After All, Or Thrice Won.

Therefore he was not sorry that be was invited to her father ' s house on the occasion of her birthday . The office was closed early the next day . Arthur Humberton bad gone to his lodgings ( he had been an orphan five years ) , ancl was cogitating bow be should behave himself in the evening , ancl what deportment would best please the lady of whom ho thought with feelings akin to love . He determined to

make her a small present of flowers , and he went out to purchase them . A small bouquet of roses he deemed would be most acceptable , and accordingly he bought some of the finest be could find , ancl formecf them into a- neat little nosegay . He had never taken such pains with flowers . before , ancl he felt as he arranged their delicate stems , contrasted their blooms , and scented their sweet perfumethat this might indeed prove a passport into the lad ' s good graces .

, y He had an affection for that bouquet beyond all others , and he could hardly believe that such beautiful flowers should fade and die ; ancl then he tried to picture Miss Phane looking old ancl withered ; but it was no use , ancl he could not realize that such must be tbe case in time .

His toilet was as carefully arranged as the bouquet ; Olivia Phane was imprinted on the very manner in which he fastened his necktie . We have all once in our lifetime felt the deli ght of first love . How our blood bounds through our veins , and the whole atmosphere seems to be electric ; bow Ave seem to be invigorated with neiv life , as we are filled with an ecstatic pleasure never experienced before . Nor is it entirely selfish ; our joy springs from tbe idea that we may share with another a mutual happiness . Trula wonderfull

y y subtle and undefiuable sentiment ; ancl there our pen feels weak in attempting to describe it . Master hands have tried and failed . Were it possible to gauge its mystic depths and define its peculiar properties , how much of its charm would there be left ? None .

But we ai-e digressing . Arthur Humberton has already arrived at Mr Phane ' s house , and has been introduced to the other A'isitors , aud is now sitting with them in an elegantly furnished room . An uncomfortable English awkwardness is very observable among- the company , of wliich each individual is painfully aware and yet feels his inability to ' destroy with propriety . A strangely cold reserve surrounds our modern society , with its arbitrary rules aud restrictionswhich none but a bold mancareless of custom and

conse-, , quences , would dare to break throu gh . Alas for society ' s artificial state ancl unreality , and want of brotherly sympathy ancl good fellowship . It is a strange world we live in , full of peculiar humours and fancies . Arthur Humberton ' s flowers had been gracefull y received , and be fancied be detected something more than a look of pleasure as a deep blush suffused tbe face of the fair receiver . Humberton ' s thoughts were therefore fully

occupied as he sat amid the strange company of faces . The passion of love ivas a new one to him , one which he bad never before experienced or imagined ; it was , indeed , his maiden passion . He was busy castle-building Avhen Mr . Merrisslope was ushered in . He had left a box of chocolates for Miss Phane , he also having- wished to render her some sli ght memento of tbe occasion . Recltaper bad brought a pretty little basket of fruit . ; his gift , though refined , inclined to

Avas more the useful than the sentimental . Merrisslope soon made friends , and was lively and chatty before anyone else had time to wear the icy chill of dignity off . A sleek little cat on tbe hearthrug was the object of much solicitation , and engrossed tbe attention of more than half the stoical company . It was wonderful Avhat an influence that tiny cat hacl upon the company ; its little actions of yawningpurringand stretching were things of

, , such interest and . seemingly vital importance to these sober people that the most solemn affairs of State might have been depending- upon its movements . It soon began to play and gambol in a lively manner , at which an involuntary laugh went the round of the room , ancl everybody felt very stupid immediately after for having so committed himself for so trifling- a cause . But a few minutes more