boy! I can quite understand a grown-up man being bettered by suffering, through reflection. But this child is too young to understand it."

As Miss Meldrum's answer was very much obscured by her dashes, I will give it without them.

"We are all short-sighted," she said, "and often cannot understand in what way the suffering works on us for our good; but we may be quite sure that the loving Father would not send it save in love. And, as to your special argument, monsieur, it would hold good if children were always to remain children but remember that boys grow up into men; and the discipline of life, of which suffering is a part, cannot begin too early."

"There is something in what you say, mademoiselle," answered Captain Maleenovsky thoughtfully; "and, though I cannot accept it as a full explanation of the awful mystery, I must reflect on it at leisure, and see what I can make of it."

While Helen went to her own room to put on her dress, Miss Meldrum thought of all she had seen and heard of Captain Maleenovsky that morning. She had been quietly taking

stock of him all along. Well, she was unmistakably drawn toward him. A strong, sturdy, manly nature; so unexpectedly revealing depths of tenderness and feeling within! O if he were only not a Russian !

When Helen returned, Captain Maleenovsky politely handed her down to the sledge. As they drove along, she could not help thinking how strange it was that, of her own will, she should be driving alone with this man, whom she had never seen till the day before, and that she should feel so much at home with him. And did not their common errand of mercy draw them still closer together? And, during that short hour, did they not reveal more of themselves to each other than they could have done in many an ordinary day?

CHAPTER V.

THE BALL.

"Romeo. What lady is that who doth enrich the hand
Of yonder knight?

Romeo. O she doth teach the torches to burn bright:
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear;

Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!"
SHAKSPERE: Romeo and Juliet.

THOSE Who have read of Anna Princess Donskaya elsewhere will not wish me to describe her again; and, to those who have not, Mr. Cameron's few words will convey a sufficiently correct idea of the comet which dazzled the fashionable world of St. Petersburg for a time. The "handsome" and "fascinating" coquette was now at the height of the triumph which she had achieved at one bound. There are men still living who will speak "with bated breath" of the "sensation" she made. Grave philosophers might laugh at the furore she excited; but it had its serious side, and had no small influence on the manners and morals of the fashionable world for a long time.

Anna had, of course, her reasons for invit

ing Mr. Cameron and his daughter to the ball. It was quite true that "her circle was exclusively aristocratic." In ordinary circumstances she would no more have thought of inviting Mr. and Miss Cameron, than she would have thought of dining with her washerwoman or her cook. But she could not have her own way in everything. She was but a young beginner in the race of fashion; and she had a hard battle to fight to hold her own with such rivals as Princess Dashkova and Count Golovin's wife. "Principle," such as it was, had to give way to "expediency." expediency." She had

to learn the truth enshrined in the words: "She stoops to conquer." And, proud and scornful as she was, there was no one who could do it with a better grace when she had a motive strong enough to sway her.

The motive power in the present case wasPrince Boriatinsky. He had been struck with Helen Cameron at the Feast of the Jordan; and, as he longed to make her acquaintance, he begged his "dear friend" Anna to bring the beauty to the ball. Now Prince Boriatinsky was the "male arbiter of fashion" at St. Petersburg. It was the highest triumph which Anna had yet achieved, to lure the

prince away from Princess Dashkova, and enrol him as a member of her own corps de ballet. He was (fashionably speaking) by far the greatest man on her establishment. Count Baranovitch was one of her chief admirers, and attended her balls; but, though the count was Prime Minister of Russia, and held in his hand the life and freedom of every one of the dancers, he was Nobody in the fashionable world. Suppose the prince took it into his head to be affronted, and to carry his "male arbitership of fashion" back to the rival shop of Princess Dashkova? Anna might as well shut up shop at once. She could not afford to disregard a wish of the great Prince Boriatinsky.

The offspring of her resolve to please the prince was the presence of Mr. Cameron and Helen at the ball. Mr. Cameron had made up his mind to gratify Helen for once. He expressly said "for once:" she must not take it for granted that she was to repeat the visit. He would go, and see that there was no harm. The next two days were very busy ones for Miss Meldrum and Helen; and Fred, who called three or four times, was told that he could not see either of them till after the ball. New dresses had to be made; because, at a