding hat, coming into the room without the slightest formality. Then they went down into the amphitheatre, which looked éh vast place and (lull in the thin mist, through which the grey light of (lay filtered frem above. The mist was thicker where the sweeper were at work in the auditor- ium. 'l‘here \ ‘u' a carpenter at work some Where, his hammer seemed to wake IL dozen echoes. A peel of laughter came from another part. Three men were in the or- chestra,mu1 one was running through the dance from Dinorah. In the ring six or seven men and women, in ordinary dress and mounted, stood in groups chatting. It vas 1L glorious run. Nessa’s excitement grew with every stride of her mum. She had never gone the pace before. 011 the last lu'p she was seized with a desire to outstrip ltlei‘glis, and she sueeeeded, too, passing the hzu‘rmr u neeli ahead. “That‘s all right. You‘ll do,” said Fer- ”‘us. “But when there are half EL dozen of you, you‘ll have to tul-Lethe outer lap wider. ” an proposed that they should run it again : Fergus deelined with it lungh, suying he eould Sli()\\'l1(31‘\\‘lliLt he int-ant 111 a eunter. Ntsm put her more at u Gunter in ii minute. “'1‘th Us prettily done," said Fergus. “Mig- non understands you already." Nessa turneduponliiinsmilii , She liked the mun, although he was free in laying his hand on her arm and culling her “ dear ;' but his fzmiili‘arity was fur less offensive than the studied formality of some men. It, was natural, and there “us no suspicion of never clearâ€" It was :unotlmi' step (lownxmi‘ds ; lint Nt sen was lHLDplly unconscious of the dc- gradation, accepting the discomforts of these squalid lodgings as EL necessary condition of her new life. She wished that the girl who waited on them would wash herself some- times, and that the people below would for a change cook something else than kippcred sous-mztcndu in what he said. For certan, Fergus \\ as well pleased with 1101- She was smart without know 111g it; g1 aceful without aflcctation, - and her Dface spin kied w ith mingled innocence and mischief. “What is it?” asked Nessa, suddenly discovering the manager‘s eye fixed on her face, and passing her handkerchief down her ivory nose in the expectation of finding a smut on it. “ I’m looking at youl complexion. Look hele 118111, (1011 t you let them humbug youl face i111out 111 the dressing 100111. Don t hm e anything 011, or you’ll spoil it. It’ s justper- feet now. And don’t let them mess your huh about eithc1. Just that natural curl ilutteiing out over y0u1 temple; nothing 111o1e. th bangs and 110 dye. The 1ich coloui of the hair just thr'ovss up the pale tint of 10111 fo1ehead,a11d the 101 elyfl’ “ Oh, don’t please I” pleaded Nessa, with :L fine Show of 1101‘ teeth :15 she laughed at the compliments piled up by her enthusiastic fricnd. “I can see that’s your first jump. You kept your seat pi'ciiy well ; but you’ll have 10 doitbcttei‘ than that," said he, when Nessa had taken the hurdles. “Try it again. 1’11 giVe you {L lend. Don’b bother about the mzu'c : she knows her business. Just, let yourself swing. Now thenâ€"houp-ta Mig- non I" “ My dear (ri1l, you must allow me to be just as CH1 eful habout \ 0111 looks and us proud of 0111.15 1 am about the appearance of my pet more ’Espe ‘zmce. It’s all business. Now, then, Jennings ; put up those two hurdles.” The hurdles, at first set up at {L11 angle, were,l1y the manager‘s orders, fixed upright, when Nessa fell into the trick of taking them easily, and then tne girl only regretted that they were not higher. She felt it delightful thrill every time her mare rose ; it was like soaring on wings. Is seemed to her that they could not have been rehearsing more than half on hour when Fergus, looking at. his Watch, said, “ That's enough for to-day. Tl‘o-inorrow morning, eleven sharp, ladies,” he Called to the rest of the company, who, under the direction of the ballet muster, were going through some Complicated eonihinations in the r-entre of the arena. “You can come in whenever you like,” he added, turning to Nessa. “I’ll speak to the stud master, and he’ll give you a mount Of Course, if you choose to come into the evening show you can have a box. You‘ll pick up :1. wrinkle or two watching the others, and get accus- tomed to the look of the house, and that sort of thing.” Living at Spitaliields, she had been un- able to avail herself fully of the managers’s offer, and, indeed, the time for rehearsalhad been cut down to its shortest limits. For )Irs. Redmond, either from sluggish in- (lolenee or some notion of profestional etiâ€" quette, could not be induced to get to re- hearsal at the hour fixed, and vas always the first to leave. \Vhile Nessa was fret- ting and fuming with impatience, ready dressed to go, and looking at the clock every other minute, Mrs. Redmond pertin- aeiously dawdled over her toilette;and when Nessa was hoping for one more run round the tan, Mrs. Redmond came down, gloved and bag in hand, from the dressing room, with a sharp request to know how mueh longer she must he kept waiting. So long as they lived in Spitaltields she felt hound to go backwards and forwards with her friend ; but that would not lie the case if they lived, as most of the company did, in the neighborhood of Arcadia. And so she was very well pleased to hear Mrs. Redmond express a dislike to Spitalfields, and readily agreed to see if they could find suitable apartments in l’orten Street. The houses in Perten Streetare all exactly alike. The proprietor lives in the basement with a young family, a jaded Wife, and a girl who waits on the lodgers. The entrance is up a flight of steps, and opens upon a narrow “hall" flanking the “droin’-room set.” The drawing room is furnished with a round table, four Chairs, and a ehiffonier : all rickety. There is a small table in the front window, with a display of wax flowers under a glass shade. There is a profusion of “ornaments” in Bohemian glass, and “photos” presented by former lodgers. Folding doors separate this room from an- other furnished with two hetlstemls, a couple of chmirs, a chest of drawers, a toilet table, and a \mslisl and. rl‘here is no space for any- thing else except the lodgers, and they have 10 he careful how they go. “How will this do ‘3” asked Mrs. Redmond, when they hzul inspected three “droinl room" sets. “Oh, thank you so much. I am very much obhgcd to you,” Bessu Said warnfly. “R other Sp italfields. ‘” said M13. Redmond on \\ ed11esc1131y, \1 hen they left Arcadia to go home. Xessa nodded. It was almost on her lips to say “Bother Spitalfields” also. Spital- fields is not a nice plaL‘e. O11 111211ket 11101 ‘11- intrs the tho10ughfare 1s choked \11th coste1- 1111111go1s 11211110“ s, and the men qualrel and $110211 a great deal, and heat then donkeys shamefully. At other times there is nothing in Spital S1 11a1e but a sour smell of festering cabbage. But the (*1 eat objection 111 1\ essa s mind \\ ’11: that it 1131 ' so far f1o1n Arcadia. She would 11:11 e 11\ ed' 111 A1 cadia if she might. The first rehearsal had banished all her melancholy nusgrivings Her heart and soul were 111 L110 business. She loved every horse 111 the stalIs, and found Charms 111 the place even by the light of day which she had ne\ er anticipated. She had the noviee's pride 111 being behind the scenes7 and there \1 010 such (leliohtful e\1)e11e11ees to 1001: fo1- w111d to. She 1eft the 11111111111!r with 11 1e'V1et that 01115 g1ue place to 11, feverish eagerness for the Lexo rehearsal to renew the pleasure of the past one. Nessa thought it would do just (LS well as any of the other: ; it was not two minutes’ run from Acadia ; so Mrs. Redmond took it at the low price of fifteen shillings a week, attendance and “exh‘ys” included ;it11d that aftez‘noon they fetched their eiTects from Spindiields and took possession of the new lodgings. Prohahly Mrs. Redmond would not have trembled-10 go to Spitidiields had she not valued 1101' b61011gings at something more than 1110 sum they 11ml to pay as inclonumy fm‘kazu'ing Without the custmnzu'y weeks notice. IN HER NE\\' CHARACTER CHAPTER XX herrings in the mornmg and sprats in the evening; but she reconciled herself to circumstances with a. cheerful determination to make the best of them. Thanks to attendance being provided, the domestic arrangements now consisted of giving orders to the girl from below, and Mrs. Redmond being equal to the perfor- mance of this function, Nessa was free to do what She liked, and, 011, joy ‘. had no more to trouble over the cooking of a joint or dread the turning out of a. pudding. For the rest of the week she only left Arcadia. to to 5186]) and to get her meals. On Saturday‘there was another delightful experiencelforher: theeostumier had brought her dresses, and she was called into the wardrobe room to be “tried on.” The amazone fitted her to perfection; but that which enchanted her was the ultramarine habit With white satin facing and silver trimming, to be worn with a white wig and a trirm‘m: in the royal hunting scene. It was delicious ! And as she looked at her- self in the glass she resolved, despite Mr. Fergus’s objection, to use plenty of powder and stick a patch at the corner of her lip. I' seemed to 1101‘ that Monday night would nevoi come: it \\ as almost too much to ex- pect; hut it came, all the same, and at half- past se\ 011 Nessa found herself, with S0\ e11 othci'ladics in blue, waiting in dressing room No. (5 fur their call. They were all very llUlS) and full of fun except Nessa, and she was nuict because she did not know the ladies yet auhile though they had showed them- so 1‘ cs \ ei \ fricndl) , mid she c0111 1 not quite undemtzznd \\ hat the) u (:10 all talking about -â€"pa1‘tly, perhaps, because her thoughts were in a tumult of expectation. At last a bell tinklcd, and a boy culled out~ “All down, ladies, for parade.” It was strange to Nessa to see how uncon- cerned they were, and how they dawdled ahout after this summons that stirred her very heart within her. But the overture had only just begun ; it came up the stairs in gusts as the door below \ *as swung open. She took (me last glance at herself as she passed the glass, to be sure that herwig \‘éLs all right and her 7120mv’w in its proper place, and Went down with the rest. “\Vho is to win the first race ‘3" he asked. NL 31L oxpluined what hml taken place. “I thought Totty wouldn’t agree to draw- i113r lots. ’l'horc’s only one better horse- wonmn in the set, and that’s you. Now, you mustn’t win, my dear.” Nessa looked o1cstfzullc11. “ Do as I ask you there 5 good girl ” Said the 111a11uge1‘,ki11dly. “I know that woman hettm than you ytlo. If you beat her, she “ill nex or forgive you. Your time will 001110 ; but while she’s here, lot 1101‘ will ~will you ‘3” “Look here 1 we draw lots who’s to win in the races.” “You can drzn' as many lots {LS you like, my (10er ; I mean to Win if I can. \Ylmt’s your sentiments, uhunnny ‘2” “I should certainly like to try to win ; it must be such fun,” Nessa replied. “Oh, I don’t see where the fun comes in !” said the girl. “There’s always a row utter a. free scrimnhle.” “I like rows,” said Mrr. Redmond, senâ€" tentiously ; and as she was not to he (lis- suaded from her intention, it was agreed that the races should take the form of (L from “free scramble” within the ordinary ruler}. Nessa, to her great regret, tool; no part in the cotillion ; but being dressed in her amazomzt‘or the coming moo, she strolled out i do the corridor, and there met Mr. us. He patted her shoulder, and ran off with a nod of recognition. It called for all her self-command to keep in the rear when the ‘aeo was run, and some skill too, for Nessa’s mare was as eager for victory as she; but she came in last, and went off with the girls, envying Mi‘s. Redmond, who had won the bouquet, and was slowly trotting round the arena to the applause of the audienceâ€"the only individual recognition to he won. Mrs. Redmond won two races out of the three on Tuesday. No one could have been more amiable than she was to Nessa. “ I should like to see you win= ehunimy,” she said. “ \Vould you, truly?” asked Nessa. “Oh, I mean what I say : you’ll get into the know of it by-andâ€"by; but, of course, you can’toxpoct to do anything for some time especially with such an old screw as that mare. You see, Fergus is bound to give the best mount to the l) ’ 'idt ” It was hmvildering to look down the stairs, into the court below crowded with 11032308 and riders, {Lll glitte ‘ and movement, as they took their places in the pi'ocessinn forming along the main opening. She re- cognized her male, and wondered how she cnuld get to it through all the confusion; but, in reality, there was no confusion at all, and in due course the mare was led up. She was lifted in the saddle, and led to the outside place in the front file, passing Mrs. Redmond, who, to her disgust, had been stuck in the middle of the file behind. “Of course I will if you ask me,” Lessa. The overture was finished, and now there was no sound but the buzzing of voices and the clutter ofhoofs; but the next moment, the conventional three hangs of the drum opening a march were heard, and the grooms scuttled away to take their position at the head of their procession. A few moments of fluttering suspense, and then Nessa perceived a forward movement in front, and the moment after she herself was moving slowly forward. All the lights were up, the hand blazing its loudest as she pass- ed the barrier and came into the :tl'ena. “'hat a sight it was! The galleries pink with human faces, the arena sparkling with the flowing stream of horses and chariots, and men and Women in the gayest appoint- ments that imagination could desire. It was enough to bewildcr a girl who had 1‘ fa yet realised that in such ashow she was no more than “a. pin in a paeket”~â€"as Mrs. Redmond put it. But Nes a kept her head, and remembering her instructions, held her mare in place and looked the audience full in the face. 111 less than ten 111inutcs it 113 1111mm; 111111 the ladies in No. 6 were changing for the next number. fter a. pause in the gene 111 chi/[101‘ of tonmies 3, one of the Ui1ls said, speaking 1101055 the room to \115. Rmiinondâ€" ()11 \V'cdnesduy evening, during the cotil- lion, Fergus knocked at the door, and came into the dressing room where Nessa was “7111711 ‘ “ll-uprcz is 11010 ” he S21id.“Just come 0\ 01 fmm i’miS ~ p? ‘Lly mace eyou. lesec, «km, its like this? I iii/Liter myself on being a bow cubeprezmw', and its chiefly for my said “Pardon me~what is an enlrepreneur ‘2” Nessa asked interrupting him. “\Vell in our business its aman who can spot a good thing and snap it up. The best are those who seize opportunities before there is time for them to escape. I spotted you and determined to get you if I could. That’s why I was so ready to conclude busi- ness with Totty. Now the more I have seen of you the more convinced I am that I was right in my selectionâ€"so convinced that in writing to Dupi‘ez I let myself go about you, with this result that Dupi'ez who is even more anxious than I am to get a good thing has come over partly, as I tell you, to see what you can do. And so I think I shall have to let you go to-night, and risk putting Totty’s nose out of joint.” “Oh, I’m sure She exclaimed, bemning said she should like to services as a. smarL entrepreneur that Duprez has made me his right hand man.” “Oh, I’m sure she won’t mind,” Nessa. exclaimed, beaming with delight. ‘ She said she should like to see me win.” “All, well; she’ll have 1101‘ wish grat fled to-night, 01'1’111 mi stzikun. (lo steady, take your top leap wide, and keep cool.” Nessa was glad that Illere was half an hour to wait, for at that moment she felt that she had not the strength to keep her seat in the saddle. The Paris correspondent of the London Truth has been laboring to convince the readers of that journal thth they would live longer and do more and better \vmk if they would exercise 2» wise :rbstemiousncss in the matter of eating. To the general w mkness found among Incn of being too good to thenr solvosiwhcn they can Ell'l-(il‘tl itwho charges a llxatorinl shortening of life, as well as {L pre- mature decline of intellectual power and pro- gress towards sonility. Instanccs are cited in which men when they were poor aml could not atlowl‘ t0 pander to their :Lppu‘uitcs (lid 1 x 1 flated in speech and bereft of all sense of the ridiculous when digesting either repast.” The question is then asked, “Who were the great victors 0f the eighteenth century? Voltaire, who lived on coffee, and had too weak a stomach to hear much food; \Vash- ington who was spare and absteinious ; and at the Revolution, the people of Paris, who were stervelings. Stanley greatly explains his success when he says that all he wants is a. crust of bread, a. mouthful of meat when he can get it, and a. cup of tea. The Scotch were a preverhially hungry people when they turned India into a British depend- eney.” “Better not tell Tony that Dupl'cz is in the house; and don‘L mention my name,” said Fergus, in parting. ; . , ,. _ _ good work, but that grmving rich and hav- ing the means to gratify their tastes, their work was deteriorated in quality. Victor Hugo is referred to in illust mtimi. Nays this correspondent:~~“I attribute the ext‘zmr- dium‘y difference in quality in the early and late works of Victor Hugo to hishm‘ing only scant meals when he wrote the farmer and to his having plentiful and delicious ones, to which he did the fullest justice, when he turned out the hitter. Victor Hugo was spiritual before lunch or dinner, he was in- So Nessa on]y said in a quiet tone to her friend that she would try her besL to win, without saying why. “That’s 'l'ight, chummy,” said Mrs. Refl- mond, with the 11Jag1mnimity ofone who has nofele‘ofdofeut. “Do yourbost, dear.” “I will,” said Nessa, quietly. (TO BE CONTINUED.) The question mised l)_’ this Frenchman is 1111 interesting:r one, and has its ]) {Letieal hearings as well. It e1 Lnnot he decided how- ever hy 11. few solitm 11 e\21111ples, chosen from among those, who While they have lived lentr and done «00d weik, 11111 0 also been ztlistemious l>efore1b1ny «reneiétl conclusion can he 1111i\ ed :11; one would 10(111ire to know something of the habits, 111 this iespect, of the 111et1tc111111y of brain 1101118115, past and 111L5Lnt, oi the statesmen, the philosophers, the seientists, the 111111111151, the meters, 11110 11111 e distinguished themselves in their respective SI)l\el‘.CS It 11111y he g1 11111911, as indeed it is 101) patent to be denied that 11111111 men shorten their days 11nd (lull their wits by ewess in e11tin<v by gornmndizing upon rich and fat foods 111 ithout {111V 1011'1rtl to climatic or phy sie L111 conditions ; it may even he 11111111ted that. the 0L1t0<1en111i11n, Mr. lmrtlieleiny Saint- Hilaire, who thou<d1 ei11'ht1-f0u1 “works 113 h.11 d and with 115. little fatirrue 11$ e1e1 he did in his life, spoke truly 11th he Claimed “ that ei1il- i/ed 1111111 eats tlu (111 times 111111 e than he needs when not eheeked hy 11111 ert1 ;" but that one 8 days 11 mild ln' lengthened or the quality of one" \1'o1l; i111p1med or mndered more sntisfaetorv by adoptine the Stanley regimen of “ 11. e111st «>1 h1t111d :1 mouthful of 1110th and 11 cup of ten’ ’is open to serious question. Nevertheless, the letter of the Paris eorrtspondent will not 1111111 heen “Jitten in 1.1111 i111111'oftl1e111111111111111111001' 11110111110 heeu (llsphsed tn en\y the rich 11111111118 s11111ptuous din11e1s1111d numerous Viands are thereby induced to he more Con« tented with their humhle let. Referring to the marriage of H. M. Stan- ley with Miss 'l‘ennant, the Chatham, N.B., ll'ar/ol feels moved to say : “ Our notion is that one of the dusky princesses of Darkest Africa, who would look upon him as a demi- god and speak only when spoken to, would be a more congenial domestic partner for Mr. Stanley, and that some less distinguish- ed man would be more likely to make Miss Dorothy Tennant happy and contented as a Wife.” At least this opinion has the merit of variety. The excessive praise that has been bestowed upon Mr. Stanley ever since he emerged from the Dark Continent, the liberal space devoted by the press to an enâ€" umeration of his daring exploits, thrilling adventures, and wonderful discoveries, had begun to render the story somewhat monot- onous. Even honey will pal], and a taste of vinegar may be a most agreeable (-hai g). Besides, it is conceivable that Mr. Stanley himselfvas in danger of becoming unduly pulled up, and of flattering himself that none so great as he had gone before, and that after him no successor worthy of his mantle Would arise. It is well tor one, no matter how distinguished, to remember that perfection helm ‘ not to mortals. Therefore, the thanks the publieare due to tlze ll’o'r/(Z for this d ‘ordant note which helps to make the music more enjoyable; While, no doubt, l\lr. Stanley will fcclgrate- ful for being reminded of the difference be- tween a great and successful explorer, and a kind and appreciative husband. It is such a consolation to know that one does not labor in vain, or spend one’s strength for naught. 0vcr-Imiulgcmtc in Food. A, Partner [01- Stanley.