o has read thus far,

paltry excuse of discussing that world-old question of hers-Can sublime happiness and achievement go together? Novels on the problem of sex nowa

look with h

ought home

hear wit

ons down

lance abo

e the b

miss, how l

is not

r all. And yet, would the eagle attempt the great flights if contentment were on the plain? Find the mainspri

soars as high as he, who circles higher that he may circle higher still? Who can answer? Must those who soar be condemned to et

e, and pray,-yes, and believe. Romance walks with parted lips and head raised to the sky; and

an excited voice cries out when the sleeper returns to life, "It's Rip Van Winkle!" The gallery, where are the human passions which make this world our world; the gallery, played upon by anger, vengeance, derision, triumph, hate, and love; the gallery, which lingers and applauds long a

climax to a drama. How would Mr. Flint take it? Mr. Flint, it may be said, took it philosophically; and when Austen went up to see him upon this matter, he shook hands with his future son-in-law,-and they agreed t

she knew nothing of the Vanes beyond the name. The discovery that the Austens were the oldest family in the State was in the nature of a balm; and henceforth, in speaking

complete: he surrendered to her as he had never before surrendered to man or woman or child, and the desire to live surged back into his heart,-the desire to live for Austen and Victoria. It became her custom to drive to Ripton in the autumn mornings

ange rapt look, on the garden or the dim lavender form of Sawanec through the haze, and knew that he was thinking of a p

time, jealous of its least prerogative, perpetually watchful for its least abatement, singing unending anthems on its conquest of the world? The very intens

her in that stillest and most mysterious of seasons in the hill country-autumn! Autumn and happiness! Happiness as shameless as the flaunting scarlet maples on the slopes, defiant of the dying year of the future, shadowy and unreal

Victoria?

of unexplored chambers in an inexhaustible treasure-house which by some strange stroke of destiny was his.

sometimes think that it must be like-like this; that it cannot last. I have been

d at her slowly,

e said. "I think you need have no fear of f

rched h

ver change?

warn you. I shall become consequential, and pompous, and altogether insupportab

little tremor in her voice, and

ll not always have many such days as these. It's selfish, but I can't help it. Ther

and he reached out an

emember the last night you came to Jabe Jenney's? I stood in the road long after you had gone, and a desolation such as I had never known came

she whi

answer to your qu

me of all

song and l

ruck you 'Wh

the path

on the even

d in that p

my step

nt night d

ough the wa

st with no

you guess who t

and smiled at him,

t-but I did not know that you had. I do not thin

"have not the same reas

ined with a deeper blue than any gem, called Indian summer. And it was in this season that Victoria and Austen were married, in a little church at Tunbridge, near Fairview, by the bishop of the diocese, who was one of Victoria's dearest friends. Mr

y and Mrs. Jenney, who wept as she embraced both bride and groom; and Euphrasia, in a new steel-coloured silk and a state of absolute subjection and incredulous happiness. Would that there were time to chronicle that most amazing of conquests of

and a person who grows upon one. And I am told he is descended from Channing Austen, of whom I have

er occasions, and merely smiled in a manner which that lady declared to be enigmatic. She maintained that she had never understoo

the mind,-for Tom had never been regarded by his friends as a Demosthenes. He was interrupted from time to time by shouts of laughter; certain episodes in the early career of Mr. Austen Vane (in which, i

A new and strange contentment shone in his face as he took Victoria's hands in his, and they sat with him until Euphrasia came. It was not until they were well on their way to New York

y and Greece and southern France, on a marvellous

meeting of some importance in the West. He is still in politics, and stil