went, secured for them the greatest variety of incidents, which they were well able to make the most of.

It was not long after Mrs. D had left Brighton, where she devoted herself exclusively to the care of her health, that she yielded to the many pressing invitations which she had received from her old friends the Garringtons. The Garringtons were pleasant people; they were hospitable, and knew how to make the best use of the appliances within their reach. They had children in abundance, of all sizes and ages, and two grownup daughters, who were among the most popular girls in Belgravia, were the immediate cause of those dinners and concerts and thés dansantes for which the Garringtons had made themselves famous. young ladies were always surrounded by a knot of Cavalières servantes, who were ever ready to fetch and carry, but these retrievers were for the most part poor, younger_sons studying at the bar. However, Lady Garrington was not disquieted on their account, for she had too much confidence in her daughters' common sense, and in the principles she had inculcated, to have the slightest fear of their making a wrong move in the game of life which lay before them. Our friend Mrs. D

These

was

a great acquisition in a country house, for she possessed a fund of good humour, was always ready to be of use, had a remarkable talent for conversation, as well as other resources, which made her the life and soul of whatever society she frequented. It was soon after her arrival at Garrington Manor that she sat herself down to write to 'her boy,' as she always called her son. Her letters were more or less of a journal, but as they are descriptive of the scenes in which she played so conspicuous a part, we will let them speak for themselves.

'MY DEAR BOY,-Your mother has so much confidence in your care for number one that she will not begin her letter in the old style, "this comes hopping you are well as it leaves me;" but I will tell you my adventures since I left the Pail Mall of the seaside. Here I am at last

at Garrington Manor, after the many pressing invitations which I have till now left unheeded. It was by no means a difficult journey, which, however, Rachel' (her maid, ED. L. S.) 'made even less difficult than it would have been, for her pretty face captivated guards and porters to such a degree that we received the greatest consideration and attention from them, and I doubled it down in my memory as a thing to be remembered that elderly women who are addicted to travelling about should secure the attendance of a pretty girl as lady's maid. On my arrival at the station I found everything ready for the removal of myself, bag and baggage, to the Manor; and when we arrived at the door a bevy of the most polite and obsequious servants awaited me, hastening to relieve me of my inseparable bag, and assuring me that Lady Garrington had been anxiously expecting me. Before I could turn round I found myself greeted in the warmest manner possible by my lady, who would insist upon my coming to her own room and having some tea (she knew my weak point), away from all the racket and noise which the young people were said to be making over croquet on the lawn. After sufficient time had been allowed for Rachel to unpack, I took refuge in my own room, having ascertained at what hour I was expected to make my appearance. I found Rachel in high glee, getting over her duties with wonderful alacrity, from which I inferred that she had again made a favourable impression, and that men are the same everywhere. You know I always like to be in time, and hate rushing down at the last moment into the midst of a crowd of people whom I don't know; so when Rachel had turned me off to her satisfaction, and I had been properly got up à quatre épingles, I descended to the drawing-room and found that I had it all to myself. Presently, however, the door opened, and a handsome youth, whom I had never seen before to my knowledge, sauntered in. It would be incorrect to say he walked in, it would be more true to say he rolled himself in. We looked

at each other, and the handsome youth seemed to grow afraid of me, for instead of approaching the part of the room where I sat, he rolled himself on towards the window, while he drew a cambric handkerchief from his pocket and tenderly smoothed his young moustache. Again the door opened, and a fair and pretty girl tripped in, looking light and airy as a gossamer. She came towards me; I rose, we curtseyed, we squiddled, and said a few nothings to each other, and then the handsome youth began to thaw in the presence of beauty, and we all talked together of la pluie et le beau temps till the gong sounded, and many steps were heard approaching, and the Brownes and the Whites and the Garringtons all flocked in and greeted me.

At din

ner the handsome youth sat on my right and Beauty next to him. He was supercilious, and she listened devoutly to his dull platitudes, and I speculated upon how small an amount of thoughts and ideas, when in combination with beaux yeux the tender passion can take root in and exist. Well, all things come to an end, and so did my first evening at Garrington Manor, which I was not sorry for.

'The next morning, after having given special directions to Rachel to have my room ready as soon as she could, that I might write my letters, I went down to breakfast, and, to my dismay, found the whole party assembled, busily engaged in discussing their breakfast, but in almost solemn silence. The Garringtons, père et mère, were absorbed in their letters, while the rest waited patiently for such scraps of news as were vouchsafed to them at intervals. It was a solemn affair, and I became more convinced that it

would be a wiser custom for people to eat their breakfast in their own rooms and not appear in public till they had been sustained and fortified by it. However, my late entrance created a diversion. I found your letter on my plate and put it into my pocket after I had satisfied myself that you were all right. No sooner was breakfast over than I found myself seized upon by the

second Garrington girl, who entreated me to go with them. "Where in the name of heaven am I to go?" I inquired, thinking all the while that I had only just come, and longing to be quiet in my own room. After having quelled Miss Helen's energetic entreaties by an assurance that I would do whatever was required of me, I found myself engaged to go to Vere Abbey, a beautiful old ruin, I was told, where it was proposed to have a pic-nic. You know my horror of pic-nics, where people try their best to make themselves as uncomfortable as they can under the pretence of amusing themselves. The handsome youth was attacked by Beauty with numberless inquiries whether he could make a fire of damp sticks and boil a kettle, and I was amused at his look of consternation. However, there is no use in contending with the inevitable, so I quietly acquiesced and came down at the appointed hour duly equipped. The handsome youth and I began to fraternise, and I could not deny myself the malicious pleasure of teasing him by assuming that pic-nics were his métier, and that we all looked to him for help under the host of probable difficulties which I described as vividly and painfully as I could, while he sat on thorns at the prospect before him. When the carriages came round we were not long in arranging and disposing of our party. We all tried to be as merry as we could, and, luckily for us, the sun shone out brightly. After lionising Vere Abbey, which is really a beautiful ruin belonging to the old family of the De Veres, we disposed of ourselves according to our inclinations, and the whole party was scattered here and there, on the understanding that at a given time all should reassemble for luncheon. I had fortunately brought my drawing-book and prepared to sketch the ruin, when I was interrupted by some of the younger Garringtons, who assured me they delighted in nothing so much as watching a person draw. "Had I any colours? Oh! yes, I see, there they are. May we look at them?" A thousand questions were asked about what colours made what shades. "Had I a spare sheet of

drawing-paper? Would I let them have it?" To all of which I was as complaisant as possible, and soon I saw my colour-box in a mess, my brushes saturated with water and paint, the spare sheet daubed over, and in despair I gave up the attempt on finding that I was expected to give a drawing lesson to my young friends, who ran off the moment luncheon-time drew near, leaving me to tidy it all as best I might. Then followed luncheon, when we sat on the damp grass or on the carriage-cushions, eating cold chicken and pies and salad, which is always on such occasions associated in my mind with slugs and earwigs. After the cravings of hunger had been satisfied we dispersed again, while the servants regaled themselves and packed up the knives and forks, &c., when we were hurried off, Lady G- in despair that it was already so late, as a party of neighbours were expected to dinner, and unless we made great haste there would be scarcely time to dress, which was a subject of the greatest importance in Lady G's estimation. We did arrive, and, happily, before the invited guests, so Lady G- was tolerably composed, and with hasty glances at the clock we all rushed off to get ready for dinner. Rachel is invaluable at a pinch, and I was among the first to reach the drawingroom; but what with the sun, the drive home, and the hurry of dressing, I felt scorched and anything but comfortable. However, it was all part of the play, and I was in for it. We were in no lack of subjects for conversation. Vere Abbey, its past history and its present state, was a safe subject, and you will be glad to hear that your mother did not, as you say, "put her foot into it." She was wonderfully cautious and circumspect, and I am sure earned for herself the reputation of being the most matter-of-fact of dames. As far as I was concerned all would have gone on smoothly enough but for one contretemps. Something, I don't know what, perhaps I had caught cold from sitting on the damp grass, or some spiteful fly may have provoked my nose; anyhow something made me sneeze,

and in the greatest hurry I had recourse to my pocket_handkerchief, when to my dismay I found it was the one which I had had in the morning, and which in my hurry I had caught up and put into my pocket. It was all over paint, thanks to my young would-be artist friends.

'The handsome youth looked at me with astonishment, and then burst into a loud fit of laughter. Beauty was startled at such an unwonted exhibition, and inquired into the cause, which he was quite unable to explain; and I, seizing the bull by the horns, declared myself to be the innocent occasion of it, and, making a sign to him not to betray me, kept them all for some time on the tiptoe of curiosity, which I at last gratified, when they seemed to me to be vastly disappointed that it was nothing worse.

"The next day I thought I should have to myself; so I planned exactly what I would do, and again gave Rachel strict injunctions to have my room got ready as soon as possible. After breakfast was over, and I had seated myself in my chair, and had collected round me all that I needed, I began to comfort myself with the thought that I should have, at all events, an hour or two to myself, when I heard a gentle tap at the door, and a lovely child with golden hair came in, inquiring whether she might come and sit with me a little while, as her sisters and the governess were gone into the village, and her mamma had said that if she could find Mrs. D-, she was sure she would tell her some stories; and mamma says no one can tell a story as well as you. "Will oo tell me one?" added she, imploringly. Who could resist such an appeal? So I looked at my books and my pen and ink, and all my preparations, and again surrendered myself to the inevitable, but not without a sigh. I moved to the open window, placed my young friend on a chair by my side, and began my story; when again another tap at the door, and another child came in search of her sister, and entreated that she, too, might be allowed to remain and listen to the story. No one ever had

better listeners, so I ought to have been satisfied. I had nearly finished my task, when another knock at my door interrupted us, and the eldest of the sisters came to say that her mother wished me to come and sit with her in her room, till luncheon. time, if I was not otherwise engaged. At the entreaty of my young friends, I wound up my story and complied with Lady Garrington's request. So that morning was gone, and the afternoon was devoted to another excursion, after which we were all expected to play at croquet till dressing time. The next day it was the same thing over again. I got up earlier than usual, to write one or two letters which I could not put off, and after breakfast again took refuge in my room, in the hope of a few moments' peace, which I thought I had secured, for I began a letter to you, which I hoped I might finish before posttime; but at about half-past eleven I was interrupted by a tap at my door, and the door was slowly opened by the eldest daughter, who "hoped she did not disturb me," that I was not particularly engaged, because "mamma" had sent her to ask whether I would make a sketch of her. She already had one which I had done, of her eldest son, who was then with his regiment in India, and she would so like me to do one of her; and she went on to ask whether I would object to Beauty's coming too, to watch how I did it. Of course I was only too glad to be of use, and begged her to go and fetch her friend Beauty, while I got my materials ready. So, in sheer vexation of spirit, I put the letter I had begun to you into the fire, and got my paper, and chalk, and paints all ready for the operation. I knew well enough what Beauty's coming meant. It was only a prelude to my making a sketch of her; so I prepared with a good grace to receive all the hints which oozed out in due time. This occupied me the remainder of my mornings while I

stayed at the Manor; and as the afternoons were devoted to driving and croquet, and the evenings to dancing and singing, I had no time to myself, but was kept in a continual whirl of occupation which had nothing to do with the many things I wanted to do. Poor Lady Garrington! she is kindness itself, and very warmhearted, but she does not realize the fact that people have their own interests and pursuits which they may wish to attend to. She has an idea that there cannot be any happiness in the world without some sort of gaiety; that the moment breakfast has been disposed of a carte must be arranged for the disposal of every hour of the day; and that a country house must be the abode of dulness unless one is always on the trot hunting after amusement and diversion of some kind. There never can be any repose where she is, and I am no longer surprised at the way in which Lord G— shuts himself up in his own room and is scarcely visible except at meal-times. Yet her kindness is so great, and she has so much real desire to make her guests happy, and takes so much trouble to effect it (though it must be confessed that she likes to do it her own way and not theirs), that one cannot quarrel with her, or be otherwise than touched by her wish to make her house pleasant.' *

* *

The remainder of Mrs. D's letter related to matters which concerned only herself and her son, and possess no interest for others. Her week at Garrington Manor is a fair sample of life at some country houses, where there are marriageable daughters, and where frantic efforts are being made for the amusement of the company. To those who are neither in their première jeunesse nor have daughters on hand, such a life is a positive penance, from which one is only too glad to escape in spite of all its hospitality.

WHA

The

of joint. What with nationality and the needle gun, the diplomatic corps is sorely perplexed. normal state, the etiquette when matters are going on smoothly, is just this-that majesty must be represented wherever other majesty exists. Our queen may not have much to do with the sovereign prince of a state about as large (but nothing near so populous) as the parish of St. Pancras; nevertheless she must have some one to represent her at his court-to look aristocratic; to wear a court suit; to speak the prince's language; to attend levées and birthday receptions; to make a complimentary call of inquiry when the prince has the toothache; to convey an unpleasant message in words so full of politeness as to take off the sting; and to open his eyes and ears and shut his mouth whenever policy dictates caution. To a few great powers, such as Austria (dynastically great though sadly bruised), France, Prussia, Russia, and Turkey we send a very big man indeed, under the title of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary,' and give him from six to ten thousand a year to support his dignity. To states of the second rank, such as Belgium, Denmark, &c., we send an 'Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentary,' whose diplomatic pay generally varies from three to six thousand per annum. In one, the lately organized embassy to Japan, Sir Harry Parkes has the very long designation, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary and ConsulGeneral.' Some are simply 'Ministers Plenipotentiary:' and one is 'Minister Resident and Consul-General.' These gold-laced individuals have very exact rules one among another,

and among the diplomatic representatives of other countries, on all matters relating to etiquette and comparative rank; and if any one feels his pride offended by the sovereign to whom he is accredited, he makes it to be understood that his sovereign is offended; and then some kind of delicate court plaster is applied to heal up the wound. It is among these recipients of favour from the Foreign Office that a good deal of bewilderment is observable just now. Stern facts have been playing a game at nine-pins with royal and grand ducal crowns, knocking them about the heads of the luckless wearers. Not long ago there was a King of Naples (or of 'the Two Sicilies,' in diplomatic language); and there were Grand Dukes of Tuscany, Parma, and Modena. To all of these, in some form or other, our queen was wont to send envoys or ministers; but now Victor Emmanuel has turned them all out, and made their dominions component parts of the mighty kingdom of Italy; one diplomatic representative, at Florence, suffices for all; and if Italy should stand her ground well, and grow in strength, possibly our minister at that beautiful city will be raised to the dignity of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.' Then, in Germany, Prussia has swallowed up Hanover and most of the other component members of the disjointed Germanic Confederation; and although Saxony is not quite snapped up, King William has supplanted King John for all military and diplomatic purposes. It thus arises that our Sir Henry Howard has nothing particular to do at Hanover, Sir Alexander Malet nothing at Frankfort, Mr. Murray nothing at Dresden. When Maximilian became a bran-new Emperor of Mexico, we sent our Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to recognise him on the part of Queen Victoria; but if he should become -or if he has already become-a 'monarch out of business,' we shall have to see how the cards will be shuffled by Juarez, Ortegas, Santa