hold my tongue. You might propose the plan to her; she is sure to ask your advice at any rate.'

'I don't see that view exactly,' said Alaric, putting his hand on Clarence's shoulder.

There is another,' said Clarence, with a change of tone. 'I might say to her, "You know all the facts,"-taking care that she did know" but there's nothing in my life that I am ashamed to show you. I understand you, and love you as no one else can, and I am as fit as others to be your choice. I own no barrier that ought to divide us. I feel myself to be your equal

'Well?' said Alaric, gently.

'That's what I should say in another case-but, to herAlaric, if you think the thing too unsuitable'

Clarence's voice shook a little; his formal language had done little justice to his feelings; but he checked Alaric's reply, and

went on

'What would your wife think? Don't soften any of it away.' 'Now just listen quietly,' said Alaric, and you shall hear what we do think. As to your profession, you will be able to offer your wife quite as good a prospect as most professional men without private fortune; and certainly Juliet will have no prejudice on that score. As to your family-you are not accustomed to a close daily intercourse with them; there is nothing whatever to be ashamed of

'Nothing,' interposed Clarence.

'While you know that Emily and I'

'Your position in no way affects mine,' broke in Clarence. I know that peaches-and butlers-are likely to create a false impression; but I will not have any misunderstanding of that sort!'

'What you vividly describe as peaches and butlers,' replied Alaric, by which I suppose you mean your relationship to me, does alter the situation; because, usually, if a woman marries a

man

'Beneath her.'

'With different antecedents, she often loses the kind of society to which she has been accustomed. That-if you'll allow me to say so-my wife would never allow to be the case with yours.'

There was a silence, then Clarence said, in a low, strained voice

'We have not touched on the real point, you know. When I

most resented class distinctions, I never denied but that they had created real ones. You know-more likely you don't know -how I used to compare myself with you. It's my trade, of course, to notice. I would rather be content to serve her at a distance than allow her to mistake

Clarence finished lamely enough, while Alaric sprang up, and

burst out

Upon my soul, Clarence! one would think you were a Legitimist refugee! There is no sort of reason why you should not come forward, and if the girl is fool enough to refuse you, that's her own look-out. Don't exaggerate the infernal system which is responsible for half the evil in the country, and which can be defended on no grounds of Christianity or of common justice. The iron has entered even into your soul—'

'If you talk in that way, Alaric,' said his wife, coming in and standing beside him, 'you will make the Willinghams think Clarence's principles are a great deal worse than his profession. There are exceptions to every rule, and this is an exceptional case. I will tell you what I shall do. I shall ask Sir Lewis and Lady Willingham to bring Juliet to stay with us by-and-by, when Clarence is well, and the Planet play is started. Then she can see how it is all round. And now you had better help Clarence back to his room; he is much too tired to discuss socialism. And as for not coming forward, it is evident that they guess how it is, so he has no choice left him.'

Do you really think so, Emily?' said Clarence, eagerly.

'Yes, I do; and to-morrow you shall tell me all about it. Juliet is very pretty, and looks original. I think I shall like her very much.'

This delightful tone of anticipation almost took Clarence's breath away; but it was more consolatory than all Alaric's arguments, and he quite forgot the assertion of Juliet's indifference with which he had begun the discussion, and which, if accurate, would have rendered it superfluous.

When Alaric came back after helping him into his room, and doing all he could for his comfort, his wife went on in her soft, deliberate tones

'You know, Alaric, they are sure to be startled, but when they come really to know Clarence, they will see how it is.'

'They ought to see that he is one of a thousand, in any rank of life,' said Alaric.

'Yes; and then he has learnt your ways, instead of the ways

of some one just a little better than his own original people. When you say that you can do nothing, I always think that at least you made a gentleman of Clarence.'

'I did not, Emily. I may have helped the gentle spirit to free itself from baser elements. That is something perhaps. Can it only be done once?'

'You see, you have always been so fond of one another,' said Emily thoughtfully.

'Yes,' said Alaric, gravely. Love does make all things neweven society. I haven't half enough of it. But there! I believe the poor, dear old boy would be in quite as great a taking if he was the son of a hundred earls! He is romantic enough for a knight-errant. I hope that little bright-eyed, wilful thing is good enough for him. I hope she does care about him. He has suffered badly over the business already!

'She is so fond of acting-that would be an attraction.'

'I hope she is fond enough of him to give up acting for his sake, if he wishes it. She wouldn't be a woman worth having if she only took him as an adjunct to her career.'

'Well, Alaric, for an actor and a radical, that's a very oldfashioned sentiment. There's the bell! I am going to evening church. Now, you are to read to Clarence, and not to let him say another word about Juliet.'

(To be continued.)

A TRANSFORMATION.

PRAY you, reader, solve this problem
In the maid I used to know;-
I was wont to mark, and watch her
Busy with her rake and hoe;

Nailing up the sweet, red roses; Tying back each drooping bud; Watering the thirsty seedlings;

Routing nettles with her 'spud';

Covered with a holland apron ;
On her head a battered hat;
Sturdy boots from village maker-
(Little did she care for that!)

Starting not at worm, or spider;
Turning caterpillars out,

From their homes among the rose-leaves;
Scaring birds with merry shout.

Barren is that brilliant border!

And the tools have rusty grown,
While the straggling runners wander
Where last year they were not known.

Gone for aye is that girl-gardener!
Flowerets call her—but in vain!
Simple tastes and simple pleasures
Vanished with Meg's-first Court-train!

OLIVE MONTAGU WALFORD.

Church history Society.

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THE REFORMATION AND COUNTER-REFORMATION.
I. THE ORDER OF JESUITS.

Questions for January.

1. Give an account of St. Ignatius and the founding of his Order up to 1543.

2. Name his six first companions, and give some account of any one of them (except St. Francis Xavier).

3. In what way did the Jesuits and their rule differ from the older Orders? 4. Write a life of St. Francis Xavier or St. Francis de Borja,

Books recommended :-Cameos from English History, Series IV.; Aubrey Moore's Lectures; Lives of the Jesuit Saints in Alban Butler, or Baring Gould. There is a lengthy Life of St. Francis Xavier, by H. J. Coleridge (Burns & Oates), in two volumes.

Answers to be sent to Bog-Oak, care of the Publishers, by February 1st.

33. Etheldreda and Hermione give the preparation for the Suppression best. This consisted in, Istly, The Act against Papal Dispensations, etc. (March 1534), which, while granting to Canterbury this power, reserved to