An Old, Old Story.

luncheon . When at that famous ball at Sir Henry Middleton ' s , it had all been cleverly settled by the fathers and mothers that the four should all go together in the omnibus to the dance , and the result Avould seem , humanly speaking , to be necessary

and obvious , Avhat a nuisance it Avas to have that briefless barrister , Mr . Pickersgill , breaking up the " little pie , " by asking for a lift , to save himself , as some one said , the expense of the village fly . How many Avell-laid schemes and kindly

conspiracies has No . 5 destroyed in the past , and disarranges every day . No soouer than by the electric Avire of sympathy Avas Lucy Longhurst's discontent conveyed to the facile dial plate of Colonel Mackintoshand Mr . Mainwaring ' s

ansAver-, ing intelligence , than they set themselves to Avork to put an end to such an unendurable infliction . " What a beautiful day , " said Colonel Mackintosh reflectively , as the Avreath of smoke hovered around his cigarette .

"How enjoyable it is to sit and luxuriously realize one ' s " dolce far niente" under these shady trees . Well , it puts me in mind of a halt Ave once made Avhen Ave were

going up against those Caffresin 18 o 2 , and when our patrol rested for their dinner under some shady trees . But , " added the old Colonel sorroAvfully , " of all that merry band how few remain ; some are lying as they fell before those accursed 'Assegais - . ' some are sleeping in the 'Vale of Gloom ;'

some are resting on the 'Indian plain / some have long since found their " last billet , " and I alone survive . " "Ah , " said Lucy , cheerfully and soothingly to the old man , for she Avas very fond of the " vieux militaire ; " "If you

gentlemen don't care for your party to Richmond , let us stay at home and enjoy the fine afternoon . I will send round and ask the three Miss Moncktons and their brother , and Mr . Main waring Avould perhaps not object to send for Ms friend Mr . Carruthers , who I

think likes Miss Monckton No . 2 very much , and with Mr . Williams Ave shall be four gentlemen and four ladies , and can have a quiet game at croquet , " You , aunt , " she said , turning to Miss Margerison , " can look on Avith Colonel Mackintosh , and talk over mutual friends and " Add kug syne , " aud we can have 0 l w game and some tea at five . "

And here the young lady stopped , as she did not want to say anything about dinner before Mr . Williams . Was not Lucy a clever little manageress ? You see by her skilful flank movement she had completely broken up Mr .

Williams ' s footing in the family gathering , and had reduced his presence amongst them to that of a general acquaintance , a friendly neighbour . Commend me to a clever Avoman for a " tour de force , " or a " coup d ' etat domestique . "

Aud as Mr . MainAvaring undertook to send his groom and trap Avith the message to the Miss Moncktons and Mr . Carruthers , the intended excursion to Richmond Avas at once given up , and poor Mr . Williams saAV by the movement , for he Avas

not destitute of discernment , that Lucy had given him the " cold shoulder , " and that Mr . MainAvaring had cut him out ; for he felt at once that a young curate with three smart young laymen and four merry girls had but little chanceand was placed

, in a false position . Like the dancing parson , the croquet , hunting , archeryloving parson is after all , a subject of great pity to young ladies . Some good-natured girls may encourage a foolish young clergyman by saying they like

to see a parson dancing and goingout to balls and the like ; but they are not speaking truly—it is only a " fagon de parler , " and AA'hen amongst themselves their language of all such is mostly the severest of the

severe . Like the hunting parson in one of Leech ' s inimitable sketches , who is down in the ditch , one hunting man says to the other— " Who ' s that clown , Jack 1 " " Oh , its only the parson , George ! " " Let him lie there" says George ; " % ve shan't want

, him till Sunday . " What a depth of truthful sarcasm in a feAV passing Avords . Young ladies who have ahvays " au fond , " a right vieAV of things , Avish the clergy to be ahvays " spiritual , " not " lay , " and no

greater mistake can be made by a " parson , " under any circumstances , than to ape the habits of fast young men around him . How forcible Avas old Johnson ' s reprobations of the unseemly banter of some " parsons " in his time , who Avished to pass off before him as men of the world . " The merriment of these parsons , " he said , stout 2 A