After All, Or Thrice Won.

^ Mr . Phane AVUS always polite to his clerks ; it was another of his good points . He believed in the power of civility , and was generally liked in consequence . A request from him was more than a command , ancl suro to be satisfied at once . All fo ! i a pleasure in obliging him . Had be onl y been a little less trustful in erring human nature it mi ght have been better for him . As it was , he relied upon Mr . Bulliker for much of the business , and troubled himself little about

the modus operandi , of arriving at tbe results . It was not that he was careless about them exactly , but he placed too much trust in other people , measuring them hy his own bushel , aud imagining- kindness to Irave an equal effect upon all . Such AIMS his mistaken notion , so sadly to be shattered . He hacl come earl y to the business , ancl by persevering attention to his duties , ancl his general goodwill , he hacl won a way into a partnership . The style of the firm was then Bussal and Phane , Avhich soon , however , by the death of the senior partner , was changed into Phane and Co .

CHAPTER II . Love's young dream . —Moore . To speak figuratively , Arthur Humberton hardl y knew whether he was standiimon his head or bis feet when he left Mr . Phane , full of gratitude in his heart for the kind and unexpected invitation . His joy was visible on his countenance and the

, cause of it was this . He bad several times seen the beautiful daughter of his employer , ancl a few ordinary civilities had been exchanged , during which fleetingglances hacl passed between tiiem , which mi ght or might not mean—worlds ' . For what poetry , ivhat feeling , what soul is there not in a piercing look , Avhose depth of thought is unfathomable ? Who can withstand , unfeelingly , the brightness of a beautiful pair of eyes , especially if those eyes belong to a lovelfemale ?

y No ; under snob- an influence is man a slave ; he knows of no problem worth solving more than the mysterious meaning of those flashing- orbs that have penetrated to his very being . Such an impression and desire bad the soft , liquid-grey eyes of Olivia Phane on Arthur Hum berton . He bad Iono-Avished to knoAv more about the mystic spell that bound him whenever he saw her , and at last tbe opportunity bad arrived . Hence bis joy , which caused him to count the hours minutes '

, ay , , as they drew him nearerto the appointed time . It must not be supposed that Humberton alone was struck with tbe beauty of Miss Phane in her visits to the office . Merrisslope and Recltaper had also noticed her long flowing- amber-coloured hair , so becoming to her , with admiration . Her sweet and gentle manners seen red . to her universal esteem ancl reo-arcl . liven the taciturn Bulliker was not altogether untouched by the condescendinoamiabilitof of '

y one Eve ' s fairest daughters . Perhaps liefelt bow difficult it was to be amiable , and appreciated accordingly one who was capable of so much kindness . Be that as it may , her appearance generally set him thinking , and who shall say that be was not wondering whether his own harsh policy ( even in dealing with the stem realities of this rough ancl unceremonious world ) was the best . His ruminations , however , never seemed to mend his maimers , ancl doubtless he imagined that a kind manner was not in accordance with Ins hairy face .

Memsslopc , though he treated the female sex in a light manner , as quite an interior order of being to its lord ancl master , man ( such was his precocious opinion at the age of eighteen ) , ancl only acknowled ged to be his privileged companion as a special favour , was not , however , dead to the delicate and unobtrusive beaut y of Olivia Phane . To bis credit , be it said , she awoke oeuer sentiments m himand taught himhher

, , y winning appearance and manners alone , that women were not such inferior creatures as be hacl im agined , at least if they were anything like Miss Phane . He eyed her with envious feelings , ancl believed that if she were his he mi ght live a happy life . M