QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 43. PRAIRIE.-The interesting question answered in September, "Where are the largest trees in England to be found?" has drawn forth several more responses from correspondents. EVA writes: "There are in the churchyard of Cudham, in Kent, two yew trees, one of which measures, at four feet from the ground, 21 feet in circumference; and in the park of Penshurst Place, in Kent (Lord de Lile's), there is one very fine oak and many large beech trees. The Cedars of Lebanon also, in the Duke of Devonshire's grounds at Chiswick, are of enormous size, and of great age and beauty." 44. MRS. GILLGREY.-HOW TO CHANGE PAPER INTO PARCHMENT.-To produce this transformation take unsized paper, and plunge it into a solution of two parts of concentrated sulphuric acid combined with one of water, withdraw it immediately, and wash it in clean water, and the change is complete. It is now fit for writing, for the acid supplies the want of size, and it becomes so strong, that a strip two or three inches wide will bear from sixty to eighty pounds weight, whilst a strip of ordinary parchment of the like size would only bear twenty-five pounds.-ALEXANDER ERSKINE. 2. This is an impossibility, as paper and parchment are composed of totally different materials, but a near imitation of parchment may be made by steeping paper in a strong solution of alum, letting it dry, and then steeping it again. By this process the paper acquires a yellowish tinge, and becomes much tougher than before, and, moreover, quite incombustible. It is, however, very rough, and extremely difficult to write on.BLANCHE ALSINGTON. 45. E. K.-THE BEST METHOD OF DISPOSING OF SILKWORMS' SILK.-Unless in a very large quantity it would be difficult to find a purchaser, as the silk imported from the Continent is much superior both in colour and quality to any made in England. It may, however, be used in making various little fancy articles, such as book-markers, or gummed on card in various devices, which have a very pretty effect.-BLANCHE ALSINGTON. 46. JANE ANNE.-HOW TO TOAST WELL.-Stir the fire until there is a clear, glowing surface, free from flame or smoke; cut the bread moderately thick, and do not hold it close to the bars, but at such a distance as to see when it is beginning to burn; move it gently up and down until the whole surface is a clear uniform brown; when thoroughly toasted, serve it up as quickly as possible before it has time to cool.-BLANCHE ALSINGTON. 47. CRESUS.-To PREVENT INK FROM DAMAGING STEEL PENS.-Throw, either into the inkstand or the bottle in which the ink is kept, a few nails, broken bits of steel pens (not varnished), or any piece of iron not rusted. The corrosive action of the acid contained in the ink is expended on the iron introduced, and which is soon covered, by the decomposition of the sulphate of copper, with the coppery hue observable on metallic pens used with common ink. The ink will not now affect the pen; or, should it still do so, it will only be necessary to add more iron, and the mischief will be entirely remedied. 48. BEZA.-WATER-CRESSES.-"I have heard that a free use of this vegetable will cure 'consumption. I should like to know whether this is true, and how I can keep them fresh, as I find it difficult to get them often."-We have heard of some persons in delicate health having derived much advantage from eating this wholesome vegetable, and it is possible that consumptive patients may have obtained relief from the sar The cresses will keep fresh some source. if kept in brine made with common salt water. 49. D. F.-PARLIAMENT.-This word is g rally considered to be derived from the Frenc parler, to speak. "It was first applied," s under Louis the Seventh, in France, about the Blackstone, "to general assemblies of the Sta middle of the twelfth century." The earliest mention of it in the statutes is in the preamble to the Statute of Westminster, A. D. 1272. 50. "A MOTHER."-If "A Mother" will dissolve some alum in water, and rinse the clothes in the solution after each wash, she will succeed in her desire.-ROLANDO. 51. A. G.-CHARACTERS TO SERVANTS.-" "Is a person who gives an untrue character of a ser vant liable to punishment? and am I compelled, by law, to give a character when I cannot in conscience do so?"-By an act of parliament, passed in the reign of George the Third, an individual giving a false character of a servant is exposed to an action if any ill consequences occur from such conduct. No master or mistress is obliged to give a character, to a discharged do mestic. ELIE ALARMED BY THE APPEARANCE OF ARTHUR. ELIE AND HER SHADOW. CHAPTER XIII. THE RETURN. by Mr. Thomson, and there was evident suspicion in it of foul play on the part of Arthur, who was desired to reply instantly, with all the information he could give of his parting with his former assoFOLLOWING briefly the steps of Arthur ciate. Scarcely had he read it, and Wilkins in Australia, our veracious nar- formed his resolutions in consequence, rative beholds him gloomily pondering when one of the chief general merchants over the letter informing him of Charley's of South Australia, to whose oversight strange disappearance. It was written the London banker had, in confidence, s committed Arthur, came to him with another open letter, in which Mr. Thomson communicated his suspicions of Charley's fate, and requested that Arthur might be strictly questioned, and that full particulars of his answers might be transmitted to England. But Arthur was sullen and silent, and was placed under a sort of friendly arrest until further instructions could be received from London. Late on the second evening of his seclusion in the merchant's residence, Arthur managed to escape, leaving a few lines written to say that he was going to the gold-fields. During four years after that escape Arthur Wilkins, under different names, wandered to and fro in Australia and other countries, restless as Cain, tortured by an evil conscience, by the keen regrets of a spirit framed for the best aspirations, and unable to find comfort anywhere. He travelled by land and by sea; he crossed mountains; he swam over lakes; he attempted many other ways than gold-digging for "making haste to be rich;" he joined the Indians; he plunged into the wars of the Mexicans; and, lastly, formed one of a crew of a slaveship, which did a good stroke of business between Northern Africa and Porto Rico in the far west; but the slaver was captured by an English man-of-war, and Wilkins assisted in the capture instead of in the defence, and returned to England in the man-of-war, with good prestige, having acted as captain's interpreter on several important occasions; for Arthur's excellent education, and quickness as a linguist, did him good service. His equivocal position on board the slave-ship he had well explained-he had been pressed into the service unwillingly. appointed, her duty being to watch for slavers. Wilkins was on leave of absence for one month, at the end of which time he was bound by contract to return to the ship, and sail with it on a long and uncertain voyage to Africa and South America. The slim figure of the genteel youth had expanded into mature and dignified proportions. His formerly delicate features were no longer delicate, but were darkened in complexion, coppery like an Indian's, and half hidden by a beard of unusual size for a young man of fourand-twenty. The graceful symmetry of his form was striking, and many that passed by him on London Bridge on the first day of his landing glanced back admiringly to catch a second view of the handsome foreign-looking seaman, in blue jacket and scarlet shirt, who walked with the air of a prince, carrying his head and his magnificent beard of glossy wavy black high in the air. His head was covered by a cap, bearing the badge of the "Lightning," and the leather peak fastened on its front rim drooped low over his eyes. The seaman had rings in his ears and on his hands, which were white and tapering, looking more like those of a scholar than a sailor. To and fro he paced on London Bridge, sometimes jostling among the crowd, sometimes standing still by the parapet to look at the river and the shipping. Could we read what was passing in his mind! His memory was tracing many pictures-the ashes of old feelings were kindling into new life. He was longing, yet dreading, to make inquiries respecting old friends. Those proud, quick, brilliant, dark eyes of his, glaring from under the black leather cap-shade, appeared to be intently gazing on a coal barge that was being unloaded at the river side; but instead, there was before him a darkened field, a long line of park fence, painted white, And thus, after four years of absence from his native land, Arthur Wilkins returned, and stood upon English soil once more, so changed in appearance, that he could hardly be recognized. Hea stile, and a group of quiet, innocent now held a respectable appointment as interpreter of H.M.S. the "Lightning," for several languages and dialects spoken about the coasts of those parts of the world to which the "Lightning was sheep. The proud eyes were looking threateningly on a brotherly, kindly, pleasant face, on eyes that were moistened in sympathy for him; and what are the words that ring now in Arthur's ears-and whose is the voice that speaks to him so touchingly? "Arthur, if I can serve you in any way, do tell me, for, as Heaven is my witness, there is only one person living whom I love better than I love you; and I am very unhappy on your account." The proud heart of Arthur was beating strongly. "Why did he dare to prate to me of love and friendship? Did I want him? Certainly not. Would he had never, never crossed my path! Would that he had perished in the ditch where he was first found!" with the farmer, and of the love of Elie, Arthur was transformed into a creature of Satan, capable of cruelty-of crime. The coal barge was emptied of its freight; the foreign-looking blue-jacket, with the red shirt and large wavy beard, sauntered through the ancient famous. city. He inspected the shops of Fen-church Street, of Cheapside, and of St.. Paul's Churchyard. A side door of St.. Paul's stood open, and he entered and examined the statues and tombs. Next he went down to see the vaults. He had been some time below, and, resting his And yet another picture and another back against a damp sloping wall, rises before those deep dark eyes. He amused himself with the sepulchral has just come back from school for the echoes of his own voice, when a cold holidays-he peeps in at the window of sweat suddenly broke out on his forean evening academy kept by an Edmon- head; he cast a wild glance around him, ton schoolmaster of repute for classical and hurried back toward the stairs leadattainments. There sits Charley, a lading up to the nave. Charley Murdoch of fourteen, working with bright and cheerful energy at his books. Arthur taps at the pane and beckons him. Ah! what a remorseful remembrance gushes over Arthur's proud and guilty heart of Charley Murdoch's affectionate, delighted face-his rush out-his warm grip of the hand-his eager pouring out of home news! had spoken to him in those dismal echoes; and he had seen, or fancied that he had seen, the bleeding form of the amiable companion of his boyhood standing in the midst of a funeral vault, just visible in the half twilight admitted through an open grating in a vaulted passage beyond. "I am a superstitious fool," muttered Again Charley and he are riding the Arthur, when he found himself again in farmer's favourite mare and colt; away the open nave. "Human life has not they gallop on a race along the road and been so much valued in the places where green lanes. Charley's hearty, merry I have served, that I should be so soft laugh does one good. Again they are and womanish about one human specitalking together, sitting among the men that it has been my ill-luck to have heaps of new-mown hay. Arthur hears quenched in darkness so long ago. I with surprise how much Charley has wonder how it would answer for my learned at the evening school, and in soli- South American or Indian comrades to tary study in the long winter evenings. be haunted by all those who have felt His own expensive education is surpassed the cold touch of their knife or dagger, in depth and utility by this poor boy's or the hot rush of their revolver bullets; efforts, which have cost no more than a but when one comes back to a civilized few pence weekly. Strangely-mixed country like England, one's very nature emotions return out of the past to trouble seems to change and grow timorous. I Arthur's haughty nature. Unbounded suppose it is the dread of discovery shakes admiration of the poor young scholar's me so, and the uncertainty too of the achievements in knowledge; love for his whole matter. I have never heard yet tender, humble, sympathetic nature; of the finding of the body; yet it must and wild, envious, proud hate, that he have been found, for he could never have the young gentleman of the house-lain all this while unseen in that field should be surpassed by poor dependent Charley; and when to this feeling was added jealousy of his great influence pond. Yet it is barely possible. I have watched the newspapers too well to have overlooked any information. The disap pearance alone has been talked of and inquired after, and if the body remains undiscovered I am safe; for who knows but he may have gone at the same time as myself to Australia, or to some other foreign country? Yes, yes, I am quite safe so long as the body is not found. So away with fear and fearful fancies!" A party of seven ladies and gentlemen entered the Cathedral, and with reverential steps proceeded to view the monu. ments. They walked past the foreignlooking seaman, who was intently occupied with the statue of Dr. Johnson. Two of the gentlemen of this party had been his schoolfellows at the boardingschool at Enfield, and he had been often in their society in London; and it was with great satisfaction that he found himself unrecognized by them. To test the change in his appearance still further, he turned and faced the party, and then leaving the Cathedral, waited outside until his former acquaintances came forth, when he addressed them uncovered, as of course he had been in the inside of the building. "I beg pardon, but could you direct me the way to Regent Street? I am an American, a stranger in London." Arthur looked both gentlemen full in the face, and he spoke without any attempt to disguise his natural tones, but not the slightest sign of recognition appeared in the manner of either as they courteously directed him. "That will do," thought Arthur, his courage rising. Before he left St. Paul's Churchyard he came to an abrupt stand before a stationer's window, for his quick eye, and his quicker heart, had perceived in the shop a lady very elegantly attired, whom he would have known in an instant among ten thousand. She had been making purchases, and as Arthur waited at the window he saw the obsequious attentions paid to her by the chief of the shop, who escorted her to a carriage that was drawn up by the side of the pavement. On either side of the open carriage door stood a yellow-liveried man-servant. In this style, with perfect grace and dignity, the lady entered the carriage, the steps were folded up, and the door closed. The stationer then drew near to take some directions from his distinguished cus tomer, and as he did so, Arthur's eyes and Elie's met. There was a mutual shock-as Arthur felt and saw. A mist of darkness and of fear fell over him; and a rushing noise ran through his brain, so that he could hardly hear the rattle of the carriage wheels as they dashed past him over the stones. Presently he rallied, and seeing an errand boy beside him, who had just come out with an armful of brown paper parcels, rather hurriedly asked, "Whose was that stylish carriage that stood here just now ?" 'Lady Penmarthen's," answered the youth; and observing the eager curiosity of the seaman, he paused to add, "That was Lady Elie Penmarthen you saw go into the carriage." Arthur felt choked. "A married lady ?" "No," answered the youth, who was proud of the aristocratic connections of the house he served. "Lady Elie is daughter to Lord Penmarthen, of Penmarthen, a Cornish Peer. I'm now going to Lady Elie's town house with these packages." Finding him disposed to be communicative and affable, the American seaman walked on by the side of the brown paper parcels along Ludgate Hill, Fleet Street, and the Strand, engaging the red-haired, sickly-looking errand boy in talk to beguile the way, and pretending to be an entire stranger to the great metropolis. Under the impression that this was the case, the parcel bearer made it his business to do the honours of the streets, and Arthur listened as to an oracle. "Now," said the lad, "here's Charing Cross, and I'm going along the Ornamen tal Gardens, past the Queen's Palace." "Well, if you don't mind," said Arthur, "I'll go along with you, and have a look at it. I'm off to sea again in a few days, and should like to tell my friends over the Atlantic that I have seen Queen Vic's London palace." So they went together past Buckingham Palace, through Pimlico, and into s spacious and stately square, surrounded |