shall be no duels fought for me. Though my bridal bed should be my grave, I shall be true to my word. The bare suspicion of my inconstancy would turn poor Alfred mad. I know how he doats upon me. I must go to the altar, Alice, like a lamb to the slaughter. Were I to refuse him, you may depend upon it he would put an end to his existence with five loaded pistols. Only think of that, Alice; what could I say for myself, were his remains found in his bed some morning?" History does not report what Alice said her mistress might, under such circumstances, say for herself, but it is certain that they remained talking together till the third dinner bell rang.

The Fitzclarences were both true to their engagement. Notwithstanding every exertion, however, on the part of the two old gentlemen, they could not exactly bring about that "flow of soul" which they had hoped to see animating the young people. At length, after the cloth was removed, and a few bumpers of claret had warmed Sir Meredith's heart, he said boldly,

"Julia, my love, as Alfred does not seem to be much of a wine-bibber, suppose you show him the improvements in the gardens and hot-houses, whilst we sexagenarians remain where we are, to Idrink to the health of both, and talk over a few family matters."

Alfred, thus called upon, could not avoid

rising from his seat, and offering Julia his arm. She took it with a blush, and they walked off together in silence.

"How devotedly he loves me!" thought Julia, with a sigh. "No, no, I cannot break his heart." "Poor girl!" thought Alfred, bringing one of the curls of his whiskers more killingly over his cheek; "her affections are irrevocably fixed upon me; the slightest attention calls to her face all the roses of Sharon."

They proceeded down a long gravel walk, bordered on both sides with fragrant and flowery shrubs; but, except that the pebbles rubbed against each other as they passed over them, not a sound was to be heard. Julia, however, was at length observed to hem twice, and we understand that Fitzclarence politely coughed an acknowledgement of the said hems. The lady stopped, and plucked a rose. Fitzclarence stopped also, and plucked a jonquil. Julia smiled; so did Alfred. Julia's smile was chased away by a sigh, Alfred immediately sighed too. Checking himself, however, he saw the absolute necessity of commencing a conversation.

"Miss Appleby !" said he at last.

"Sir?"

"It is two years, I think, since we parted."

66

Yes, two years on the fifteenth of this month." Alfred was silent.

"How she adores me!" thought he; " she can tell to a moment how long it is since we last met.” There was a pause.

"You have seen, no doubt, a great deal since you left Malhamdale ?" said Julia.

"O! a very great deal!" replied her lover. Miss Appleby hemmed once more, and drew in a vast mouthful of courage.

"I am told the ladies of England and Ireland are much more attractive than those of Wales."

Generally speaking, I believe they are."

"Sir?"

"That is I mean

the

I beg your pardon truth is I should have said that-that-you

have dropped your rose."

Fitzclarence stooped to pick it up; but in so doing, the little miniature which he wore round his neck escaped from under his waistcoat, and, though he did not observe it, it was hanging conspicuously on his breast, like an order, when he presented the flower to Julia.

"Good heavens! Alfred, that is my cousin Rosalind !"

"Your cousin Rosalind! where? how? the miniature! It is all over with me! The murder is out! Lord bless me! Julia, how pale you have grown; yet hear me! be comforted. I am a very wretch; but I shall be faithful; do not turn away, love; do not weep; Julia! Julia! what

is the matter with you? By Jove! she is in hysterics; she will go distracted! Julia! I will marry you! I swear to you by-"

"Do not swear by any thing at all," cried Julia, unable any longer to conceal her rapture, "lest you be transported for perjury. You are my own -my very best Alfred!"

66

Mad, quite mad," thought Alfred.

"I wear a miniature, too," proceeded the lady; and she pulled from the loveliest bosom in the world the likeness, set in brilliants, of a youth provokingly handsome, but not Fitzclarence.

"Julia!"

"Alfred!"

"We have both been faithless!"

"And now we are both happy."

-

"By St. Agatha ! we are only I cannot help wondering at your taste, Julia; that stripling has actually no whiskers!"

"Neither has my cousin Rosalind; yet you found her irresistible."

"Well, I believe you are right, and besides, de gustibus I beg your pardon, I was going to quote Latin."

"FRUITS IN THEIR SEASONS".
"STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM."

"Those golden summer fruits,
How beautiful they are!

Than all that went before

Than all spring's flowery store,

Ah! lovelier far.

Oh precious, precious moments !"

AWAY with thee, blithe April! away with thee into the green churchyard of the past! Thou art of those whom we love, yet can part from with scarce a sigh! Thou art the young Aurora of the year hastening to tell of brighter hours, and even as thy soft voice whispers of their coming, they steal upon us, and thou art forgotten in their effulgence.

Away with thee, bright May! I am an angler, and I love thy glancing streams winding down the hills, where not a lingering snow-wreath dares to tempt the brightness of thy skies! I am an angler, and I owe thee, sweet May! many an hour's