and I shall ask him to give me a letter to this boy of-to this Mr Butt. He's often been here chatting with Sally, and perhaps he'll help us out of goodnature; and if he won't for that, I'll up and tell him who I am.'

'You can do as you like,' said Budgeon sullenly.

CHAPTER VII.-A FRIEND IN NEED.

Warm spring weather is nowhere so pleasant as in London, if a man be young and in good health, and with his pockets full of money.

Pleasant enough, no doubt, half-immersed in sonie brawling trout-stream, to wave the magic rod, to watch the fly quivering on the rapid, to feel the eestatic pull of the eager trout. Pleasant enough, too, to ramble along some sandy lane, to watch the beech shaking out its feathery foliage, its frost-hardened spikes transformed to plumes of emerald verdure; to see the hedgerows bursting into life, the turf spangled with the flowers of spring; whilst the birds, trilling with all their might, sing of nothing but love from morn to eve, all unconscious of the anxious hours, the coming broods, the fierce pirates of the air. But nature is a melancholy mother after all; sadness is linked with sweetness, renewing life with ever-recurring death. And then there are the east winds.

But in town the bright hours can be snatched; the dull hours can be brightened by wine and wit and youthful jollity. There are the pictures and the parks, and such a wealth of womanhood! The shy, soft spring of maidenhood; soft matronly bloom, and silvery dignity of age; and children too, never more bright and fairy-like than among the dingy yellow browns of London streets. And all yours too, this wonderful changing panorama; yours, if have you eyes, not too searching, and a heart, not too profound. Surely, for English-speaking youth, with the attributes enumerated in our first paragraph, there is no such paradise as London. And if you have known hardship and want, and trouble and neglect, in earlier days, and all this has passed away like a mist of the night, the joy and intoxication of such a magic scene are well-nigh overpowering.

Harry Butt felt it so as he reclined at length on a sofa, before a luxurious breakfast-table, in his chambers. He had a capital appetite. His table was covered with pleasant little notes: invitations; cards for this and that; polite circulars from tradesmen, calling his attention to this new saddle, or that improved form of dog-cart.

'You'll want a secretary soon,' said Porkington, looking in, with a cigar in his mouth, and pointing to the mass of letters on the table.

'Not I,' said Harry: 'it's one of my greatest pleasures to open my letters in the morning.' 'Happy youth! What are you going to do to-day?

'I'm going to drive down to Richmond this morning.'

"With the Asphodel?"

Harry nodded.

Quite right, Harry. You needn't blush. There's nothing forms a youth like a friendship with a woman of that sort. You're quite safe with her too. Mais après ?'

'She gives us a dinner; King and one or two Are you going?'

more.

'If there's no division to-night, and I don't think there will be-in fact, I've heard some rumours of a "count"-I shall be there.' "Then I shall drive you home.'

'I shall stop later than you, Harry. The Asphodel can't manage without her little gamble before she goes to bed. King and I and another; she'll make us stay, after the rest are gone. Only whist -guinea points, or so. I wish I could keep out of it. I wish I'd your resolution, Harry. What a lot of trouble it would save, if I could say like you: I'll never touch a card or a die! Only, if you move in the world, you must do as the world does. Were you always like that?'

'No,' said Harry, getting up and shaking himself; I used to play with the best of them-or the worst; but one day I'd lost every penny I was worth at euchre, and I hesitated for a moment whether I wouldn't blow my brains out; and then I thought that, after all, it was better to live than to die; that this passion that was consuming me was a foolish, empty thing, after all. At least, I didn't think that myself-a girl put it into my head--a girl I happened to meet; and she made me swear an oath-a big oath-that I'd never play again; no, not for sixpence! And I haven't since. And after that, everything went well with me. I went in for a claim that turned out first-rate ; and I bought shares in a company that were selling for an old song, and they turned out first-rate too; and with a few other bits of luck to back me, I got a pile together, and came home.'

And what became of the girl?' said Porkington. 'I never knew. Nothing good, I'm afraid. I'd have helped her when I came into this money, but I couldn't find out anything about her.'

'She was a good sort, I should say. It's a pity we couldn't introduce some of the same kind into

6

Egad!' said Porkington, 'I'd not advise you to carry your theories into practice, that's all. Not but what you may find one of a good sort here and there the Asphodel, for instance. She's rather fond of you, Harry; only she says you're such a muff.

You'll never get into her good books, my boy, if you won't lose money to her. By the way, you seen your friends the Costicles lately?" 'No, by Jove!' said Harry; 'I haven't been near them for months.'

have

And yet I thought you were rather smitten by that girl. What did you call her? Not a bad-looking girl, but Cockneyfied.'

'I think I was a little spoony there at the time; but, to say the truth, I haven't thought much about her since.

'Fickle youth! I wonder she didn't play her cards better too. I thought you were half-booked that day when I dined at their place.'

'Oh, she didn't care for me,' said Harry. 'I really think I did half propose to her that night, but she would have nothing to say to me.'

'Then they didn't give you credit for having such a pot of money.'

Here Harry's servant came in with a note. 'There's a person waiting for an answer, sir.' 'The very man we were talking about. It's from Costicle,' said Harry, reading the note, and flinging it over to Porkington.

DEAR SIR-The bearer, Mrs Budgeon, is a very deserving woman, whose husband has been unfortunate enough to lose the little savings they had accumulated by much care and self-denial, by an injudicious speculation. He has also been foolish enough to become security for a friend, and his goods are seized in satisfaction of his debts. We are trying to raise sufficient to redeem the furniture for them, in order that they may not lose the situation they hold under the vestry. Knowing your kindness of heart, I have ventured to recommend Mrs Budgeon to your notice, as a deserving object of your bounty. It is now many months since we have seen you at Costicle Grove. We are always glad to see you, and to hear of your prosperity.Faithfully yours, O. COSTICLE.

'I ought to have gone and seen 'em before this,' said Harry, whose heart smote him a little for his neglect of his earliest English friends. How much should I give the old lady?'

'Oh, half-a-crown or so,' said Porkington; 'if you once begin giving money away, there's no saying when you may stop.'

'I'll have the old lady in and talk to her,' said Harry.

'Then I'm off,' said Porkington. to-night!'

'See you Messrs Porkington and Butt occupied a double set of chambers in a building in Hardwicke Street, S.W. known as 'Hardwicke Chambers.' These chambers took up the whole of the first-floor of the building, and consisted of two sitting-rooms looking out into the street, with bedrooms and dressing-rooms behind. Each sitting-room opened into the adjoining bedroom, and there was also an entrance from the several dressing-rooms into the landing-place at the top of the stairs. Outside the doors of the two sitting-rooms was an anteroom, common to both.

As Porkington passed out into the ante-room he met Mrs Budgeon, who was coming in full butt. The light was at his back and in her face, so that her features were clearly visible to him, whilst his was in the shade. Porkington turned rapidly round, and without saying a word, opened the door that led into Harry's bedroom, and passed quickly out that way.

Mrs Budgeon came forward courtesying. 'Sit down,' said Harry. So you've got into a mess, I find,'

Yes, sir, we've been very severely tried. Misfortunes have come upon us in every direction.' 'How's Sally?' said Harry bluntly.

'She's bearing up pretty well, sir; but it's a great trial to us all.'

'What! having your furniture seized?' "Yes, sir, the disgrace of it, sir; and us all hardworking, honest people.'

'Well,' said Harry, 'I've lost my furniture often enough-once when my tent was burnt up and every stick I had; and once when my hut was carried away by a flood; and once when the police seized all my things, because I wouldn't pay their licenses; but I never troubled myself about it, bless you. So don't take on, old mother,' he cried, for Mrs Budgeon, uncomforted by Harry's similar experiences, had dissolved into tears.

It's such a disgrace to us,' she murmured. 'Well, I don't think any the worse of you for it,' said Harry; 'not but what it must be deuced

But

inconvenient having nothing to sit upon. cheer up, woman, and tell me how much you want to pay off these cads.'

Oh, a deal of money, sir; a hundred pounds very nearly.'

"And would a hundred pounds clear you?' "O yes, sir, and leave us something over.' Then I'll give you the money, Mrs Budgeon; for Sam's sake and Sally's. She's a jolly little girl that of yours.'

'O sir, it's too much, it is indeed,' cried Mrs Budgeon, who could hardly believe her ears, that she should be lifted all of a sudden out of this slough of despond into peace, and happiness, and sunshine. Oh, it was too good to be true. How greedily she watched Harry as he went to his desk to get out his cheque-book. He had lost his keys. The cheque-book was inside the desk.

'Look here, I'll send it to you,' he cried; and then he saw the look of disappointment that passed over her face; for then she felt that it was all a dream this, that something would surely occur to prevent this good fortune happening to her. Harry could enter into her feelings, and he snatched up the poker and smashed the lock of the desk with it. I hate locking things up,' he said, 'for I never can find my keys. This desk will be much more useful to me now. Here's the cheque-book. Now, mother, here you are, and much good may it do you.'

'God bless you, sir!' said the woman. 'Whatever can I do to recompense you for this?'

'Look here, mother: some day, if I or any other chap should be up a tree, and want a shelter and a crust of bread, you'll give it us, won't you?'

Mrs Budgeon could only cry incoherently, and wipe her eyes with the corner of her apron.

Mrs Asphodel is at the door, sir, a-waiting for you in her phaeton, sir,' cried Harry's servant, coming in.

All right; I'll be down in a minute.-Here, Williams; quick; give me my coat, and a pair of gloves and my hat. That's right.-Good-bye, old mother; give my love to Sally?'

Harry's clear strong voice rang out into the street through the open windows, and reached the lady sitting in the phaeton.

'Pray, sir,' she said, as Harry scrambled up to her side, 'pray, who is this Sally to whom you send your love?'

'Only a little girl in the City.'

'And how do you come to be on such good terms with a little girl in the City?'

'Because- Well, she lives with her mother, who takes care of St Cuthbert's Church.'

'I would advise her to take care of her daughter also. But tell me, Harry, how is it you attend in St Cuthbert's Church? I didn't know you were so pious.'

'The fact is,' said Harry, 'a friend of mine, a lawyer, is what they call vestry-clerk, and I used to go there to see him; that's how I made friends with Mrs Budgeon.'

'And with Sally?'

'Yes, and with Sally. Costicle's my lawyer, and he made my will for me, and that reminds me I mean to alter it.'

'And leave me something, Harry?'

'That depends on how you behave. I've left it all to Porkington, pretty nearly, and I don't mean him to have it all.'

'MISS B. going to Canada? Why, she 'll be eaten up by the tigers!' Such was the exclamation of the old family coachman on hearing of my intended marriage and emigration. It amused us at the time; but as similar confusion of ideas concerning

one of the most accessible and attractive of our

colonies is not uncommon, it becomes the pleasant duty of people who have lived there to give others the benefit of their experience.

It is scarcely necessary to observe that the only 'tigers' of the country are the youths also known as 'buttons; there are, in fact, no dangerous animals of any kind; the snakes are harmless; and though many alarming stories are told of the venomous character of the large black spider, I feel satisfied, after much investigation, that they are stories, and nothing more.

The bears, being asleep during the long winter, do not often suffer from want of food, and subsist chiefly on the wild-fruits, especially raspberries, which abound in the woods in summer. They are timid, inoffensive creatures, feared by no one, and rarely, if ever, met with by the settler; while game and fish, in great variety and abundance, are within reach of all. Of late years, some simple laws for the preservation of these animals have restricted the use of guns and nets at certain seasons, but they are in force only where the rapid increase of population has made such protection desirable.

In the towns the markets are well supplied with venison at prices ranging from 1d. to 5d. the pound, red partridges at about 1s. 6d. a brace, wild-ducks of several kinds, gray plover, and other birds. Hares, which are little superior to our rabbits, cost sixpence each. The fur of the hares turns white in winter, when they are in season for eating, and are by some people objected to, on the ground that they look like cats.'

As may be generally known, the cold in winter is extreme, the range of the thermometer being far below zero, a degree of frost quite unknown in England. The extreme cold of a Canadian winter is revealed in various ways. In the cemetery at Quebec there is a vault covered with turf, and fitted up with stone shelving, which is used as a temporary depository for those who die during winter, and cannot be properly interred until frost and snow have disappeared. So deeply does the frost penetrate into the ground, that any line of curb-stone, or stone basis for a railing, which is not founded on masonry at least three feet deep, will be dislodged and lean over on one side at the first thaw. In the small garden-plots at Montreal, you

may, at the approach of winter, see shrubs covered up with mats, to preserve them from the frost ; such shrubs bearing the winters of Scotland with impunity. Yet, with this peculiarity of climate, Canada is a healthy and comparatively pleasant country to live in. What is a determinate and settled cold, against which you can take precautions, in comparison to that changeableness all the year round prevalent in Great Britain, where you can never tell what kind of weather-wet, dry, foggy or windy, cold or warm-to-morrow will be; and where coughs and sore throats, as a result of a raw, moist atmosphere, are at certain seasons the order of the day!

Among the remarkable effects of the severe frost of Canada, is the strange appearance of familiar objects in the market-place. The pigs, though slaughtered weeks or months before, stand erect sounds the same on being struck, and must be on their stiff legs; the meat feels like wood, divided with a saw. Fish, likewise; and many a little heap of salmon and cod sawdust have I seen, nay, made, in the process of preparing dinner.

was

I was once left, in all the inexperience of my first winter, without a servant. It was January, when a steady frost had set in, but on a Saturday, our principal market-day, when unfrozen meat difficulty in roasting a sirloin of beef and making a often brought home. I had, consequently, little tureenful of soup, sufficient provision, I thought, for the next day's dinner. But the cold increased that night; the thermometer fell to twenty degrees below zero (or fifty-two degrees below freezing-point), and at breakfast-time we found everything frozen." The eggs were frozen into a state in which, though apparently unchanged, they can neither be beaten nor cooked; some cold partridge utterly defied all attempts to cut it; a little of the breast, when chipped off by repeated blows with a chopper, tasting like ice; and, worst of all, the bread was tough as india-rubber. The milk left on the previous night was solid, and the ink in cakes. I rejoiced over my foresight in having prepared dinner the day before; but this self-approval did not last long.

The cold roast beef was as uneatable as so much

stone, and I was dismayed by the discovery that, after placing it in the oven of a large kitchen-stove for some time, the outside began to char, though I could by no means cut off even one slice. I next tried placing it in front of a blazing coal-fire in a warm room; but with like result. Clearly, the beef must be abandoned (I had long since given up all hope of going to church), and soup and pudding relied on. With some exertion and a chopper, the of brown rock, and by-and-by dissolved; the milk soup was broken up into what looked like lumps also melted in time for use; but the partridge, after being soaked in cold water, the quickest solvent, was not thawed till evening, and the beef not till the next day.

Such inconvenience may be averted by timely precaution; and I came afterwards to consider the winter frost a boon to housekeepers, enabling them may be securely kept in its frozen state as long as to keep on hand a store of perishable food, which the cold weather lasts.

At the commencement of the frost, vast quantities of poultry and animals are killed, to save

the expense of feeding; and it is usual for large families to buy turkeys, geese, and fowls by the dozen, many of which are not consumed till the following March or April. It may be thought that the severity of the climate would be felt unpleasantly; but such is not the case, owing to the dryness and stillness of the atmosphere, and to the power of the sun.

I repeat, the winters of Canada are far from unpleasant. There is absolutely a charm about them. The brilliant sunshine, compared with which the brightest English day seems twilight, the greater length of the day in winter, and the exciting quality of the air, have a peculiarly exhilarating effect, very beneficial to most persons; and the means adopted for warming the houses insure a degree of comfort seldom attained in our English homes.

Canadian children do not suffer from chilblains, their infantile diseases are passed through with greater safety; croup, for instance, though more frequent than in England, is very rarely fatal. In nine years I was never frost-bitten, and I was in the habit of walking daily and driving out in open sleighs in all but the very worst weather, adding only fur mitts, and deerskin boots called moccasins, to my ordinary winter dress. There is much to charm in the glorious rivers and gorgeous autumn foliage of the landscape, in the profusion of lovely wild-flowers in summer, and even in the snow-drifts and frost-stars of winter.

But the peculiar charm of the country, that by which it wins and holds the love of visitors who have made it their home, is the genial hospitality shewn to strangers, the mutual help and kindly feeling so freely given among all classes. Connected with the pleasant memories of Canadian life are, no doubt, some of a different kind, for we are there in close contact with the frailties and failures of the unhappy portion of the community; but nowhere is it more evident that men and women are, after all, what they make themselves.

Work is plentiful: with industry and patience, a man of sober habits is sure of success; but for the unsteady, ruin is swift and certain for himself and his family. Let it also be borne in mind, that in Canada there is an admirable system of national education, and that law and justice are administered with a steadiness which leaves no room for complaint. In short, nowhere in Her Majesty's dominions are life, property, and the blessings of a settled government more secure.

A JUNE FLIGHT FROM TOWN.

TO-DAY the hot street

Glares white with the noon,

The quivering heat

Of purple-skied June.

The passers pant by

Through the shadowless blaze

That sears from the sky

The town's stony ways.

Even in this dark room

I shrink from a breath

As of the Simoom,

To all coolness, death,