Beatrice.

those " fantastic atoms " ancl " coloured particles " which fill np the scene of this patchwork ancl disjointed stoiy . But so it is , and , as every tale must have an end , that of Beatrice must come to a close . Tes , I fear ancl feel it is time that the ciirtain falls , the lights disappear , the gay puppets disport themselves no more on the sportive stage . As their humble , if pleasant , shadows vanish from my gaze 1 claim the story-teller ' s privilegewhether of

, , east or west , to fill up the scanty and incomplete outline with a few pre-Raphaelite touches of minutest colouring and concluding detail . " Beatrice , " like a good many other stories I have read , will have , let me hope , a little interest for some one , ancl so , if only one charitable soul is touched b y the words of the writer , for that kind patron , to say nothing of my good friend the publisherI will just add a few " touches of the pencil" and then offer

, , the completed picture to the lenient criticism of the thoughtful and the just . They say " after the calm comes the storm , " or " vice versa . " I think it matters little , as both propositions and axioms are equally true , and equall y sound ; and so , after all these "preliminary preludes , " and after these " animated skirmishes , " the more serious business of all begins .

First of all , there arose in Cayley a dreadful rumour that Mr . Miller , the rich old widower , was actually going to marry the still good-looking and genial widow , Mrs . Mortimer . I am not going to stay to enter upon that solemn topic— " Ought widows to marry ? " Suffice it to say , that widows do marry every day , and I fancy that , on tbe whole , society is none the worse for such unions . Indeed , a good deal may be said on the advantages of marrying a widow " per se" but this is just one of those " moot points " on which no

, two people agree . There are , it is clear , " widows and widows , " and though I do not prof ess ever to be above " sentiment" or beneath " principle , " I yet do not see , if all is suitable ancl pleasant , why the widow , after a " proper period , " may not again become the helpmate of an admiring husband . But I speak with diffidence on the subject , believing that opinions generally vary , whether male or femaleon this knotty problem of our social life . HoweverDame

, , Rumour for once was true , ancl Mr . Miller actuall y did marry Mrs . Mortimer , to the astonishment of some , the amusement of others , the sneers of a few , and the warm congratulations of very many . Mr . Miller was a " canny Scotchman , " ancl knew well what he was about when he obtained for himself a

kindly and comely woman to do the honours of his hospitable board , ancl soothe his temper , and attend to his comfort when he had a fit of the gout . I am afraid that the " superior creation " is a very selfish one after all ! Beatrice married the " man of her heart , " and has never repented of her bargain . I wish all poor girls were equally fortunate . It wounds me to the heart often to note the "shipwreck" which some make of their happiness through simulated affection or ideal sentiments . "All is not gold that litters" and there

g , may be a feigned flattery of emotional sensibility which is too often assumed to be "love , " and is incorrectl y deemed to be affection . How soon does " reality " strip off the " varnish " of hasty passion or craft y interest . I am bound to say , that no reall y happier couple exists anywhere than Beatrice and her husband ; and there is a small Beatrice of whom her husband thinks

almost as much as he does of her statelier prototype . Mr . Lacey , of course , married Kate Merewether , and a better-looking or more contented pair you cannot meet anywhere to-day , even when marriages are hasty , ancl couples often ill assorted enough . Some of us may remember a charming picture of Mrs . Lacey wdiich adorned the walls of the Academy last season . Miss Jane Moriey ancl Twamley are , perhaps , as two thoroughly happy personages as can be found in Her Majest ' s "Dominions .

y She married for worth , talent , a good heart , ancl a true man , and mutual affection , ancl she had her reward . Twamley is as gay as ever , ancl the last joke I have heard of was , that when he was told that his dear Jane had borne the huppy " sposo " " twins , " his onl y repl y was , " Well , that is a strongish order . "