tect them, if it were His own good will? No, no, alas no! She felt only that she was by the side of him, her lover, and so all-absorbing was the presence of her love for him, that other emotions, even the dread of danger, were lost in it: his protection seemed to be all-sufficient for security, like it was for happiness. She was not the first, or the last, who has forgotten the Creator in the blind worship of the creature. De Courcy had thrown his arm round her and drawn her to his side, where she quietly stood, her face hidden against him, and her heart beating with its sense of bliss: Cicely Juniper he had drawn to him on the other. "There!" he exclaimed, suddenly pointing to a distant part of the heavens. It was a small ball of fire, darting down to the earth. sight was but momentary: before the others could look, it was gone. "I must say I wish we were safe down," exclaimed the old lawyer. "I wonder how Mrs. Juniper and the rest feel at the Well."

The

Before the words had well passed his lips, there was a vivid flash, a terrific peal, and a scream from Cicely Juniper, who declared the tower was shaking. It may have been her fancy, or it may have been that the tower did shake with a shock of electricity, the others felt nothing; but Florence Erskine had fallen on the ground at De Courcy's side. There was no perceptible change in her countenance, yet the Spirit had flown

for ever.

"Good God! she has fainted!" exclaimed the old man, stooping, and pulling at her hand.

"It is the faintness of DEATH!" shuddered De Courcy, bending down his ashy face. He raised Florence in his arms, as he spoke; he called her by every endearing name, unmindful, now, of the ears of those around; he pressed his white cheek to hers, vainly hoping to feel signs of breath and life. But there was no further life for Florence Erskine in this world, for she had indeed been struck and killed by lightning. And when the wailing and terror-stricken party returned that night to Worcester, the corpse of the ill-fated young lady was all that remained of her to bear home to her father.

And so ended the day of pleasure at Malvern: a remarkable one, in truth, as that strange man, the wizard, had foretold. On the day following Florence Erskine's death, Cicely, in her horror and perplexity, disclosed to Mr. Juniper the particulars of their visit to this man, with his prediction regarding Florence, and the surgeon went down at once to seek him out. But he had disappeared, none knew when or where, and was never more heard of in the city. Whence he derived his information, that spirit of divination that he really appeared to possess, none can pretend to speculate-for indeed this has been no fancy sketch.

De Courcy never flirted with Georgy Juniper again: from that hour he was a wiser and a graver man. Georgy married in the course of years, and went abroad with her husband; and poor Cicely's wedding has never come yet. But I daresay, if you could see into her heart, she has not quite given up all hope, for though she has taken to "fronts" and to ever so many false teeth, she dresses jauntily, almost as a young girl. So now, good reader, our visit to Worcester is over. And in repayment for the amusement it may have given you, you must join with me heartfully in echoing the prayer of its motto,

"FLOREAT SEMPER, FIDELIS CIVITAS."

TALES OF MY DRAGOMAN.

BY BASIL MAY.

No. VII.-BEETROOT versus COFFEE-POT.

You will not have forgotten our old acquaintances, Achmet Benali and Achmet Ali, the grand master of the mules and whipper-in in ordinary to the seraglio, and the master of the pantaloons and dispenserin-extraordinary of otto of roses, those fellow-ministers of the guilty Bibi and Kiaya, who were so deservedly put to death for their misdeeds, and you may have thought that so salutary an example, and the timely warning they had received from Muftifiz, would have effectually deterred them from ever again betraying the trust reposed in them by the state. Indeed, so long as the faithful Muftifiz remained with his beloved master, to watch over his interests and direct his councils, both Achmet Benali and Achmet Ali were much too prudent to risk a second offence; but the widespread publicity of this worthy servant's good deeds having reached even the sultan, that prince had expressed a wish that he should join his court. The desire was equivalent to a command; and, with much regret on both sides, Muftifiz having packed up his things, bid the pacha a heartfelt farewell, and quitted the province.

Upon this, Achmet Benali and Achmet Ali, freed from the supervision to which they had been subjected, returned to their old and reprehensible ways. Setting at nought the estimable sentiments of the humane but weak-minded pacha, who, now that he had lost the valuable counsel of Muftifiz, seemed incapable of offering an objection, they took the high hand, governed as they liked, framed new laws, repealed others, introduced oppressive taxation, admitted objectionable distinctions, rode the high horse, saddled the nation, overran the constable, and licked the watch.

It is not to be supposed that even so lymphatic a people as the Moslem I could submit to this treatment without raising a finger in sign of dissent. There were grumblings, and meetings, and vociferations, and resolutions, and petitions, on the one hand; and on the other, courtesy, and calipash and calipee, and silence and contempt.

But you will easily understand this when I inform you that it was through his ministers only that any address to the pacha could reach him; for although, now and then, he went abroad unaccompanied, still they had led him to believe there was that spirit of insubordination amongst his people that, for the insurance of his personal convenience and comfort, he should undertake those journeys strictly incog. Once or twice the poor pacha had evinced a disposition to kick over the traces of these restrictions; then had there set in for him one of those days of political clouded happiness," which none but wedged-in monarchs can fully understand, and sledge-hammer diplomatists fully explain. That had put a damper on his aspirations. True, there was the Yachmack Expositor, the Tchorbadji Herald, and the morning and evening Pantalet. These were all laid upon his table, and I presume he occasionally glanced at them; but, sir, what's the use of a grand

master of the mules, and a master of the pantaloons, and a groom of the slippers, and a stick in waiting, if a pacha is to bear the infliction of uncultivated truths and raw complaints? What is food for the gander is not always food for the goose, in spite of what the North Land savages affirm. Delicate stomachs require delicate dishes, and when a mess was served up, which to the committee of goute-sauces appeared indigestible, it was kept back. Thus, with intestines regulated, head cool, and feet warm, this most easy-going pacha put his trust in Providence for the rest-Ah! what? I doubt it, sir-you cannot give me another instance.

Still the pacha had his walks on the sly, which were frequently extended far beyond the walls of the city. There was one spot to which he gave the preference; that was the dwelling of a poor industrious agriculturist, the tenant of Achmet Benali, who, toiling early and toiling late, after paying his rent and taxes, could scarcely scrape together a bare subsistence. At this man's house the pacha would frequently stop and rest himself. He was far from guessing what was his visitor's rank, who as he adapted his bearing and conversation to the circumstance of place and position, was often led into discussions, from which he gleaned many a wholesome truth and valuable piece of information. Thus of an evening, after the labours of the day, whilst the agriculturist was attending to his garden, in the cultivation of which he took great pride, the pacha would unostentatiously make his appearance, quietly open the little wooden gate, stealthily tread the neat gravel-walk, and, directing his steps to where his host, with his back turned to him, was at work, would stop and complacently watch his occupation. Then the industrial as he rose from his stooping posture would perceive his visitor, whose looks would invariably be directed towards him with a benignant and sympathising expression.

"Are you there, Ali Ben Dolorus!" That was the nom de guerre the pacha had adopted. "In truth, your movements are so noiseless, that, did I not know such a thing to be impossible, I should conclude you had come here by enchantment.'

"Eh, eh, eh," chuckled Ali Ben Dolorus, his majestic sides shaking in accompaniment. "How's my friend Ali Ben Abitet to-day? What are we so busy planting there?"

"This," said Ali Ben Abitet, advancing towards him with a slow step as he carefully picked his way across the different beds, his eyes fixed on a small opened paper parcel he held in his hand, and which contained seed-"this is something new, and its cultivation will, I hope, ensure that agricultural prosperity of which we so much stand in need. It is a rare plant, extensively cultivated amongst the North Land savages, from whom this parcel cometh, addressed to me by my very particular friend, the great North Land agricultural champion, Mr. Protection. It's a member of the numerous family of the Leeks, and was known to the ancients as the Betarapa-pánus-and surnamed by its present adoptive parents, who are celebrated for their particular genius for euphonious appropriations, 'Beetroot.":

"Allah il Allah!" ejaculated Ali Ben Dolorus.

"Previous to its importation to those climes," resumed Ali Ben Abitet, "the North Land savages had carried the terrors of war into distant

countries, and, having conquered, they exacted of the inhabitants that they should supply them with sugars according to their requirements; but the fondness for sweetmeats of that people having reached such a degree of magnitude, their rulers considered it had become a matter of the first necessity to meet this great demand by a more plentiful, and, at the same time, a readier supply. The leading practical botanists and the learned generally were invited to lend their aid, and a valuable prize was offered to him who should show how the desired result might be obtained. This great trial of strength resulted in the rescue of that venerable legumen from the shades of oblivion. Its luscious juice was found to possess all the requisite saccharine properties, and in addition to being, when boiled, a palatable purifier of the blood, a sugar is made from it which equals, if it does not surpass, in quality that of the remote lands I have mentioned."

"Holy prophet!" exclaimed Ali Ben Dolorus. "And it is by the cultivation of this rare plant that you hope to find a remedy for these hard times ?"

"Even so," replied Ali Ben Abitet; "for hard as these times undoubtedly are, I foresee that we shall soon have still greater difficulties to contend against."

"Ah! say you so ?" "Why, yes. But come into the summer-house; I have some curious plants to show you; amongst others a rose-tree, which in its indigenous state has no thorns. "Tis a native of the Alps. Observe, it is already losing its peculiarity, for reared beneath a warmer sun the thorns begin What think you of it as an emblem of ingratitude?”

to grow.

"La, la, la," said Ali Ben Dolorus.

"But I am straying from the subject of our conversation. You must forgive me; I love to talk about my flowers. I was saying that I fear there is a worse time coming. Do you know I have my doubts as to the benefit which will accrue from the Privilege Act,' and I pray that the pacha may not be deceived by the representations of his ministers, and spare his people any further oppressive measure. I believe he has a good heart, but I fear he is weak-minded and easily led."

"La, la, la," said Ali Ben Dolorus.

"Yes; for have you considered what will be the ultimate effect of the "Privilege Act' if it be carried by the viziers? It will be productive only of a further increase of rent, and, as it is, the land barely yields a sufficient produce to meet the heavy demands exacted from us by our grasping landlords."

"I do not clearly see the force of your argument," answered Ali Ben Dolorus. "It is proposed by the viziers, who are at present the landowners, to extend the privilege to wealthy burgesses, who, upon being possessed of a certain extent of land, shall have a voice in the affairs of the state."

"Exactly; that's just where the mischief lies."

"How do you make it out?"

"I will show you. The viziers have fixed the rents at so high a rate, that to attempt, single-handed, a further increase at this moment would be to incur great personal risk, and endanger the safety of the state; for the burgesses, who are indirectly concerned with ourselves, inasmuch as having exorbitant rents to pay we have no alternative but to

raise the price of provisions, in the event of their rising still more, would join us in opposing that attempt. The viziers feel this, and therefore hol out, as a bait to wealthy burgesses, the honours and consideration attendant on diplomatic rank, for which they can only be qualified by the possession of land. Consequently, having become, in a legislative sense, part and parcel of that body, they will easily sacrifice to their gratified vanity and the advantages of a higher position what little respect they have for equity, when unallied to a purely selfish feeling, and freely give their port to the viziers in whatever they may think fit to attempt, and who, you may be sure, will not be slow to take every advantage of the circum

stance.

"La, la, la, who would have thought it!—but what a terse logician you are, friend Abitet."

"Not at all, Ali Ben Dolorus; the conjuncture is self-evident enough, and only requires the exercise of a little penetration and calm thought to be apparent to the least gifted understanding. Would that our beloved pacha gave it five minutes' serious consideration, and then, maybe, the viziers shouldn't have it all their own way."

"Have you, then, so bad an opinion of his ministers ?" asked Ali Ben Dolorus.

"I believe they are neither better nor worse than mankind in general. Ah! Ali Ben Dolorus, misfortune tries a man, but prosperity brings his nature out. We are all more or less ambitious; with some of us, this passion takes such a shape; with others, such another; and once encouraged, is, perhaps, the only feeling which cannot be thoroughly gratified. I could give you some striking instances also to prove that a hidden, but not less certain, pusillanimity is closely allied to this sentiment, which ever prompts the ambitious to shift the responsibility of their acts on the shoulders of others. How can it not be so?-ambition and heartlessness are twin sisters. The viziers are in the ascendant; they have the pacha's ear, and the higher they are, the higher they wish to be; that's a natural consequence, Ali Ben Dolorus. But depend upon it, the poor pacha is the cat's-paw that draws the roasted chesnuts out of the fire. He's the ladder which the fox you have heard of should have had when he said the grapes were sour.'

"La, la, la," said Ali Ben Dolorus; "but what can a poor pacha do? How is he to learn all this?"

"Knock, and it shall be opened unto you," replied Ali Ben Abitet. "Shall I tell you a story, Ali Ben Dolorus?"

"I should much like to hear it."

"Well, sit you down."

And taking his place in front of the pacha, Ali Ben Abitet hailed an attendant, and commanded him to set a cloth between them, and fetch chibouks and coffee. This done, and the amber mouthpiece being presented to each, Ali Ben Abitet began his story.