spirit, he toiled in his new profession till his mother died. Paul then would have quitted the theatre, and devoted himself to his easel, had not love stolen into his breast. To be near 'Rina, to be able to see her, and oftentimes to speak to her, became his ruling desire; so he continued to labour in the scene-loft, thus forcing his ambition to succumb to affection.

CHAPTER XX.

THE family reached Birmingham, where they had to divide. Then came the sad scene of parting. To Emma, the separation from her daughters was a terrible grief; for they were her solace-her pride and joy the beings through whom she derived all the happiness of her life, and without whom the world would seem a blank. True, she had other children, but sons could never fill the place of daughters in Emma's heart; for she was the essence of that feminine sensibility which requires the sympathy and companionship of women soft and gentle as herself. With Julius the case was altogether different: that he loved his daughters was most certain; but his attachment was mixed up with calculations and ambitious longings, therefore deficient in all those material points which constitute pure and devoted affection. His was indeed a hard, worldly nature, selfislı and cold.

It would be an especial benefit to society, and to women in particular, if such men as Julius remained bachelors throughout their selfish existence. Heaven help the woman who marries such a man! for, in so doing, she bids an eternal adieu to every happiness on this side the grave. No matter what she gives up, or how numerous may be her acts of self-denial, he will not love himself a jot the less, or care the more for her. Wrapped in self-worship, he takes all, and gives little; he claims as his peculiar right every sacrifice his wife can make. She is his creature, subservient to his whims, from whom he ever exacts obedient services.

Generally speaking, women tacitly yield to these domestic tyrants, and thereby sink into mere household drudges, and crawl through life like quiet, suffering, patient worms; while their offspring, in nine cases out of ten, proves a wilful headstrong race, who respect neither father nor mother. Children of such parents are often scoffers and infidels : they see no amity at home, and they become hardened outlaws in the world of healthful sentiment and feeling.

As Emma embraced 'Rina and bade her farewell, she gave her a letter; which, after the train was again in motion, the young girls opened. With their arms entwined around each other, and their eyes streaming tears, they perused their mother's letter, couched in the following terms :

"To my daughters, ZARINA AND CLOTILDA.

"I address you, my darling girls, with a trembling, anxious heart. I part from you with sincere sorrow, calmed only by the reflection that our separation, for a time, is inevitable. I have a hope that all will be well with you, for I have full confidence in your industry, probity, and innate goodness. You will have trials, my dear ones-thorns of vexation will beset your onward path; but you must fortify your hearts with patience, and bear uncomplainingly. Let truth be your guiding-star in all things, and you will never stray out of the right road. Should your professional efforts prove successful, which I humbly pray they may, I trust you will not become inflated with pride and arrogance. Treat everybody with consideration and kindness, and you will win both respect and love. I know you have lodgings provided for you by Mrs. Trenmore; therefore on that point I am tolerably at ease. Write to me without reserve. I am sorry my 'Rina has a secret from her father. I cannot bear that he should be deceived or kept in ignorance of anything concerning his children; however, time must unravel the knotted thread, for I have not the courage to do so. Now, with a fond mother's blessing, I bid you both farewell, praying God to watch over my two precious treasures, to whom I say 'Go forth and prosper.'

"Your affectionate mother,

After the lapse of three days Emma received the following from Clotilda :

"MY DEAREST MOTHER, -I have begged 'Rina to let me write our first letter to you, as I know you will like to hear of all we have seen, said, and done, since parting with you, our darling mamma. When we reached London and had gathered our luggage around us, the question was whither we should go. I had lost the card of Mr. Somebody's address, given us by Mrs. Trenmore, so we were quite puzzled how to act in seeking an abiding-place for the present. At length a lucky thought occurred to 'Rina :-you know, mamma, how clever she is that we should procure a cabthat's a fly, mamma,-in which we should drive all over London in search of lodgings. I was to be the spokeswoman in the affair; so I told the policeman at the station that we wanted a cab to drive us about till we could find some respectable furnished apartments. The policeman shook his head, and said, that sort of plan wouldn't do at all; for at that rate we should have a nice sum to pay Mr. Cabby. I then asked him to advise us what we were to do, as we were perfect strangers in London, and were unaccustomed to be travelling alone. He said he thought he recollected having seen a card of furnished lodgings to be let in the Mornington Road; and that we had better go thither at once, as the neighbourhood was highly respectable. Well, mamma, we proceeded a very short distance, then turned into a quiet street, and the cabman pulled up before a large clean-looking house, in which we found a bed-chamber and sitting-room, fit for two little queens. I do wish you could see us in our own home, so independent and grand as we are. Don't fear for us, dearest mother; and pray do not fidget about 'Rina, for I will take care of her; and, in all that I can, I will think and act for her, as you used to think and act. I am such a fine little manager: you would laugh to see the order of my housekeeping; 'Rina gives up everything to me, and I am grown, all of a sudden, quite an important personage. I can assure you, mamma, 'Rina looks up to me, and everybody thinks I am the elder sister; but I don't mind that, so long as I help her, and keep her mind free from all kinds of worry. Though I am not in love, as she is, yet, 'spite of what she says, I do understand her situ

N

ation and sympathize with her deeply. We shall go to the theatre to-morrow, where we shall learn when we are likely to make our appearance, the parts in which we shall open, and other matters. So, for the present, good-bye, mamma. We send our united love to our father, brothers, and, lastly, a score of affectionate kisses to our mother, for whose health and happiness we pray to the Almighty daily.

"CLOTILDA."

With a sigh of pleasure, Emma closed this first letter from her daughters. She felt that the bond of devoted affection that joined their hearts would prove strong and lasting. From childhood the sisters had lived together in undisturbed and perfect concord. On any point of dispute, or difference of opinion, Clotilda, being the younger, had ever yielded to her sister; impressed with a conviction that 'Rina was right in everything. The sisters were now young women, and the same tender ties still connected them. Emma's amiable temper was the model from which her daughters had moulded theirs; so much does a mother's example, good or bad, influence the character and disposition of her children.

The parents shortly afterwards received the following letter from 'Rina :

"MY DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER, - It is now my turn to write to you. How strange it appears to me to note down my thoughts and feelings on paper; I, who never wrote a letter in the whole course of my life. I shall express myself in a stiff and awkward style, but practice will, I hope, improve me in that respect. We attended the meeting of Mr. Trenmore's company in the green-room of his theatre, and were informed that we were to open in a new drama, which is to be produced a month or six weeks hence. Only fancy being allowed a whole month to study one part. In the country a couple of days are deemed a sufficient time to learn the longest character in tragedy or comedy; but here, where actors are so clever, things are arranged very differently. We like Mr. Trenmore exceedingly; he is affable and good-tempered in general matters, but nervous and somewhat irritable in business affairs. We cannot at present express any opinion respecting the members of the company, for we were merely introduced; we held no conversation with any individual save Mr. and Mrs. Trenmore. Tomorrow the drama will be read, then Clo' will write you a long, chatty letter.

"With united love to you all,

"I remain, your affectionate daughter, "ZARINA."

This short epistle, so cold and constrained in its tone, was understood by Emma. She knew well what was the feeling that locked up 'Rina's breast. There was no confidence between the father and his child; hence the embarrassment so apparent in every sentence of this matter-of-fact letter. How unlike was the following, written to her lover:

"MY DEAR PAUL, - You have no need to remind me of our engagement, since it is my joy to remember it. Rest contented, I am your wife in my heart; for I will regard my promises made to you as solemnly and sacredly as vows made at the holy altar. Trust me, dear Paul, for I will never deceive you. I do not like to tell you all this, I wish you to feel it to have confidence in my affection. You fear that I shall change-are women more fickle than men? Ah, no! to you I would say 'Master, go on and I will follow thee to the last gasp with truth and loyalty.' I may be writing with too bold a pen. I may, perchance, be overstepping the prescribed limits of womanly modesty in thus honestly avowing my love; but I am untaught, and ignorant of all worldly fashions, therefore am likely to commit many errors. I will not tease you with any business details. Mamma will forward to you all our letters-I mean all that she may think important enough to be perused by Paul Grahame.

"Your own 'RINA."

The young artist covered the letter with kisses, and at night laid it under his pillow, hoping he might dream of her whose hand had traced the loving characters on that treasured sheet of paper. Wild visions haunted his restless slumbers. Little elves, with wild eyes and mocking laughter, stood