gave him confidence in his powers, by showing him his superiority over others. She was his tender comforter, his companion, and his friend.

There are some men, and women too, who throughout their lives preserve a child-like simplicity of thought and feeling-who, by their own firesides are again happy boys and girls. Gathorne Trenmore was one of these men, for on his own hearth he was no more than a great schoolboy, petted and indulged in every whim that his fancy could devise.

The next day a fly stopped at the door of Julius's lodgings, and the servant-maid, carrying a couple of cards between the corner of her apron and her thumb and finger, entered the Cardonizzis' sitting-room.

"Here's a carriage at the door," said the girl, "and the gentleman in it gave me these for you," and she presented the two cards.

Mr. and Mrs. Gathorne Trenmore," read Julius, his face flushing with pleasurable surprise.

"What! coming up into our sitting-room?" asked Emma, suddenly dropping her sewing and beginning to tremble. "Of course," rejoined Julius, putting up his collar, and drawing down the wrist-bands of his shirt.

"Oh, Clo', put these things out of sight!" cried 'Rina, thrusting away the stockings she had been busily employed in darning.

"And you little ones go into your sisters' chamber," said Emma, putting her young children into the next apartment, "and don't make a noise; be as quiet as mice."

The girl was despatched to show the visitors up-stairs, and after the lapse of a few minutes, Mr. and Mrs. Trenmore were ushered into the room.

Emma sat bewildered and amazed. Was she really awake? Was Mr. Trenmore actually offering 'Rina and Clotilda an engagement in his theatre, in the long-dreamed-of London ? Emma listened with rapt attention. Mrs. Trenmore was speaking in praise of Emma's daughters. How sweet the lady's musical voice sounded to the fond mother's ear. her eyes full of tears she timidly stole a glance at her husband and children; as she did so, the warm blood mounted to her wan cheeks, and her heart throbbed quickly

With

Mr. Trenmore said he could not offer Julius and his wife any situation at present, as all his arrangements were completed.

Emma turned pale as she listened. Good Heavens! was she to be separated from those beings to whom she was bound by links of the tenderest and fondest affection? Would Julius suffer their treasures to go forth into the world without protection?

Clotilda, who guessed what thoughts were passing through her mother's mind, crept noiselessly round to her chair, and pressed a warm kiss on her trembling lips. "Hush, mamma!" whispered Clo'; control your feelings; don't let 'Rina see that you are pained."

Emma clasped the little hand that had fallen on hers. Precious to the mother was the touch of those slender fingers. 'Rina's face glowed with pleasure, she did not mark her mother's sad looks, nor the tear that trickled down her careworn cheek.

Mr. Trenmore was actually writing out the articles of their engagement.

Emma responded to all Mrs. Trenmore's questions in her usual mild, but nervous manner: she dreaded to offer a suggestion-she had no will she was never consulted; and now even, in a matter in which the welfare of her daughters was so deeply concerned, she dared not utter an opinion, or breathe a word.

The engagement was signed by the parties interested, and Mr. and Mrs. Gathorne Trenmore departed.

"Julius, are these dear girls to be parted from us?" asked Emma, the moment the door was closed upon their visitors. "For a time-until a vacancy occurs for us," rejoined he. "And you will willingly let them go forth alone?" asked Emma, gathering courage.

"Till they have made a certain position. You see, their salaries, for the first year, will be but small; by-and-by they will be able to make their own terms."

"Suffer me to go with them," entreated she, clasping her tremulous hands. "Are you mad?" inquired he; "what's to become of the other children?"

Emma sank back in her chair, and began to sob bitterly.

Clotilda caressed her mother, while 'Rina looked out of the window in gloomy abstraction. Julius stole behind his favourite, and stroked her hair.

"Father!" murmured she, turning her face towards him: Julius made an impatient movement. Why was 'Rina weeping in secret?

CHAPTER XIX.

JULIUS was disappointed: this was not the brilliant engagement he had anticipated for his 'Rina. He had speculated wildly, as Mr. Trenmore had proved to him in his conversations respecting the state of the profession in London. Julius now perceived that it was necessary for an actor to gain a reputation in the metropolis before he could command his own terms; for he who was thought great in the provinces might perhaps not be listened to in town-at least, not in such characters as he had hitherto played, and considered as his own particular line of business.

The next morning Julius gave Mrs. Godfrey notice that his daughters were about to join Mr. Trenmore's company in London.

"I'll not take the notice!" cried Mrs. Godfrey, bouncing out of her room to the stage, Julius following her.

"Our articles of agreement specify that six weeks' notice will be required by either party."

"Well, what if they do?" asked the manageress. "I now give you six weeks' notice," replied Julius. "I'll not take it!" exclaimed she, giving her bonnet a push; "I tell you again, and again, I'll have nothing to say to you! You're crazy! stark staring mad, to think of leaving me! Just reflect upon the business the girls are doing! Don't I give 'em all the good parts, whether they are in their line or not?"

Julius shrugged his shoulders.

"Plague take you! can't you answer me?" said she, taking snuff, and passing the box to Julius. "Has Mr. Trenmore offered the twigs a higher salary than I give 'em, eh?" inquired she, somewhat softening her tone. "Lud, lud! it's an awful world! people seem to live for nothing but filthy lucre, drat it!"

"Certainly, Mr. Trenmore will pay my daughters a higher salary than you pay them-higher than you could afford to give them."

"Speak about what you understand!" snapped Mrs. Godfrey; "mind your pirouettes and capers, and don't presume to tell me what salaries I can afford to pay." "I don't desire to offend you, Mrs. Godfrey."

"Who said you did?" asked she; "I'm not in a passion ! -I'm calm, and I'm talking reasonably! Now, listen : I'll make an advance of a pound a-week, and we'll say no more about the girls leaving me."

"Impossible, Mrs. Godfrey; I have signed articles with Mr. Trenmore."

"What!" exclaimed she, pulling violently at her bonnet ; "signed articles, have you? Oh, you sneak-you poltroon!" "Madam!"

"Ay, swell Mr. Puff! - Mr. Love-money!" "This language, Mrs. Godfrey"

"Oh, ill use me!" cried she, bursting into a passion of angry tears; "I'm only a lone woman, struggling for a crust of bread. But you'll rue the day you quitted my theatre-ah, you will! What parts do you imagine your girls will ever get in Mr. Trenmore's theatre? Bah! his wife will take all that are good for anything, and as to comfort-tush! Trenmore is the greatest fidget alive! Your girls will get so frightened that they'll stop growing-ah, you may stare! I'm not romancing. The slips are in tolerable condition at the present moment; see 'em six months hence, and you'll not know 'em, for they'll have fretted the colour out of their cheeks, and all the flesh off their bones."

Julius made no reply.

"Go away! I shan't talk to you, any more!" said Mrs. Godfrey, turning her back upon Julius. "Call the rehearsal, Smith!" she added, addressing the prompter, "and put an end to this foolish discussion. Come here, Ibbitson."

"Yes, madam," said the manager.

"Write directly to Trenmore, about his mean behaviour respecting the Cardonizzis: tell him I'll not let 'em leave me! I'll see him hanged first, there!"

"Very good, madam," replied Ibbitson, making notes in his pocket-book.

"Then write to Liverpool, and ask Copesea to lend me a suit of chain-armour, a battle-axe, and his Wife,'-I mean his marked copy of the 'Wife. "

"Very good, madam."

"And, Ibbitson, give it to Trenmore in first-rate styledo you hear?”

Ibbitson went on writing.

"Drat you-you're a fool!" said Mrs. Godfrey, im-

patiently taking snuff.

No answer.

"A stupid fool!"

"Yes, madam, I've made a note of it," replied he, closing

his pocket-book.

Reader, I will blow the prompter's whistle.

The scene has shifted.

Rehearsal is over, and one by one the actors and actresses leave the theatre.

'Rina lingers in the green-room: she is earnestly conversing with a young man in a linen blouse he is the scenic artist.

"Let me speak to your father," said he; "you will forget me, 'Rina-I shall lose you if you go to London. Let me speak to him."

"No, no, Paul!" replied 'Rina, "I shall not quit Manchester for six weeks; in the mean time I will endeavour to tell mamma about about"

"Our love," said the young artist, drawing her towards him. "It is my place to speak to your father."

"He would not listen to you, Paul," said 'Rina. "Oh, no, no! my father, for a while must be kept in ignorance--" "'Rina, I entreat"

"We shall be separated, at once and for ever, if you persist in your determination of informing my father. I know