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A MOONLIGHT ESCAPADE, CHAPTER V. It was a week later, and Ktlit I it-ring was making her way through the pine-woo I in the middle of tho uight with a heavy basket on lu-r arm. cully the had in making exi She preferred nuking a mUloight walk ; so, toe next time she had occasion to take Joe hi* food, she hid her basket in s bush on the lawn, and, whi-n she imagined the household was asleep, stole softly down the stairs and out through a little j-osteru door. She bad no fear. Country born and bred a* she waa, there was nothing to alarm her at the thought of a lrll through the woods at midnight She would probably not meet a soul, or, if she did, it would be only some beUltd labourer ; and she might avoid any contact with him by keeping in the hade of a tree or hedge. As for poachers, they would naturally avoid her. I t pith up the stream was more ditlirult than usual, both on account of the shallow thrown by the trees on each side, and of the increase of water owing lo heavy rain bak- ing tallra tht- day Iwfore. Rut what it lost in ease it gained in piciiirc*oii<-ness, as the ilver moonlight fell upon it here and there. It wasa weird. Iwely scene, and Krlie could not help Btoppn _ MOW and then to admire it ; but she hail other things to think of than the beauties oi naturn just then To begin with. Patience was mch worse very feverish, even wandennic sometimes, her grandmothei said and Kllie did not know win tlitr she ought not lo tell Joe of his wife's state. She hail gradually told him of the fact of his wife's broken leg, but had been tbli- to reassure him by bringing him a few line* from the sufferer; but she could see that he wan horribly anxious, ami she thought that he ought to be aware of this change for the worse. And yet, supposing he insisted on Suddenly the report of a gun sounded through the stillness of the night, and one of the rabbits sprang up wii lly into the air, then roil--d over iu the agonies eX death Kiln impulsively started forward, and, as 'she did !, fo nd lit-rself ftce to face with The girl had been driven to this o..ur*eof two IliC11 wno na<1 emerged from tb trees itionby Hector's reproaches at fcer lout; on ,|, e ,jght. They both uttered impreca- by day, and I e very great dilli- . tion*. and the taller one seized the terrified for them. , iri ,, y lhe arm " Hallo, who have we got here ?'* he cried, peering into her face. " What arc you doing here at tins tune of the uight, my lass?" " You won't split on a poor fellow what's trying to make hi* living, will you, my dear ?" said the other. .lust then the first speaker recognued Kllie and drew back with an execration. " banged if it ain't Squire Uering's lass!" he exclainvd. " I say, miss, yon mult not split on us." "Promise you won't," said the other. Till now Kttie r.ad remained silent in utter terror aud perplexity, but there was a slight menace in the tone of the last speaker that roused her pridf. " Let me pass, please, 'she cried, drawing If up to her lull height. tall . let you off without ye e P " Not so fast, if you please miss," said the Her man. " We can t let you off promise of silence." "I will promise nothing !" mill the now enraged girl. " You dare not hurt me, even if you were ruflians enough to wish to do so '." "I don't know that," began the short man. "What do you any to this, my Ami he pointed his gun at her. Kllie blood was up ; she did not flinch even then. "You dare not kill me," she said, "and you know it ! Bluster as much as you like, you would not caie to risk han pose ; but 1 would rather die to you !" ig"'g. than I sup- give in "She's a rare plucked one," said the Ull ... _ fellow, Mow his breath. "We must let .. ruing lo see Patience and got arrested, It her g0f j,- t(1 . but we trust to your honour, would be her-Kffie's fault. t wjs all mlm , |Ot tl) u-li 0|| _ |it) aj^a, turning terribly perplexing. Hector too had de- ^ j,;,| ie velopcda jealousy of Harold Parkinson! ..j Decline to let you trust me at all," that to Klti was utterly unaccountable. t gajll , he , n ,j ry girl . .. an(1 lift a nn|{er on alternately amused and made her angry; ,,, e at your peril ! The po'ice might be but she could not understand it. Kven had ,,. ^.^^ thistimn than the last." tie been as desperately in love as was Hec- j Al)J wltl| thi , pArting ,!, ot> , n . hurried tor, she could not have found it in her heart I OI1 i eBV j n ., t | le men speechless at her dar- i he jealou*. Where she gave her love she Ksvve h"r trust, and she could not at nil im i * i only a vi-ry young lover would have done, i was dreading the inevitable explanation, or . . l _ _ i... _ -j_ :!_:_ _:_!. I __.L ._ * -^ i.:-L _l IJ ag i ne a man being jealous because the girl he loir I was admired by other int-n. Kllie leached Joe'* hiding-place without meeting with any adventures. She had had made a detour sou lo ride within sight of the abode of bin beloved one. He little thought thai he was to be blessed with the sight of her, however, and by no means thought it now an unmitigated blessing. Parkinson was the fint LO speak. "Hallo, Lyndhurst'. " he said, as if there was nothing unusual in this encounter in the small hours of the morning. "I am glad you have tu.ned up; MUa Dcring will havo two people to eacorl her home instead of one, tor I suppose you will turn back that way." Hector pauted for a moment before reply ing. He was pale with rage and almost tetrad to speak test he should make a scene. At list he said quietly "Thanks; my way lies in the opposite di- rection. " t And, raising his hat, he was off at a hand- gallop before Parkinson could say another word. "Oh, how angry he must be " said Kllie naively, "to ride on at that pace!'' Harold could not kelp laughing; the scene had been so ridiculous. "Y->u will have to be extra kind to him to-morrow lo make up for it, Miss Deniig," he said. ' Kltie did not reply : she knew that this time Hector had really cause for jtalousy, and tnat she co-.il. I not explain matters to him. Af t4-r the first angry astonished glance he had given her, he had not looked to- wards lit-.r while he aud Harold had ex- changed the few words ; and lhe girl knew that there would l>e a very heavy reckoning for her on the morrow. She walked on silently by Harold's side till they cm e to the gain opening into the field she had to cross ; then she held out her iiand. " l-ood-night, and thanks for coming with me," she said. " 1 am in our own grounds now and shall get home quite safe- " I wish you would got on to my hone and ride round to the lodge-gates," Harold said wistfully. " I hate to see you going .limit in this way." " There is nothing to hurt me," she said, trying to smile ; but the attempt was rather a failure. " <iood night again !" And, with a little bow, she left him. " Poor-little girl," thought young Pirk- iuson, as he mounted his horse and pursued his solitary way ; " I'm afraid she's in for a miserable time with Lyndhurst to-morrow ! I could not have thought the fellow could rather tne demand for it, which she would have to refuse. Well, lingering along the road would do no good, Kltio thought,, o she walked on resolutely to meet her fate. >She met it at the lotl^o gate at lost, Hector stood there awaiting her. He uad been to the house, and h ul i>een told inert- she had gone out, ar.'l that she had left a message to the effect that he was t-> wait for her. Hut waiting was never Heater i j nd hurst's forte; and, in his |.r<t-.-.t sitttc ..{ mind, he could not endure to sit and li. ten to Vre. benng's platitude*. So he hurried down the avenue to intercept his little love on her way back. He aaw her coining along before she caught sight of him, ana his heart went ont to her u the sight of her pensive douncast face. Such an innocent little face too ! How could one connect I with jr. any thought o harm or deceit ? For the moment his resolution faltered. Should he greet her as usual, casting suspicions to the wind, and letting her bide her time till of her own accord she told him what had taken her out that uight? But this Quixotic idea did not linger in his mind. As his suspicions were aroused, Klli* was i Kllie was glad of it and tor-Jet >nelf to eat the hot cakes her mother prea-ed upon her. .She ikd not intend to give in to the terrible feeling of languor that had come over her, and did not wish Mrs. Der- ing to notice that there was anything amiss. She could not bring herself to believe that everything was really over betwsen heiself ami Hector Lymlhuist ; he would come round in a day or two and beg for forgive- ness. It was impossible that he would be unforgiving-- 'hat he would let the incident of last uight influence so mdly both their lives. As soon as she felt retted Kflie rose to go again to inquire after 1'atitnee, ml was re- lieved to rind that she was decidedly belter and that there would be no need to seek Joe that day. The weary hours drajrged-on, there waa uo sign of Hector anywhere ; and Kltie retired to rest, as early as she dared after dinner without exciting comment, with a heavier heart than she had known m all her young life. (TO UK i I'NTISrED.) Before 1 ur KJTI. A recent biographer of C'arlyle states that when he was writing his history of the | Krencb Revolution it was his habit to paste on a screen in his work room engraved por- to clear them op at onoe. He tookthe hand she held out timidly to him but did not hold it lovingly in his clasp, as he would have done the day In-fore ; and when he relinquished U, they walked slowly side by side up the avenue in silence for a i mu " nav " c . lea tune. When Ihey reached a bench under an ! ''" d = otherwise he could not make it clear - to the reader. traits, or wood-cuts, if no better could be had, uf the people about whom he was writ- ing. The image of the man was thus steadi- ly in his view. Carlyle held that an author must have a clear image of his subject iu his have scowled as he did just now. Well, it y elm-tree a constant resort of theirs they sat down as if by mutual consent ; and Hector began abruptly. " Well T.rK.', what have you to tell me ? " She did not attempt to fence with him. " Aiout last night, you mean ? " the said. " .'enainly. You must know that your conduct requires some excuse or explana- tion. " " I can Ull you nothing but this. Hector," she replied firmly, though her heart seemed to stand still as she spoke. " I met Mr. Parkinson as I was returning from a long walk and was very glad of his company tor part of the wsy back. " " Did you meet him by appointment?" " Hector, " cried Klfie, the blood rushing to her cheeks, which had grown paler than ever a* she began to speak, " how dare you ask me such a question?" " That is no answer, excuse me," he re- joined. " You muft allow that, in the , my question is quite justifi- ini/. But, brave front though she hail kept with them, the girl had had a terrible \ fright ; and, once out of sight, she lan as j fast a* her tiembling limbs would allow her ! out of the wood, through two fields, and, , feared lhat .loe would not i-omn in answer . ( l M |,ing oul through a yato thai opened in- I to her call, bul she found him outside the , lhe |oa(li uear jy f c i[ m(o t |. e ,.,, o f rave, pacing upand down. Truth l<> tell, Har.dd Parkinson. Joe was very hungry. '.trie hud always Hrold had Iwen riding home from a din- ! been so punctual In coming that he had ller .| iart y i na j dmnount.d to take a stone ' liin>l,.lthe Isn stock of provisions that 01U ( mi horse's loot, and had jnst put h>s mo ruing, thinking Inmself *ure of a good foot into the stirrup to mount again, when meal in a few hours, and had had to sulxist ile c^^ht sight of BflVs nTia2 figure. Me ; ..n I.Ukherries since then : and Joe s appe- d)d nol M , irgt ret ., )gniM . \ lfr> , n ., tile re.,mre.i more substantial bed. ' ea || y ^^ his foot out of tha stirrup again "Oh, there you are. .loe ! said Km--, with a|u , ,. emaill ,.,| wat ohing her, merely out of a eigh of relief, as he cair.e forward and t .,, r j ,i l y | M , M e approached. When he saw > with profuse thinks took the heavy basket who |t WM _ wnll . h was not until she dash- '. from her. "I wasafraid you might be asleep, e ,| thi.mgh the gate, for he w.is lather short- ', but I could not come before. siuhte-l he almost gasp-d for breath. I had the luck to be engaged 10 that pretty little girl, 1 would forgive her a much graver fault than this. I wonder what she ha> been up to, though ; it was a queer ad- venture, 'nit I'm sure that she will bo able to explain it satisfactorily, all the tame. It would not bo justifiable in any cir- cumstances," was the proud reply, "and I decline to answer it '." " You must either I.e out of your sense's. i," *aid Hector sternly, "or you must ' cure even less about me than I supposed, lo He had better not begin by upbraiding her. aJ(J , hll lnne , Loot at the fact , of , he however ; it is easy to see that she is as c ae j nm , yol , aud , m ^ wh ,,, n j beh>ve proud as Lucifer, and Master Lyndhurst . , ^ d e*perately in love with you walking may get his coi.fce if he doesn t take care. together ,' ar from your house at a time when After which soliloquy. Mr. Harold Par- I a || B (lecent ) oug h t to be in their beds, kmsuii lighted a cigar snd jogged on his ,,) you decline to tell me whether it was by homeward way, still meditating upon the appoilltnieilt or uot < Put yocrself in my "queer adventure/' _ _ (aJesJeJ ' in such 1 cannot imagine myself suspecting you anything dishonourable," said KriV. neer aventure ' place and teil me what you would do or say Meanwhile Kthe was speeding through r fuc | 1 a a,,,." the fields with an almost breaking heart. She felt that Hector would never lorgive her unleits she told h-m ail thai h ul occurred " tru ' t - t do. sighte 1 " he almost gasped for 1 "It is no use rny thanking i oJ, miss, for " My dear Miss Iwrinij," he exclaimed, what you are doing for me and Patience," w iihoii! thinking, assoon as he could speak, raid Jon. "If I were to talk for t-Vt-r, I " what an- you doing here t" i-ould nol say what I feel: but I beg >'"" It was not ih* most tactful speech he never to come here again at this turn- fl could have made in the circumstances, per- night. I would rather die of hunger or hups ; hut then the cimmiwt.mces them- risk being caught going in search of fm.tl. selves were quit* enough to drive tact out Patience can't know ot this, or she would of a young man's head for the time bem-j. never let you d" it." ' Kllu-'s next action did not lessen Inn Don't ncold Patience iiliout it," said aitonishment. Sho simply put her hands Ktrie, trying In speak K^ily, Ihough at heart before her face and burst into Uars. six; began to fear that he miylit never have " Oh, pray don't !" cried young Parkin- i ' bain e to scold Patience again ; " shn sun, utterly liewildered. "1 wish you knows nothing about it. Now, Joe, I i an'l sle.ni! talking here, but 1 havo thought of ng ni. li.mg. Thr nights ale getting Itni'i jou wi.nl blankets or rugs? How can we get them here *" ' I want a grr.il deal that I can't get, mis," was lhe reply. son. would not iv. Mitts bering." He could think of nothing better to say, yet he was conscious ih it it was not a particularly brilliant remark. I Hi.- .....n stopped crying, heartily asham- ' d of the momentary weakness. " You niusl think mn very foolish," she ' llul these I think I can give if you will aaid, " but 1 have j ml had rather a fright. vriiture * lit lie way from your den. Vou 1 met some men m the tir-plantation, and know that old mined collage down by the they were uncivil " ctream where one turns oil' to come up She had no wish to sen.l young Parkinson through the woods ? I could get ih.it little nlf on an a poacher- chase, hut, in she spoke deufand dumb boy to carry a bundle of felt I lint it wai rather a feeble statement, blankets for m there, ami you could rurely and that she ought to give some explana- with rafety come down there at night and tion of her wander-tig a'lont the country at fetch Ihfin away. " that time of night alone. What could she ' 1 would vladly risk that, if you woul.l say ? She was too truthful to invent a story, be so kind, MUSS. ' even had her powers of imagination per- I " Very well ; I will come here th* day nutted her to do to; and, reading the after tomorrow, and bring Tom with nu- as, u.uidcr in his eyes, (he cast down her own, ' far as the cottage. Now 'lio..d night' blushing deeply. Joe." I "You must let me see you i>afo home," " l-.'t me follow vt. u to the end of the said Harold, after a slight pun-n ; I have wood, ir.is* ; there will be no one about been dining at the Klheridges'," he added, now, and it is to lonesome for you till you " and am glad I choso this way home." getilownbythestre.iin" | " So am I," sftid K.lti" Irinkly, lo..!;ing Klh thrught tl.at it. would not lie much up into his honest face: "and I shall be. leas " loin-some" there, lr.it flic did not say very glad of your company till 1 reach our so. oA'ii grounds. You must think it vry " No, no, Joe," she said gaily. "I have Dinner of me, being out here alone at taken care of myself hitherto ; it is not such nil hour, and 1 can't tell you the rea- worlh while for you to risk even the very son," she added simply. . I, ,in. i i.l detection, and I shoiilj This was rather the reverse of an ex plan v not U- aide to look Patience in the face tion, but Harold Par.inson was one of na igiiin ifyo-i got tutu danger through me." lure's gentlemen. And, with a hasty " Hood night," she ] " I know that you mm', have had a siilti 1 1. r n. i| homewards. jcient one," he said. "Pray don't think I m ;ud tlown the woodland path and that I would dream of You are trembl- by the si le of the stream for borne timu, till ing still," he ciicd, suddenly breaking off she came to a spot where two poll-shad L.n in I, is polite remark. " What can I do for placed over the water at a little dist-<in ' - ..u " ' You are n.it tit to walk home, apart, to enable any one posseted of a good | " Oh, yen, I am," said Ktlii resolutely; lii-ati l.i cross over to the other side It j " and I want to got back as quickly as pos- slruci her that, by taking this way, she sible '."- -and she nuved forward, would avoid the little village through whi<-h | Harold walked by her side, leading his sin- iniiit na.>* otherwiso ; and, ihou^h she horsr. He found, now that the flrst a'*k- Inn lii.'ky in ging tlirough unnoticed wardness was past, the situation a very and that she could not he think of her? Indoed, what must !>olh men think of h-r ? She reached home without any further incident and crept noiselessly np-stairs. Long after she had shut herself in her r m she remained sitting in * da/.ed sort of way in the armchair into which she had dropped on euterini;, too weary and hopeless for tears ; and it was not until there were founds of moving about tiie house in the early morning that she sought hir couch, win-re habit prevailed, aud she fell iulo a troubled sleep. CHAPThR VI. Wh> n K.th'tf Ik-ring's trim maid brought her young mistress her tea the next morning, lhe gu I roused herself lo look her situation in the face. It did uot need tho not* in Hector'* well known handwriting, which lay amongst her other letters on ill j Iray, ing the events of the )ast night vivid- Long before Sims came to , of What may " " her l lve m V love l 8 1VC Here is a significant hint to schoolboy* and girls who are expected to express t.ieir ideas in compositions or essays. One of Agassiz's pupils stated lately that when he first went to the summer school at Pemkese he brought boxes of text-books on natural science. He told the great teacher, wheu they eat down to dinner on the first day. that he was provided with all of the Left authorities, and inquired : " With which shall I begin T" "Leave the authorities in your trunk, and begin with that crab before you," wa* the reply. " Your own eyes and fingers will bring you closer to nature than all the book* written by other men." The boy who sits down to write an essay on the Triumphs of Genius or Democracy in Europe will find his ideas are lia/y, and that words lie in secret corners of his brain aud hide themselves, and have to be dragged out of hU memory by force ; but let him tell of the last political meeting in hi* village, or argue some clacs difficulty, and he find* no trouble in expressing himself clearly aud fluently. Ihe right verb* and adjective* leap to the pen. Until he has obtained command of lan- guage, then let himcontine himself to subject* which are thoroughly known and familiar to him. N ither nature nor art will tolerate a middle-man. If you would learn these secrets, or if you would luternret them to to the world, you must see wilh your own eyes and hear with your own ears and speak with your mother tongue out of your own heart. The Minneapolis Miller has been making an estimate of the surplus wheat of the United States and other wheat-growing s, and the requirements of thccouu- put my arms round your neck and kiss you on Ihe lip*. Can yon think no badly of the tlu '" ly before her. call her she had itarled from in r sleep, feeling a* if some terrible niMiorlune hail befallen her. She coll. -clod her scattered hound to support you." senses, aud gradually the whole scene , " In honour bound to toll mem with another man T Again Hector's good unztl got the better of bun for a moment. Truth shone through the tear* in Kltie's eyes, rang m lhe accent* of her trembling voice. " 1 know 1 am a jealous brute," he aaid, taking one of the girl's cold hands in bin ; " but you must tar with me, Ktlie. Tell me, darling, you did uot willingly meet this man '" The girl hesitated. She knew that she had, but to say one word lo makethesituation less strained, but that word her pride refus- ed to let hei utter. " I must ask you to trust me," she said, in a low voice ; " or " in a tone of relief " ssk Mr. Parkinson how he met me." "Ask Parkinson !"ejaciilated Lyndhurst. " As if I Would speak to him on the subji . l ' liesides, in any case, he would be in honour i a lie, always .-ame bark to her. She lay there vague- supposing that we me: by appointment?" ly woiiJerikg how it all would end, some- asked Ktlie contemptuously. an hour or *oago, she thought it advisable to avoid a risk a second time. ling a'-r"Si was uot much of a feat for an active country-bred girl, and she was soon scrambling up through tun brambles ant! uii.li-igi ..wilt m the other side. Here auain In-, v. ay lay through a wood ; a fir plnntati.)ii stietched nearly to the high road >hi had to < rois boforo getting into lhe tields thai surrounded her father's place. si. i! luiiried alunij till shec.\nie to a clear- mu in tin plantation, and slopped short in delight at tiie scene Iwfore her. The moon slmnc! f'lll upon Ihe rank grass of the cl- u Ing nnd tin- \m-im fir* that I.- i. and there I tin u in ,1< nl. me it. A family of .' .-inl ..round, apparent- lying in 1 . ii-ii iiiiinunily Irompuiil at I lii.- liii'l not the heart to stop their gamboll ; sl.o remained fur some tinu pleasant ore ; and they ohattud away freely. until the sound of a horse coming along at a sharp trot caused Kttic to shrink into the shade of the hedge. " I wish I could get into the fields," she said. It'll there was no gate near, and they had to walk on. Harold. I ride on and leave you?" asked " I will do whatever you think " Oh, no '." said Klfie her pride roused at tin- idea ; and they walked on to incut the advancing honeman. He dashed round a turn of the road and pulled up with nn exclamation of astonish- in, nt. It was Hector Lyndhurst. It was an awkward situation. Ktlio felt ss if the end of the vorld had come, and Harold Parkinson began tn wonder what in tin- >h ulu o; the tivci on tils) edge of the nnn-n surprises wore iu store for him. life clearing. lor Uad beu to a rival dinner-j^my, aud, as times falling into a do/c, then starting up again, till the maid's presence completely roused her. After Sims had left the room, she with tr.Miibiing lingers, opened Hector's note It was short and to the point, merely saying that he hoped to sej Ktlie when ho came over that illuming, and that she would be uble to give him some satisfactory explana- tion of the strange scene of the night be- fore. Kllie got up and dressed as if she were in ' Hcotor, in a rage. i ir. mi. She feared that her alterexl looks His words struck like a knell on Erne's might be noticed; but her parents, fond heart. She would have given worlds even though they weiu of her were very unolwerv- then to have thrown heraelf into his arms ant people and did not remark the droop of and again begged him to trust her ; but the little mouth and the absence of her usu- pride restrained her. She remained silent. brilliant colour. She wandered on to the Lsav n him out of the question, " said Hector impatiently ; "all 1 want is your own word !" "And tiiat I have said I will not give," " You really mean that, Krfie ?" "lit.., Hectir. I will not be mistrusted ! I am tired ot your unreasonable jealousy, and, if you can't conquer it, I am sure we should never be happy together." "Then if }ou really think so.it would he better to part before it i* too late '." stid ai terrace after breakfast, unable to settle to anything, until she remembered Patience , and the idea struck her that she would run down and see how the girl was getting on. If she were out v. hen Hector came so nun. 'h the batter tlieawkwardne>sof the meeting would be less ; if she met him on the road better still. She ran to get her hat and waa soon down in the village. Patience was no better indn-d decidedly Wurse -and, though there was no immediate danger, th.-d *lr said, Kttie felt more uncomfortable than ever regarding thu secret she wai keeping. Clearly a man, in any circumstances, ought to know of hi* wife's stale when she was as Patience was now. Kltie decided that she would risk a great deal to go that afternoon aud tell Joe Davis, unless Patience became very much better in a few hours. MIC went at once ami asked a pleasant- looking; girl who lived a few doors off if she would mi. lu t. ike lo nurse Patience fur a few days, a* the old gvaudmothei seemed quite win n out ; and shn felt happier as she saw tho deft way in which Ros:e liray arranged tl.o invalid s pilluavs and tidied up the lit' It- room ; then she took her departure and pro- ceeded blowly towards home. It was one uf Set timber's most glorious days. A blazing sun lighted up the gorgeous avilu;. r. cVouring of the surrounding woods, ti. In . null!, s m the hedgerows were glisten- ing witii <lew ami festooned with myriads of I sou tiiat you agree with me," said Hector, after a pause. "So bo it, then ! May Heaven forgive you, Erne ; you have broken my heart ! " He rose from the bench and moved away like a man in a dream. Tho young fellow really felt, as he looked, broken-hearted. But Klfie did not look at I 1111 ; a mist swam before her eyei ; she saw nothing distinct- ly, she heard his retreating footsteps ; he w is going towards the lodge ; he was leaving her forever ! But (lie could not re- call him ; she let him go farther and farther still till he waa lost to sight. How long she tat there after he had left her she never knew ; but it was far into the aftornooon when she entered the house. Mrs. Ik-i'iii: was looking out anxiously for her. " My dear child, where have you been all this lime?" she said. "And what have you done with Hector ? " " He has gone hoine," Kttie replied, iu a dull voice. " But yon did uot come in to luncheon. Have you had anything to eat?" For Klfie was rather erratic iu her habits, nnd th? only weal at which punctuality was required was dinner. " No, mother ; but I doa't want any- thing. Pray don't, get me anything "for her mother turned to the man-servant, who hiil come in with a note, and was about to address him "I really could not eat!" Then w.i will havo tea at once," said goftsair.cr web, which floated in tho still air i Mrs, Demg and gav across Kt'i'/s path. But the girl had no eve I " You are lookin? c|..m . , fur the beauties of ualuro that day ; she ' cau at least drink some tea. ' ve order* accordingly. m<> pn'c, dailing ; you ' Tlu surplus of the United States and" Canada it sets down at l 170,1100, (KM) bushels. Allowing that C'snada ' will have a surplus this year of say VJ/i.UisV I 000 bushels, this will leave the United State* ; with U.~>,000,UOO bushels to sell to the for- eigners. The surplus of the whole world the Miller sets down at Xjl ,000,000 bushel*. The requirements of the United Kingdom of i. re.it Britain and Ireland are estimated at l.Vi.000,000 bushels. So lireat Britain wants a good deal more wreat than tha United States lias to sell, and she need* more than all the other grain purchasing nations of tho world put together. All re- quire IfcJO.ilon.UOO. Of this, Great Britain needs 15J.OOO.OOO bushels, leaving for the rest of the world 171,000,00 bushel*. Pres- ident Harrison bragged the other day about what he had done towards finding a market fi r the farmers' crop in South Ameri- ca by what he called his Reciprocity potiey. The Miller does not give the re- quiremeut of South America, but lump* them with those ot China aud the Kast Indies ; and how much of the wheat crop of the American farmers are these three countries expected to take ? Just '20.IIOO,- 000 bushels. (Jreat Britain wants, for her- self, loj.000,000 bushels of wheat, while the Latin-American Republic!) take a part only of 20,000,000 bushels. Yet the Latin- American countries are petted and favored by the United States, while Great Britain is treated as a commercial enemy. It i* just possible that our neighbors will find out, wheu it i too late, that they havo been pursuing towards lireat Britain a foolish and short-sighted policy as well as an un- principled one. hlna In the KasfU The most careless reader of foreign new* and affairs most have noticed that the threatened collision between the Russian advance on the one side and Afghanistan and Kngland ou tli other, over the desolate mountain top of the Pamirs has .suddenly died away. Yet neither Kngland nor At- ffhauistan has done any thing. The Ameer nt, Cabul remains in mortal peril from insur- rection to the South aud North. The Anglo-Indian army has moved no troopj and could move none to those inaccessible heights save with tenfold the expuudilure of men and money in any past Afghan war. The region remains, as before, part of tha shadowy realm over which tho Ameer of Bokhara, now a Russian subject, once claim- ed jurisdiction because the Kirghiz, who sought its pasture valleys in Summer, in Winter sought his plains," and thi. gigantic table land, to whuh the highest plateaus of Montana or Colorado are mere hills, con- tinues in spile of this Russian claim, patrol- ed by Afghan outposts, though practically independent. If Russia withdraws there is no reasonable doubt it is because China protejts. For us China seems a weak nerve- less, impotent power, but on the great Central Asian plateau, China is the equal of either Russia or England. Peking forc- ed the surrender of Hi from Russia, keeps Thibet barred to English trade, and crushes any power which raises ita head over vast regions closed to Kuropean trallic, travel and exploration. Without limit in the number of its troops, the patience of ita commanders cr tha relentless tigor of it* policy, China ha* been able to stay the ad- vance of Russia when it is altogether prob- able neither Kngland nor Afghanistan could 'Mve done so.