purpose in it, somehow or other." And so it remarkably proved; for the peas, self-sown, came up late in the season, when there were none in the market, and sold at a much higher price.

To return to Messrs. Kirby and Spence. The friendship of these two good and eminent men lasted nearly half a century. During the course of that time, the letters that passed between them on entomology were between four and five hundred. These letters were mostly written on sheets of large folio paper, so closely, that each would equal a printed sheet of sixteen pages of ordinary type. These they called their "first-rates," or "seventy-fours;" the few of ordinary size being frigates." But once, Mr. Kirby having even more than usual to say, wrote what he called "The Royal Harry," alluding to the great ship

Harry," built in the reign of Henry VIII., of which I have seen a curious print. This noteworthy note was written on a sheet nearly the size of a Times Supplement, and closely filled on three pages! Talk of ladies' long letters after this!

The correspondence sprang up, and was continued, some months before they ever saw each other.

They then spent "ten delightful days together,” at Mr. Kirby's parsonage, and devoted part of the time to an entomological excursion in the parson's gig.

At length, the idea occurred to them both of writing a book on entomology together, and in a popular form, which should allure readers by its entertainment, rather than deter them by its dryness. All the world knows how happily they accomplished it; and I have heard one of them say, the partnership was so complete, that in subsequent years neither of them could positively say, "This paragraph was written by myself, and this by my friend."

This morning, as I was at work, enjoying the soft air through the open window, and listening to the blackbird and cuckoo, I heard a carriage stop at the gate, and soon afterwards, Arbell, carrying a parcel almost half as large as herself, came in, looking very merry, and said—

"Good morning, Mrs. Cheerlove!

Mamma

thought you would like to see what I have been doing for Mademoiselle; so she set me down here, and will call for me presently."

And with busy fingers she began to take out sundry pins, and remove divers coverings, till out came a splendid scarlet cushion, elegantly braided in gold.

"How do you like it?" said she, wistfully.

"I think it superb! Will it not be rather too magnificent for Mademoiselle's ménage ?"

"Mademoiselle is very fond of bright colours, and means to have everything very gay about her, though she will not have a house to herself, only a flat; so that I feel sure she will like it."

"Well, then, everybody must, for it is a splendid cushion, indeed! Why, the materials must have quite emptied your purse!"

"Mamma was kind enough to say, that if I did it well, she would not mind paying for the materials; and I am glad to say she is quite satisfied with it. But I particularly want to know what you think of the pattern."

"It is intricate, and very rich. Where did you get it ?"

"In a way you would never guess," said Arbell, laughing. "One day, mamma took me with her to call on Mrs. Chillingworth; and as they talked of things that did not at all interest me, I sat looking at a great cushion on the opposite sofa, and thinking how bad the yellow braid looked, and how much better the effect would be in gold. The pattern pleased me; so I looked at it till I was sure I could remember it, and when I got home, I drew it on a sheet of paper. Mamma was amused, and said it was very ingenious of me; but I did not think of turning it to account, till it occurred to me that I might work it for Mademoiselle. So I asked mamma, and she approved of it, and said I might."

"Well, I think it does you great credit in more ways than one."

"How strange it was, Mrs. Cheerlove, that I should take such interest in doing something for Mademoiselle! I had such pleasant thoughts while working it. Oh, what do you think? I am going to have such a treat! Papa wishes to investigate the iron mines in Piedmont, and is going to take mamma and me with him; and on

our return, we are to see everything worth seeing. Will not that be delightful?"

"It will, indeed. Of course you will, meantime, learn to speak French, German, and Italian, as fluently as you can."

"Oh, yes; I am fagging very hard now; I have such a motive, not only for acquiring languages, but for improving in drawing, that I may sketch, and for obtaining information about all the objects in our way. I am making a list of 'things to be particularly observed.''

"An excellent plan."

"You seem to have a good many books, Mrs. Cheerlove. Have you any likely to be of service that you could lend me?"

to me,

"I am afraid they are hardly modern enough,” said I, doubtfully. "You are perfectly welcome to any of them.”

She scanned their titles at the back :-"Alpine Sketches.' That's promising. '1814!' Oh, what years and tens of years ago! With all my

heart, said I, as H. carelessly mentioned the idea.' What an abrupt beginning!" She laughed, and replaced the volume on the shelf. "Mamma,"