THE LADIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1902, 4 May 1888, Page 32

THE LADIES.

' By Alice. The world was tad,—the garden was a wild; ■ And man, the Hermit, nghed—till woman smiled, [ —-Campbell. TO CORRESPONDENTS. I Alios will .be pleased to receive letters from any I correspondents on any matter of interest to thirn. and to reply through the medium of this page, the nom de plume, only of the correspondents being published. Letters to be addressed "Alice," : care of the Editor. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Silver Gbkt.—(l) Some hair restorers are saidto to be good for 1 the purpose, but I cannot answer fromexperience. See advertisements or consult a chemist. (2) It would cost vou about 10s to get a dreßsdyed. (3) 'lo Ret rid of moths when once they are among clothes, everything should bo takeß outside and thoroughly brushed and shaken. : It would be as well to do this more than once, for I if any of the worms are missed they may begot rid of by a second brushing. Camphor or red pepper is only of use to keep the moths from laying their eggs. (4) You can get a songbook with the words 'bt " Good-bye, sweetheart, good-bye," at any [ bookseller's for Is. (5) Can any reader obtigu ray correspondent with the words of the song be.ginning "Alasl How easy things go wrong." I don't know the song, bub I quite agieo with the 1 sentiment. • ' Victor.—(l) Ido not think so. (2) You will And r advertisements with reference to hair restorers - elsewhere. . I cannot undertake to recommend any special preparation. A remedy recommended is: Eau de Cologne, 2oz; tincture of cantharides, foz; oil of nutmeg, §dr; oil of • lavender, 10 drops. (3) To reduce your weight take plenty of exercise, avoid eating milky food, potatoes, and sugar, and do not. drink beer; All animals fed on grain, &'c, soon fatten; but those, like the Hon and tiger, who eat only flesh, never get fat I_ am not advising y. -u to eat only meat, tut eat as little as possible of the articles of diet mentioned. Mona.—A chemist would tell you. Florie.—l do not think there is a sequel to the "Wide, Wide World." and I forget the name of it if there is.- (2) Apply common washing soda to it several times a day; wet the soda and rub it on. (3) How to make your hands white ? > My private opinion is if they are naturally red, red they will remain. Topsy eald she must ne skinned to come white, and I fancy the same remark applies to red bands. However, I don't suppose you would care about trying that method. Never using them might do something for you; but as the next questiou is " How to make a batter pudding," it looks very much as though you must j use them. Nice hands are certainly a grent attracI tion; but white hands are not fashionable now. . Tennis and other out-door amusements have made it no longer necessary for ladies to rub glycerins on at uignt and sleep in gloves. " Nothing in this world doth last! " not even fashion. • Keep I your hands and nails thoroughly clean. Nothing is more indicative of cleanly habits than clean hands. Some women spoil their whole appearance by dirty hands. Ugh! it is sickening to see snch an addition to a pretty costume. Housework is no excuse. A piece of pumice stone, a pair of nail scissors, and a little oatmeal will do all that is neeesßßry to make them and keep them clean and nice.'' A gentleman once informed me that he fell in. love- with a young lady, and would have proposed but for her Aandsl She dressed well, played and sang sweetly, was an industrious housekeeper, but her hands were never clean. "I couldn't makeup mind to possess the hand that wits always dirty," he said; and I believe thatseveral otherswere of thesamemindashimeelf. Now for the batter pudding:—Half-pound flour, a tea9poonful baking powder, a little salt, and two eggs; mix with milk to a thin batter, and .bake undera joint of meat. Three-quarters of an hour in a brisk oveu is sufficient. C. B. M.—l will look over the etory aqd do as you request. I have not had time this week, but you shall hear in next issue. Max.—l tried once before to obtain such a governess as you desoribe for a correspondent, but not being personally acquainted with one I was afraid to assume the responsibility of recommendation. An advertis-ment will bring you many applications. One Who Was There.—Thank you very much. I shall always be glad to hear from you. Buckley.—You are indeed a silly girl. He will only laugh at you, and you will laufcu at yourself one day. It is the most foolish thing a girl can do to let a man who cares nothing for her see that she is in love with him. You have got discernment enough to see he is" sick" of you. My dear girl, he will indeed be so, and make sportof you if you act so foolishly. A man thisks nothing of the girl who courts him. There is something of the hunter i» man's nature; he prizes far more what he has had to pursue than game laid down at his feet. Whero is your pride? You will be inex!pressibly angry with yourself one day when you are a woman, by experience as well as by courtesy. In the name of maidenly modesty I ask you to gather yourself together, and save your affection lor the "man that will one day try to win it, and prize it all the more because it is hard to win. Southland.—Thank you for your very kind letter. The excursion by steamer you refer to was not the one you suppose, but a trip by day—an invitation affair to which only ladies and gentlemen were invited, and was in all respect* all that could be desired. (2) It is not so much the number of years as the experience of the years. Some lives have more crowded into their youth than others have scattered over 80 years—just as you will sometimes iiud more fruit on one bough than on all the rest of the tree. It is not always the aged who aie wise. "Where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to wise," the proverb says, and perhaps if passing through the fiery furnace is the only wiy to teach to the young, it is better for them to 'remain in ignorance. It is hard for youth to forget how gladness felt, and to have no higher hope of happinesß than rest. It seems almost the right of youth to sport in the sunshine, yet to some from early morning there is no sun gle.im to be seen. I Biippose it will all come right sometime somewhere where each will pass on from weakness to strength. Landlubber, —A-situation as stewardess in one of the baatß trading between New Zealand and Mel- • bourne is bv no means easy to obtain. Write to Captain Cameron, care of Union Company, Dunedin. B. M. —See Notes and Queries.

ALICE'S LETTER,TO HER READERS.

Talking over the adventures of Mrs Gordon Baillie as given by the London correspondent in last week's Witness, a lady said to me: " Something almost as clever came under by own notice. A few years ago, when we lived upon our station, a lady friend of mine wrote to tell me that she was coming with her children to pay me a visit, and asked me if I would mind her bringing with her her nursegirl. - C I do not like her,'the letter ran, * but she is refined in manner and gentle with the children.'- I replied,' Bring your nurse, by all mean 3,' and it ended by her coming. She was a girl with sallow, or rather chalky-white," complexion, low brow, dark hair and eyes, and held her head a little on one side; had quiet, insinuating ways, and altogether I did not like her any more than her mistress did. Evidently her trip from the North on board steamer had engendered a*love of refinement, for she refused to sit at the kitchen table with a common girl like my Bridget, and said she would dine in the nursery after the children had finished their meals. This she was allowed to do. Privately she .informed Bridget that she was obliged to lend her mistress underlinen and pocket handkerchiefs, but it is needless to add that it was subsequently discovered that she had. stolen- these front her mistress.' She assumed many airs, and was the cause of lhany disturbances, On. one' oooasion she

I was sent to accompany the children in. her charge to the shearers' sheds. The rheri, regarding her as a fellow servant, politely said, . * Good day miss,' and offered her some tea. She returned to the house furious, and complained of the men having insulted her. I, as mistress of the house, told my husband of Eva's complaint, and we investigated the matter and found the only ' insult' was in the intended politeness of the men. One night after that she went out without permission, and when the household were retiring it was found she had not returned; so my husband sat up for her, and it was midnight when she came in. I mentioned this to her mistress, and she taxing Eva with it, the girl accused my husband of being a liar. I [thought,it was quite time to let the girl understand she was only the servant of my guest, so when she again went out at night without permission I thought it time to prove who was the liar, and ordering the household to bed at the usual hour, I locked 1 the doors and forbade Bridget to let her in. Next morning Eva returned, complaining bitterly' of the unkind treatment to. which she was subjected; but one thing, occurring after another, she was at length dismissed. "She was next, heard of as lady help or companion in Dunedin. While occupying this position she called at Brown, Ewing and Co'sand ordered adress to be sent to Miss , staying at Mrs-—.As the lady she gave, as reference was well known, the dress was sent, but it is needless to say it was never paid for. Some time, after this she was reported as staying with a lady in a country district representing herself as a bank manager's daughter, and ladies were calling upon her. "Then," continued the narrator, . "I heard nothing of her for some time, when I received this letter from the lady who first brought Eva to my station." She then read the letter to me, the substance of it being that the writer was staying at the Club Hotel, Wellington, and that on her arrival there she heard a great deal of a Mrs , who had lived some years in India, was the widow of one general and daughter of another, had travelled on the Continent, had been presented to her Majesty, and had been "doing " the Lakes, and many other wonderful things, ■among others deceiving so successfully the ladies of Wellington that a large number of them had called upon her; in fact, she was lionised. When this wonderful lady entered the dining room her former mistress recognised Eva, beautifully dressed and wearing diamonds. The recognition was' mutual, and Mrs left hurriedly next morning with her numerous boxes marked in white paint. The lady has just travelled or is now- travelling from the North, but I be'ieve a word of warning-has preceeded her. From this it seems that with a little practice we. shall be able to turn out adventuresses as clever as those produced in England. Two accounts have reached me of a dance at Hillend for which I thank my correspondents. The one I have subjoined is by " Green and Gold ": The following is a short description of a ball given by the Benedicts of Hillend on the 20th insfc. in Mr James Bishop's barn. The music wa9 supplied by Messrs King and Houliston, and the duties of M.O. were ably fulfilled, by Mr H. Christie. The room was nicely decorated with flowers and evergreens. The refreshments were in the usual abundant style for which the balls in Hillend are renowned. There was a grand turn out of youth and beauty. The belle of the evening was thought to be Mrs John M'Guffog, in ecru and pale blue}; and the gem song of the evening was " The slave's dream," rendered by Mrs Marshall. Mrs J. Bishop looked well in black cashmere, satin panel, and white lace cap ; Mrs T. Bishop, black; Miss C. Marshall, ecru and pale pink—a very pretty dress; Miss Bishop, Hillend, black and bright pink trimming; Miss Christie, grey and maroon; Miss Sinclauyeoru and blue; Miss Armstrong, black and white lace trimming; Miss B. Armstrong, drab skirt and velvet bodice; Miss C. Armstrong, black and scarlet sash;' Miss King, brown; Mrs H. Christie, black; Mrs R. M'Guffog, all black; Miss Stone, Miss 'Hughan, Misses Campbell, ditto; Mrs Thomson, prune silk; Mrs Slater, grey silk; Mrs G. Houliston, dark green and gold ornaments; Miss Lottie Bower, coffee-coloured dress; Miss M'Kay, light brown; Miss Booth, white and old gold; Miss Bishop looked very nice in black grenadine and cardinal ribbons,' with silver butterfly' in her hair; and Miss Annette in drab aud scarlet ribbons. It was ODe of the happiest nights spent for a long time in Hillend. The night soon passed with dance, song, and jest, and all were sorry when the time came to part. MrC. Woods thanked the Benedicts for their entertainment, and Mr J. M'Guffog called for cheers for Mr and Mrs Bishop, which was responded to until the rafters rang again and again. A correspondent also kindly sends me an account of the bachelors' dance at Girton Hall on the 20fck April. Correspondents do not seem to be aware that for a weekly paper all matter must be sent to the office a week before it appears, so that a day's delay often necessitates the holding of a report over for a week. By Monday all the type in the Ladies' page is set for the next issue, so that had I received the report on Saturday it would have appeared a week earlier. I must also remind correspondents that it is necessary to write on one side of the paper only. A very nice dance was given at Girfcon Hall last Friday night by the bachelors to Miss Russell (who is about to leave for England) and to Miss Backhouse. The hall is a very pretty little one, with varnished walls, so that no decoration was necessary. Punctually at half.pasfc 8 o'clock the guests invited began to arrive, and before a quarter to 9 o'clock dancing had begun. Of the girls, Miss Backhouse looked decidedly well in an old gold moire silk skirt, with body and train of surabj relieved only by a touch of black velvet, which, with gold coloured shoes and fap, made a most stylish costume. Miss Russell looked chariniDg in pink net and satin. Miss Ella Sise, whose debut it was, looked girlish and fresh-looking in white satin and tulle. All the other girls looked nice, but especially Miss Wright, in white. Miss Ross was in blaok, with coloured ribbons; Miss HodgKins>in black and) crimson; Miss Stephenson in white satin and tulle, with green shaded ribbons down one side. Miss M. Williams in white, with gold satin ribbons. Miss J. Gilkison j in cream satin and tulle, with yellow ribbons and daffodils, looked'nice. Miss Vera Maitland, in black and pink, looked very handsome. The floor was a little : sticky, but all the arrangements of the, hall were perfect, and I am sure the hall only needs to be known to become popular. I cannot'say enough .of the courteous way the' committee treated all their'guests; '' , i; ' ' ' . • '-•.■'-.•-.•_ ; 'The'arrival of .the. English footballers awoke th,e town from its sleepy and *'<s jfll

sides one has heard them discussed. Daring the week' they have been entertained in various ways: the Phoenix Cricket Club gave them a concert on Friday night, and the Columbia Skating Rink has been thrown open to them, and on Saturday night a race between the footballers themselves and an exhibition of some wonderful skating by Professor Simmons proved a great attraction. I There have been champagne lunches and drives to Blueskin and Portobello, and with the usual hospitality of the New Zealanders all have seemed privileged to entertain the visitors. Even the weather has gathered itself together, and with a golden smile beamed upon the strangers. We were in fear and trembling that its fickle face might change by Saturday; but not a bit of it—the day was perfect: a blue sky, no wind, and bright sunshine. From a very early hour in the morning the town and the people showed by unmistakeable signs that the day was a holiday. Housewives hurried through their duties, and unruly boys were brought to a state of abject submission by the awful threat —"If you don't behave yourself you shan't go to the football match." : This was quite enough to cow the most daring, and the gentle sweetness.displayed by young " larrikins " told plainly there was some good left in boyhood yet. Not a r boj who had the remotest chance bf going was left at home. The young idea of Dunedin is football if it is anything at all. In all sorts of unlikely places you come across juvenile clubs. I have even seen very young boys playing with a salmon tin when they could not afford, a ball, and throwing their little bodies upon it with an abandonment that took no heed of the close proximity of the curbstone. But to return to Saturday. The match was to commence at a quarter to 3, but from 1 o'clock the streets to the Caledonian ground were lined with people wending their way thither, and quite an hour before the specified time the stand was packed, chiefly by ladies. I believe the Englishmen have remarked that they have never seen so many ladies at a football match before, but I think they will soon learn that New Zealand ladies are almost as fond of sport as the men, and, besides, there was a great deal of curiosity to see the line fellows we had heard so much about. It was a very pretty sight when the teams marched on to the ground. The band struck up an inspiriting strain, the sun shone upon the emerald green square, bordered thickly by thousands of spectators, who were giving" loud cheers of welcome to England. The Otago men came on first, dressed in navy blue jerseys and knickerbockers, and carrying their flag. Next came the English team, a fine looking lot of men in white knickerbockers and jerseys of red, white, and blue stripes; Dr Smith, as umpire, making an effective picture with his red coat and cap. The well loved colours roused many recollections in the breasts of those who had long left old England behind, but love for the adopted country soon became manifest in the interest displayed in the Otago men. It isn't likely we wanted to see our husbands, brothers, and sweethearts get beaten, although we were afraid they would come off second best. The excitement was intense. Perfect strangers kept congratulating and consoling one another, and when at half time Otago had kicked a goal among the waving ing of handkerchiefs and hats, one lady impulsively grasped her hat, but was reminded of her sex by finding it carefully pinned on. I hoped to get a long list of costumes, but owing to the ladies being so closely packed I could only obtain a glimpse of a few as they came on the stand. Among these were Miss Webster: Drab tweed. Mrs Wni. Laidlaw: Plaid tweed, with cardinal velvet vest and cuffs; toquo to match. Miss M'Lean: Navy blue cashmere. Mrs Stilling: Brown tweed dress; sealskin jacket trimmed with fur. Miss Driver: Costume of brown tweed. Miss Stanford: Costume of navy blue. MrsMelland: Navy blue costume, and pale blue striped serge. Miss Churton : Costume of white serge. Miss Ashcroft: Costume of dark tweed. Mrs Dr Roberts: Grey tweed dress; velvet toque with pink ribbon. Mrs Batchelor: Cardinal satin handsomely trimmed with velvet to match. Mrs A. Morris: Pretty costume of blue and white stripes. Miss Freeman: Handsome brown striped dress; green plush mantle and toque. Miss Fodor : Costume of grey. Mrs Dr DaviGs: Cardiual cloth richly embroidered. Mrs Belcher: Grey plaid dress and green cloth jacket; green bonnet. Mrs Lindo Ferguson: Very handsome ]acket of broeaded velvet trimmed with fur ; blue serge dress. Mrs Spring : Blue serge costume. Miss Hallensfcein; Grey tweed dress. Mrs Theomin: Handsome costume of green cloth trimmed with grey fur. Lady Stout: Pretty costume of grey, with trimmings of navy bluu velvet ; bonnet to match. Miss F. Jones: Costume of French'grey. Miss B. Mainland: Pretty dress of pale to Miss Mabel Maitland; Costume of navy blue. Whether the ladies were intentionally wearing the Otago colours or not I cannot say, but certainly navy blue predominated. In one or two cases, however, I observed ladies wearing a tri-colour badge in honour of the visitors.

SHE'S BUT A LASSIE.

Written fob the Witness Ladies' Page by " Wych Elm." Chapter VII. Borneo and' Juliet. Adela was thoroughly tired of "Golden Bells!" She had been grinding away with amazing perseverance • at a particularly cranky passage for the last three-quarters of an hour, and her naturally restless disposition was beginning to override her. good resolutions. ' Yesterday she had received her first music lesson from Madame Bellairs, and it had let b her in a highly ambitious and industrious frame of mind. Madame's method of teaching was somewhat peculiar. She would take the piece through which her young pupil was struggling, play"it' brilliantly..and, delightfully several times, accompanying i.t ;wi£h i^i r^ n " ?iing commentary on"the" fcew'tifes op pec,u>

liarities of certain passages, illustrating her meaning with selections from' various other pieces which might come opportunely to mind. All this took up a considerable space of time, and when Madame rose from the piano it was generally discovered that the period for the lesson had nearly elapsed. With clever and ambitious pupils this plan answered well enough, as, inspired, by the model continually placed before them, they would of themselves contend with and overcome minor difficulties, and in turning out two or three successful results of her system Madame had achieved a certain reputation in Fuggleton. • But, unfortunately, her connection lay chiefly among pupils of a different calibre. It was in vain that she threw all her martial enthusiasm into the performance of " See the Conquering Hero Comes 1 " for the enlightenment of Tommy Perkins. On turning round with glowing face at the conclusion of the performance, her ardour would sink to zero on the discovery that Tommy tad meanwhile been engaged in furtively sucking a brandy ball, his physical, and mental perceptions being engrossed by a fight between two sparrows on the gra3S plot outside. It is needless to say that Tommy did not " get on " under the " system," and that Tommy's mamma looked upon Madame as a fraud in consequence. Towards her new pupil, Adela Mortimer, Madame felt irresistibly attracted. She was such a decided improvement in appearance, manners, and understanding on Tommy Perkins. Madame was one of those people on whom personal beauty has an all-powerful influence. Some women—of a certain age—in her position would have been rather repelled and embittered by the contemplation of Adela's fresh young loveliness as contrasted with their own waning charms., but Madame's nature was far too generous and sympathetic for such a littleness as that. There was no arrierc pensed in the admiration, warm and open as if she had belonged to the sterner sex, with which she regarded the beauty of her young pupil. She rejoiced in it as in the contemplation of a lovely flower or fine work of art, and yet with a deeper sympathy still than either of the latter could have evoked.

Then an extra interest was imparted by the fact that she had chosen Adela as the type for her heroine—that was to be; and as she coached the young lady, in her own airy style, through her musical difficulties, it is to be feared that she passed many a faulty passage in the study of the pose of the pretty head, the rippling waves of the golden hair, the thousand-and-one charms which simply bewildered her in their embarras des ricJtesses, and foiled her honest endeavours to commit them all. to paper. Adela took a strong liking to Madame in her impulsive, school-girl fashion. Her natural vanity was flattered by the admiration which she evidently inspired, and the pleasant bonhonwtie which characterised her instructress was so welcome a relaxation after the frigid rule which prevailed at home.

This mutual liking being established, it is not difficult to conceivo that Adela was in a fair way of making progress under her new teacher. The latter's system.was a little bewildering at first, but suited Adela, nevertheless, much better than a more painstaking and exacting plan of tuition would have done. To-day, however, having striven conscientiously for some time to bring her playing of " Golden Bells " into some sort of approximation to the model which Madame had set her yesterday, she began to be a little disgusted at the want of success which attended so unusual an amount of application.

Madame had retired to the seclusion of her own room, where, with her fingers pushing her hair into a state of glorious untidiness, she was absorbed in the delicious agony of her first chapter. Miss Voyle had gone out for the ostensible purpose of paying an afternoon call on some friends—a genteel little excuse which cloaked a certain mysterious process of " fitting on," for which the industrious little hyposrite reckoned eventually to receive a modest pecuniary recompense. Adela was therefore practically alone in the house, and very dull she found it. After fidgetting about on the music stool for a few minutes she rose and advanced to the table, being attracted thither by the sight and perfume of a small bunch of fragrant white violets, which seemed to rejuvenate the old cracked teacup which contained them. Adela bent over, and sniffed at them several times with infinite satisfaction. " What gems 1" she said to herself, resting her elbows on the table, and regarding them with idle enjoyment. " I wonder where Madame Bellairs got them." Then her gaze wandered to the window, which gave a view of the neglected garden —a long, rambling, old-fashioned garden, enclosed between high walls, against which could be seen the wrecks of what once had been splendid fruit trees; a garden full of wonderful wildernesses of rose bushes intertwined with every possible variety of weed, winding its way down between its ivyclothed walls to the still more ruinous old wall at the foot, through which a rustic door gave access to the path by the mill stream, which had once been the favourite evening promenade of the Fuggletonians, but had long since been deserted in favour of a more pretentious rival. Adela's gaze threaded the picturesque wilderness until it was arrested by a curve which concealed the.lower portion of it from her view; then a sudden idea struck her: "Those vjolets must grow somewhere in the garden; I'll go and see," Without pausing to consider whether suoh a proceeding was in exact pursuance of that line of conduct which her mother had in* tended her to follow at Madame Bellairs', Adela picked up her hat, whisked out of, the back door, and was soon trotting down the grass-grown path, halting here apd there, on violet hunt intent.

Madame, meanwhile, on the upper floor, immersed in the intricacies of her undeveloped plot, was sublimely unconscious of' the fact that the sound of the piano had ceased, and that her pupil was •* wasting her time." On and on went Adela, finding much amusement in her explorations until she had turned the bend and nearly gained the foot of the garden. At this.point the boundary wall between Madame Bellairs' ground and that of Mrs

Bruce was in a very bad state.indeed —bad, that is to say, considered in the light of a sound and useful piece of masonry, but for the purposes of my tale it was in a very excellent 'condition, being tumbled down and crumbled away untilonly about three feet of it remained perpendicular, and this seemed to be only held together by*the long trailing ivy, Just opposite, this breach Adela found what she had been seeking, for from, amid a cluster of dark-green leaves .arose a delicate odour which convinced her that the violets had been run to earth at last. '. While stooping and groping among, the projecting leaves with eager hands, humming meanwhile a little snatch of song, Adela became conscious of another faint and yet pungent perfume which mingled strangely with that of her floral trophies, jlt couldn't be—yes, it was—a whiff of cigar smoke! , Adela started up, and there, on the other side of the ruined wall, and looking almost as much confused as herself, stood Edward Bruce, cigar in hand. " Oh, how you made me jump \ " cried Adela, with most unromantic brusqueness, feeling annoyed at the, consciousness that she was colouring over face,, neck, and temples. ' , ' Her confusion seemed to restore Edward's presence of mind. " I beg your pardon most sincerely, Miss Mortimer," he exclaimed, flinging away his cigar, and advancing bareheaded to the dividing wall with shining eyes. " I was quite unaware of your presence, I assure you. Although," he added, gathering courage after a pause, " I cannot feel altogether sorry, either." Adela's cheeks grew redder than ever as she industriously arranged and rearranged the flowers in her hands. " Why ?" she asked, with a pretty affectation of unconsciousness which would have been sufficiently transparent to the most careless looker-on. " Why," replied Edward, with a somewhat hesitating manner, but looking unutterable things out of the soft depths of his brown eyes, " I have so often wanted to speak to you, and feared I was never going to get the chance." " Well, I hope you are satisfied now," retorted Adela, mischievously, making a movement as if to depart—which, by the way, she had not the slightest intention of doing, glorying as she did in this little episode with all the keen relish of a born coquette. " Not at all," replied Edward, laughing in spite of his earnestness. " Pray don't go yet, Miss Mortimer. Are you really offended with me, then!" , " I ought to be practising." "Is Madame Bellairs so very strict 1 " and amusement mingled with the love in EdWard's eyes. Adela caught the expression, and felt a little huffed. "It isn't because I care for Madame Bellairs being cross, but I know I oughtn't to be.talking c to you," she replied, with a lofty assumption of propriety, and making another move to retreat.

Some instinct warned Edward that it would not be politic to argue the point, so he dropped the knotty question accordingly. " You wouldn't be so Cruel as to go away yet, Miss Mortimer," he uttered in beseeching tones, " when I have hardly spoken half-a-dozen words to you." , " Well, what do you want to say to me 7" asked Adela, hypocritically, looking steadfastly at her boots, as she paused on the path. ' The time was hardly ripe for such a question as this to be taken due advantage of; so Edward, after struggling between the sense of his opportunities and his bashfulness, sought refuge in generalities. " Oh, ever so many things! I can't think of them all in such a short space of time. What lovely violets 1" he exclaimed with great fervour, his gaze being fixed intently on Adela's face, however, not on the flowers. The girl looked ujS', and their eyes met. She blushed and treinbled, and let her glance fall again.

" We haven't any violets in our garden," continued Edward, in a somewhat shaky voice. "You might spare me just two or three!" . ' '•'■ "You can have them all, if you like," replied Adela, nonchalantly; " I can get plenty more for myself." And she extended the bunch towards him. An electric shock passed through Edward as Adela's delicate fingers touched his, and he made such a bungling business of taking the flowers that two or three dropped to the ground. In a moment he had sprung over the low wall, and \\as picking them up; then, apparently alarmed at his own presumption, leaped back again into his own domains. Adela, somewhat disconcerted too at this unexpected piece of temerity, decided to cut the interview short, and 'hurried back to the house in a whirl of pleasing excitement quite new in her experience, leaving Edward pressing the violets to his lips in a state of mind more easily imagined (by anyone who has been in love) than described. Chapteb VIII. How some good resolutions were rolled up in a pudding., The little incident chronicled in our last chapter was duly detailed to Patty at the next cookery lesson. The description, as naively given by Adela, was received by Her hearer with many a burst of merriment, and many a gesture indicative of wohdeiment and admiration. Having thoroughly digested the narration with a great appearance of enjoyment, she thought proper at its close to assume a certain amount of righteous disapproval, and lecture Miss Adela a little on her want of riruderice. " Loir', Miss Adler, you'd make a cat laugh to hear yer 1 But ; ypu shouldn't ha' spoke to him first, if you'd ha' asked my advice." " Goodness gracious, Patty I how could I ask your advice when you weren't there? And I was so startled at seeing him that I couldn't stop to consider everything before I said • oh P .could I ?" Patty was silenced, but not convinced; and, with a calm superiority to reason which was one of her characteristics, still shook her head dubiously. "You said a lot more'n 'oh,' seems to me, Miss Adler," she said presently. "This is a wicked world, my dear; and young., ladies, j with pobty faces like, youra ought to,,,be

very circumspections as to how they.opmmits theirselves." . J , ' , ' ■ i '".Well, 1 What did I say or do?" .cried Adela, rather hotly. / «' I only gave him some violets when he asked me—you wouldn't have had me say ' No' downright, and be ru"de to such a nice young gentleman as Mr Edward Bruce," she. added saucily, with an .exaggerated imitation of Patty's manner when speaking of that young man.. ' . * Patty good-humouredly joined in the laugh at her own expense, gazing at " Miss Adler " meanwhile with admiration of what she considered her great cleverness; but, having encased herself in an armour of propriety, was not to be moved from her standpoint, nevertheless. u Ah, Miss Adler," she exclaimed, with an air of pious demureness which seemed to sit uneasily on her " bizarre " features, " I neverknowed no good come of young ladies a-rnshin' into love- affairs athout' the advice of their helders. If you'd only ha' consulted me, my dear, afore you 'ad any think to say to'im—--"

" I declare, Patty, if you croak like that, I won't tell you anything more about it*" returned the wilful little beauty with a pout, as she chopped .away viciously at the suet: "Just as if 1 could have helped it the least bit in the world! It was all his fault; and I ; won't have anything' more to say to him.' I don't see that he's so .awfully handsome, after all!" ' " ; . "La, Miss. Adler, 'ow can you say so?" cried the inconsistent Patty, stopping short in the act of putting a shovelful of coals on the fire, and looking aghast at such heresy. " Why, everybody says he's the 'andsomest young man in Fuggleton—barrin' Squire. Norton, of course, if he wasn't so bpwlegged. Now Mr Bruce's legs, Miss Adler, is as straight as—as. that broom'andle," she cried triumphantly, after looking about the kitchen for a suitable illustration.. Adela could not help laughing. , " His legs were behind the wall, so I couldn't judge," she answered'; and then relapsing into petulance; " and 1 don't care a bit whether they're straight or crooked; He isn't so very handsome, after all!" "When you told 1 "'-mo yourself in this kitching 'arf an hour ■ ago, Miss Adler," uttered Patty, with solemn deliberation, " that his hi's' was, somethin' unhiitterable, and 'is voice seemed to 1 go through you when he said—what was it he said 1 " j "It doesn't matter what he'said," replied Adela, shaking her head and blushing; "that has nothing to do with his looks. I don't say that he's ugly, or that he isn't nice, but I'm not going to be preached at oil his account. There i isn't that suet chopped enough yet, Patty 1 " " Lor', that's not anear fine enough, Miss Adler!" cried Patty, bustling up, and kicking the cat out of the fender, with an air' of great energy and importance. "Just you give the chopper to me, and I'll soon let you see suet as'is suet"—suiting the action to the word. Adela resigned the chopper very cheer-, fully, and; seating herself on the fender,' took the discomfited cat in ! her lap. •' Now, if I was you, Miss Adler," said Patty presently, when she stopped to take breath, holding up the suet chopper like a big warning finger, " I'd just be a bit standhoffish with 'im for a while. Just let 'im see you aren't dyin' after 'im, like, some of the Fuggleton young ladies I knows on, but just give 'im encouragement enough to keep life' in 'im, so to speak." "What do you know about love affairs, Patty?" was Adela's reply, with the contempt of a finished coquette who has had any amount of experience. "Did you ever have a sweetheart?" Patty was too much accustomed to her young mistress' left-handed compliments to take any offence at the implied reflection on her personal charms. " Lor', no young men never bothered me, Miss Adler—and a good job, too!" she replied, with a discordant cackle of a laugh. was, rather. Ah, you may stare, Miss Adler, but she. isn't a bit like me—nobody never would take us to be sisters—and she.'ad a sweet'ut. Lor', what a f ass there was over that feller, to be sure I—enough to sicken anybody with sweet'uts for hever and hover," cried Patty, with a contemptuous snort, as she resumed her chopping, i "Was he nice-looking, Patty?" asked Adela, with the quick interest of a young girl in a love story!

" Well, 'andsome is as 'andsome does,, they do say, Miss Adler, and if we're to go by that he was as ugly as sin'! But poor Lizzie, she thought 'im the' loveliest feller that ever walked, and a n'ice,stoopid she made of 'erself over 'im, and a nice fix she's in now 'cause of 'is villainy. Oh the wretch'!" cried Patty, vehemently flourishing the chopper with so bloodthirsty an air that the cat jumped out of Adela's lap, and took refuge 'under the dresser. " Didn't they get married,,-then ?" asked Adela, her chin on her hand, and her eyes opened wide with interest. " Yes, they did, worse luck 1 and then he got tired of 'er, I s'pose, like all them Lunnon swells does when they picks up pretty girls in country places. And he couldn't bide 'er relations—we wasn't starchy enough for a swell like 'im ; and 'im and Lizzie 'ad words, and he went off and left 'er, and she 'avent seen so much as 'is coat-tails since." " Does she care, about him awfully?" ' " Care about 'im ?' Lor', Miss 'Adlel,,she's just-wild about'im, and,sits and frets,'and. pines erself into, a shadder. But there, a lot Qjf it's 'er own fault, as I've telled'er over and over again when I've been a-tryin' to comfort 'er. 'Lizzie;''l says,'if you 'adn't been ! such a vain peacock, and'throwed yourself in 'is way, as you might ha'knpwed .wouldn't come to no good, and'im such a swell, it would only ha';been a passin' fancy, and h'd ha' gone back to 'is own people, and you might ha' married Jim Feffars, that's been a'-courtin' you for years.' '' Never !' she' says, as if you'd stuck a pin in her; «I could never ha' thought, of nobody else in the wide world.' * Ah,' I says,«you're like a child spoilt with too much sweetstuff as can't relish 'olesome food,'. But, lor', she can't listen to no reason, Miss Adler, as she's too far gone,'; and in my opinion she'll be in 'er grave, afore another year's out, for ever since 'er baby died (he went and left 'er long afore»the baby was born) she's just.like, a liyin' corpse, and don't take no interest 'jln. nothing'" " " ,; " ' j

" Doesn't she know where he lives ? " ; ',,,, u No' more 'n Adam. He* was what J-hey : calls a towerist when she picked up with |im, and she used to take fruit to, sell; at the hinn where he was 1 stoppin', and he was reg'lar took'aback with'er good loqiks—for she was a real pretty gal then, Miss Adler, though I says it—arid she led 'iin on, and " put 'orself in 'is way, and they got married, offhanded, without no thought nor, .counsel asked of nobody. And he vowed to love and cherish heir —the wicked black villain ! ( he did—and then went off and left her. Oh, if I could 'ave my will on 'im I" And Tatty., poked the fire with ,a vehe-. mence that seemed to relieve her feelings, and made Adela jump up out of the way of the flying cinders. ~ " . "Now, "look 'ere, Miss Adler," resumed Patty, when her mental excitement had subsided a little, " that 'ere pot's boilin' for the rolypoly puddin', and the paste 's mixed, so now you can spread the jam arter you be given it a roll out,'which 'll be good practice for you by the time you makes' puddin's for Mr Edward Bruce^" This little thrust, delivered with a mischievous leer, roused Adela from.'the reverie into which she was falling, on hearing the above tale'of blighted affection. . " You little wretch I" she cried, laughing; and seizing a h'airbroom which was conveniently to hand,'proceeded to' chase Patty ,; with it round the kitchen. Having at length J driven her shrieking prey into a corner; she went on to brush her face, neck, and head with the broom 1 , Patty meanwhile laughing, protesting, and struggling. ; The boiling over of the pot, with a tremendous hissing, brought the combatants back to a recollection of the sorely-inter-rupted cookery lesson; and, laying down the broom, Adela applied herself, with flushed face and disordered hair, to the manufacture of the pudding. Patty, too, resumed business with much zest after this appetising little break in its monotony. " Look 'ere, Miss Adler, this jam's too thick ; it'll ooze out at the sides, and make' a mess." " Oh, bother, Patty ! I like plenty of jam —none of your scrape puddings for me'; I'll eat up what falls out at' the sides, so there won't be any mess. Now, move out of the way, you meddling little torment. You will have a finger in everything I'm doing, even " Adela stopped with a laugh and a blush. " Yes, even in your courtin', Miss Adler," cried Patty, finishing the sentence with a broad grin of delight. '" Well, and why not? Aren't'l the proper:person to advise yer, seeiri' as yer ma 'asn't got no taste for love affairs ? And can't yer see, Miss Adler, from my poor sister, how pertickler you ought to be not to make yourself too cheap 1 If she'd been more standhoffish with 'im, and not jumped down 'is throat, he'd 'ave vallied 'er more, likely." ...•>• Adela made a little rnovement of ini* patience. , " ' " When you preach at me like that, Patty you make my lingers all thumbs witti'fidget tiness. Now that pudding's gone all floppy and I can't do anything with it, and you'll just have to finish it yourself." ; And, whisking off her apron, Adela bounded out of the kitchen, leaving Patty with a comically discomfited expression on' her face. . ' Notwithstanding her petulance Adela was of a somewhat pliable disposition, easily influenced by those about her, and she,pon- ; dered a good deal over the little bit of worldly wisdom with which Patty had seasoned her domestic instruction that morning; Not being head over ears in love with Edward' Bruce, and yet sufficiently " smitien" to desire to cultivate his admiration arid' good opinion, she decided onpursuing the policy of " standhoffishness" as recommended by her cunning little counsellor. ; It was therefore in vain that Edward took violently to gardening,'with the hope of 'repeating the interview so unexpected and delicious* and he was getting very'desperate ( when a new idea struck him which he put into execution without loss of time. (To be oontimicd.)

LADIES'GOSSIP. ,

—The presents sent to the young bride of the Emperor of China almost equal in variety . and splendour the jubilee gifts to»the Pope. - Among theni were 10 piebald, horses witb complete trappings, 200, pieces of cotton, . material, 200oz of gold, 12,0000z of silver, 20; horses with complete trappings, and 20horses - without trappings. , Not only did the bride receive presents, but her parents came in for a goodly share also, including a large proportion of horses, which would indicate either that they intend fitting out a cavalry regiment or fco run a stock farm. —An amusing reversal of trie ordinary rules of ballroom etiquette has. .been . made this season at .many of»;the juvenile gatherings.., The innovation takes the fprm of the , ." Leap Year Lancers," and in compliment of the season the young ladies have the.privilege of invit-. * ing the young gentlemen to dance.. The.fua is heightened and the quadrille, made .more whimsioal if the positions of the dancers are also reversed, the lady acting as gentleman, - : —Galignani gives some particulars of the American ladies who have married impoigtant Frenchmen :—Madame Waddington,;wife,.of. the French Ambassador in London, was Miss King, of New York, and her father was one president of the Columbia College. Madame • r Olemenceau was Miss Mary Hummer, of Greenwich, Connecticut. Madame ceau is frequently seen at public receptions with, her husband,, but, with the exception of an occasional appearance on invita.tioh at ; the United. States Minister's, she is seldom, found in.American circles at Paris. This la > said to be due to the influence of her has--band, who wishes his wife to. become "wholly Fiencb," and he has succeeded admirably. Madame Clemenceau. speg&s the language with only a slight accent, and has adapted herself readily to her new sur-. roundings. .. —"Many a Slip' Twist Cup and Lip."—A ,- young lady in bad her prospects of' . marriage cut short at the last moment through a pair of gloves. It is true the gloves had 22-, - buttons each. This is how it all happened.. \ ?b.e guests, vfitb,- the bridegroom Jn *peja.k t&ejr

patiently waiting half an hour for the bride.- At last the father became fidgetty, and sent to make inquiries. The chambermaid came back to say that the young lady was putting on her gloves. Another wait, and further inquiries. The gloves had a total of 44 buttons, and were hard to button. A third wait, and a third message. This time the maid returned with the announcement that three buttons had sprung, and had to be stitched on again. The bridegroom thereupon walked out, saying he would wait in the next room. But when they afterwards came to look for him he was nowhere to be found, and a few minuteß later a messenger brought a note, in which the young man stated that "he was very sorry, but certainly he should never have sufficient patience to be the husband of Mademoiselle X."—Le Droit des Femmes.

—The Marchioness de Mores, who will some day be Duchess de Vallombrosa, was Miss Medora von Hoffmann, of New York. She and the Marquis have gone to India, intending to spend a year in hunting. The life of the Marchioness in the Far West has made her one of the best shots in the world, and her ambition at present is to be the first woman to kill a rhinoceros. The Prince of Wales has given JM. and Madame de Mores letters of introduction to all the rajahs and maharajahs, and their friendly relations with Lord Dufferin, the Viceroy, will also add greatly to their sources of entertainment while in India.

—At the Battle of Flowers, which took place at Cannes in February, the prizes for the most tastefully decorated carriages consisted of 10 hand-painted satin banners adorned with ribbons. The first prize was awarded to a small donkey-carnage in which were seated two little children dressed in pale blue, and embowered in hyacinths, violets, and anemones tied with blue ribbon. Lady Julian Goldsmith's carriage was decorated with white hyacinths and blue ribbon, the occupants being attired in white and blue. An American lady and ber children wore pale yellow, and carried large palm-leaf ferns adorned with yellow roses, ribbons, and white lilac, while the carriage, horses, and harness were covered with mimosa. Bouquets were thrown with precision and force, and small boys ran about eagerly picking them up to sell over again. —Her Majesty Queen Kapiolani is said to have returned to her dominions with an unimpaired relish for . eating live fishj and scooping up x)'oi out of a calabash with her royal fingers, after the manner of her own native land. She says that the London police have more power than the King of Hawaii. They have only to hold up their hands and all the people obey them. —No young woman having proper regard for her own subsequent health or that of her offspring should marry before she has arrived at maturity—in this country usually between •20 and 23 years of age.. A man reaches his full development later—between 25 and 30 years. There may very well be a difference of 10 years between husband and wife. The former ought to be in his prime at 40, whereas the latter at the same age is commonly—well, not quite so fresh looking as she was. And what husband is there whose wife is still dear to him but desires that she should prolong her good looks into his old age ? A too early marriage, by bringing in its train ill health, soon causes a young wife to appear careworn. The power to be spiritual or interesting in other ways may exist, but still good looks never fail to exercise powerful sway in a household, and a woman, even when married, should be careful to retain her bloom and comeliness, if only for her husband. —Philadelphia Press. "—Many of the ladies who wear the furlined cloaks that,are now so fashionable are, no doubt, under the impression that the skins with which they delight to load themselves are choice and rare. The St. James' Gazette says : " As a matter of fact, most of these cloaks are lined with rabbitskins. Their lightness of hue proclaims them to be foreign, and, indeed, most of them come from Poland. In the town of Lissa, one of the chief industries is the dressing of rabbitskins, and many thousands are exported every year. For the more expensive cloaks, squirrelskins are used, the Siberian squirrel being most in request. Oddly enough while we receive great numbers of rabbitskins from Russia, we likewise send large quanties thither. Many muffs and fur cloaks are made with the skins of the ordinary domestic cat, the Dutch variety. Thousands of cats are annually reared in Holland solely foi the sake of their fur, which is longer and softer than that of the English cat. A jet-black catskin is the most valuable, and a good one is worth, in its unmanufactured slate, about half a sovereign.. It is a thousand pities that the redundant cats of London cannot be utilised in some such fashion as this."

—" Sierre" is the assumed name of Lady Granville Gordon, the aristocratic milliner. When Sierre first commenced business she was too timid to deal directly with her customers, but found that to be successful in trade she would have to take a personal interest in her patronesses; so laying aside false pride, shynes, and other obstacles, Lady Granville Gordon waited on purchasers herself. Of course she, has had to run the gauntlet'of being " cut "by members of the ■" upper ten " in consequence of being engaged in trade, but the kind hearted Duchsss of leak continues her attached friend, and visits shec as such; but invitations to Marlborough House have ceased. —The Princess Dagmar of Sweden, who deserted the court of Oscar II to become Mrs Thomas, wife of an Ambassador of the United States, is (says an American paper) much pleased with Washington. She has been in this country only eight weeks. She is a pretty woman, and is making many friends at the capital. —When a portion of Calabria was recently threatened with an epidemic—Asiatic fever —a'number of ladies "of high degree" banded themselves together, says our contemporary, La Rassegna degli Interessi Femminili, to avert the calamity. They collected money to supply the destitute with wholesome food and decent clothing, in this way preventing the dreaded disease from falling on congenial soil. Not only did these ladies effect the desired material result, but they set a noble example of self-sacrifice which will long be remembered in the locality.

—Mrs John Jacob Astor, who fecentle died in New York, had at her own disposal an

annual income of more than IOO.OOOdoI, the whole of which she annually applied to objects of Christian charity, besides giving he own attention to many of these objects. When such a person, whether man or woman, dies, society is a heavy loser. —New York Independent. —The Prince of Wales, who has just celebrated his silver wedding, is the first of his title to enjoy such an event. —Lady Burdett-Coutts appears very little in London society. She is now willing to confess herself an old woman, but the attention of her young husband is constant and devoted. ~

—A correspondent of Notes and Queries thus classifies jewels according to the month of the year: January, garnet; February, amethyst; March, bloodstone; April, diamond; May, emerald; June, agate; July, cornelian; August, sardonyx; September, chrysolite;' October, opal; November,- topaz; December, turquoise. These are the precious stones for the months according to the Polish fashion. Planetary rings were formed of the gems assigned to the different planets, each set in appropriate metal. Particulars of these may be found in Ragiel, " Book of Wings." I think that King's "Antique Gems" gives the list of virtues attributed to the various gems in the.Middle Ages.

—Jus,t before the Prince of Wales left for the Eiyiera, says a cable despatch to the New York Sun, he proved how use'ful he might really make himself in a social way if he chose. He had been invited to an "at home," and upon having a list of guests submitted by his hostess, as is customary in such cases, he passed his pencil through the names of three invited ladies. When asked by the hostess the reason of his objection he replied: "My dear madam, I cannot explain. Ask your husband. He should nothave permitted you to know such people."

—A writer on the Paris fashions in the Daily Telegraph says: " There is a thirst for gold this winter that nothing seems to allay, It is used in a variety of ways; a great many of the handsomest evening gowns worn at. the many receptions, dinners, arid balls—that are rendering this season one of the gayest on record—have some gold in their composition ; now in the form of gold-bead fringes, forming a glitteiing shower over panel and plastron; now interwoven in the material itself, whether, silk or satin, gause or tulle, or again applied with the embroidery needle upon such light silken tissues as Bengaline, or in the shape of passementerie—arabesques executed in gold, gilt beads and, spangles, which suit heavier tissues, such as faille and velvet. Parisian milliners, having used gold trimmings in great profusion for dressy winter bonnets, are ready to resort to io again for early spring, having discovered some new and exquisitely harmonious combinations of gold filligraine with,. colours, out of which are wrought garlands of leaves in high relief, and fine lace-like tracery, to be mounted on bonnets made of quilted tulle, the tinted meshes of which, are slightly burnished will gold. The same glace tulle composes pretty little poufs for the hair, with a few sprays of aigrette, gilt grasses, ears of corn, or small flowerlets in filligraine. Lilies of the .valley, hyacinths, and fern-fronds in gold look very well also with bits of green velvet maidenhair, or as' a finish to a ribbon rosette of the same colour as the dress; coloured gauze butterflies, too, are set in a tiny sheaf of metallic grasses, and a couple of peacocks' feathers painted with gold dust may be treated in. the same way." —Lady Randolph Churchill was much admired at the various courts through which she recently passed with her husband. Her vivacity and cleverness delighted and astonished the royalties. —The number of tall ladies now in Washington society is noteworthy. A niece of Secretary Bayard, Miss Bayard, of Baltimore, is 6ft tall; Speaker Carlisle's wife is sft 9in, and General Greely's wife, Mrs Wilkinson, wife l of Representative Wilkinson, of New Orleans, and Miss Gintner, of Kentucky, are about the same height—N. Y. Herald. —Galignani has interviewed Worth, the prince of dressmakers, about his business in Paris. The following are some of the things the great man said:—" Those ladies are wisest who leave the choice entirely to us. By so doing they are always better pleased in the end, and the reputation of the house is sustained. Curiously enough, the persons who realise this fact most clearly are precisely those whom you might fancy the most difficult to please. For example, a telegram comes from the Empress of Russia—'Send me a dinner dress.' Nothing more. We are left absolute freedom as to stjle and material. Not that the Empress is indifferent in the matter of dress. Quite the. contrary. She will sometimes require that all the ladies' costumes at a certain ball be pink, or red, or blue. And her own toilets are always masterpieces of elegance. The point is that she trusts our judgment rather than her own. In the same way, during the last few days we have, received over 20 telegrams from Madrid for ball and we shall make them up as we may think best.'' " How long does it take to fill these telegraphic orders ?" Why, we generally want a week, but if necessary we can finish a costume in 24 hours. We have had French ladies order a dress in the morning and dance in it at night. I remember once making a' gown for theEmpress'Eugehie in three hours arida-half, Of course such rapidity would be impossible if elaborate work was Required., It often takes weeks to complete an embroidered gown. At the time of the coronation of the present Emperor of Russia we had. girls working night and day for six weeks on a court train for the Empress, which was covered with magnificent embroidery in real silver. That train alone cost 25,0C0fr, arid will be preserved in the State Museum*as an historical curiosity. You ask me if fabulous sums are sometimes paid for dresses. It is quite impossible • to make any estimate as to that. If you begin putting on gold thread, jewels, &c, of course there is no limit to the cost. Some years ago a Peruvian heiress paid us 120,00,0fr for a single gown, 118,000fr being the cost of the laces, alone. A few weeks ago we sold a cloak for 45,00Qf, of which 44,000fr went for the fur. Oh yes; we count arnong our patrons the ladies of all the courts in the',civilised world; j that'is, all with a single exception—Queen Victoria has never honoured us with her patronage,^

HOME INTEBESXS. Elderberbies (to preserve).—These may be preserved in exactly the same way as black or red currants. In country places they are often used in tarts and puddings.— Matka. Coooanut Dbops.—Boil together four cups of water, ftwo and a-half cups of fine white sugar, four spoonfuls of vinegar, and a piece of butter the size of an egg, till thick, or nearly an hour. Just before removing from the fire stir in one cup of dessicated cocoanut; and lay in small, flat cakes, on buttered plates, to cool, and harden. Plain Currant Pudding.—One pound flour, ilb suet, sugar, currants, two heaped teaspoonfulsyeastpowder,andapinch Of salt. ■ Mix all together with three-quarter pint milk, and two eggs well beaten, 20 drops essence of lemon, and half a nutmeg grated. Boil four hours. Serve with sweet or wine sauce.

Omelet (to make) —Allow one egg for each person (two eggs make a small omelet). Beat the eggs well till light, season with pepper and salt and a spoonful' of finely chopped chives, or shallot, and parsley; put a little butter in a pan, and when it is melted and hot put in the eggs,&c, and fry. When the underside is coloured, and the top is about the consistency of scrambled eggs, sHp it out of the pan into a hot dish, fold it over, and serve at once.

Vermicelli Pudding. Parboil 12oz vermicelli, drain it in a sieve, and put into a stewpan with a quart of milk, 4oz butter, sugar, the juice and grated rind of two oranges, the grated rind of one lemon, and the juice of half a one, and a little salt; cover and let it simmer slowly until the milk is nearly absorbed; turn out to cool on a dish. Then add the yolks of six eggs, and the whites beaten into a stiff froth; mix thoroughly yet lightly. Put it into a wellbuttered mould, arid bake for an hour and ahalf in a moderate oven. When done, turn it on a dish and serve with sauce.

Pancakes.—Take lib flour, two eggs, half a teaspoonful of baking-powder, a quart of milk, mix into a comparatively thin batter; put a little lard in the pan and pour batter enough to form a cake about the thickness of a penny piece. When done on one side, toss it so as to turn over, but if too unskilful to do this, turn it with a slice. Y/hen there is a nice clean snow on the ground, a little mixed with the batter will make it light without either eggs or soda. Serve with lemon juice and sugar. Swiss Roll.—The weight of two eggs in castor sugar and flour; beat the eggs well, add the sugar and flour gradually, and half a teaspoonful of baking-powder; beat together for a few minutes, put the mixture in a buttered tin about 12in long and 6in or 7in wide, and quite shallow; bake in a quick oven for five minutes, slip it out on to a clean cloth, spread it with jam, and roll it up and sprinkle sugar over it. Another way: Beat three eggs thoroughly, add a teacupful of sugar, the same of flour, half a teaspponf ul of cream of tartar, and quarter a teaspoonful cf carbonate of soda dissolved in a very little water; this quantity will require a larger tin. '• ' -''■