Beatrice.

Yes , upon the Avhole , I agree Avith you , " old fellow ; "things are very much on a Wei here , and all end pretty equal for us all . There are some amusing lines by an American writer , David J . Foster , AA'hich will point out tbe indifference and unconcern of us all , as a rule , and practically the ending of most earthly difficulties . Tbey are called 'Mrs . O'Flaherty's Last Words . ' The serious teacher might Avish they had been more serious ; the minister of religion might consider them very sad and foolish at such a

time ; tbe devout mind might bear them with a sigh of regret ; but , as tbey are not meant to convey a moral ' - or professed spiritual teaching , and as they are a happy exemplification of , alas ! it may be said , anot uncommon state- of mind amongst us , I give them here : — ' Hear me last wurruds . Faith , there ' s O'Shaughnessy , The wurruld's thafc , owes me nincpcncc halfpenny ;

And there ' s Phil Coyne , Avith his desavrng thricks , Owes me five shillings ; and there ' s Pathrick j > fee , By that same token , owes mo two and six : The crayther—don't forget to hold him fast . ' " " Commentary of bystanders : — ' . " ' The duld woman is sinsiblc to the last . '

-. ¦¦ "' Give me a dhrop f Arrah , where was I thin ? And i" owe Micky O'Nail wan pound tin ; And Phelim McCarthy two pounds , and i ' oive : Three ' pounds to Jimmy Hoar ; and Mrs . Flynn ¦ "Wan pound , seven shillin ' s , twopence halfpenny . Uo ! - 'Tis twopence and three farthin ' s , by your laves . '

" Chorus , of bystanders : — "' Ilowly St . Palhricl ; hear now how she raws !'" And noAV after this practical disquisition , Brummer , on a most ' delicate point , '" I said to him slowly , " Avbat ' s . in the wind's eye ? What is tbe dirty weather you seem to be oh the look out for ? Speak out ; Ave are on the square ! "

" llaA'e you not noticed , " he replied , A'ery slowly , " that Mrs . Mortimer ' s manner is A'ery much changed to young Morley' ? Have you not heard sundry rumours affecting that young , gentleman ' s habits and position : his ' maniere de vivre , ' bis way of going on ?' ' '" ' . " " Well , " . X said to him , " I have , IIOAV you ask me the question ; but I have treated them as idle ' canards . ' And AVIIO is interested in setting such slanders afoot in our

little society—for slanders tbej' certainly are ? To give out- that Morley drinks is , hi iny opinion , a simple lie ; to tell Mrs . Mortimer that be is overwhelmed AA'ith debt is equally untrue ; and then those ugly statements , so persistently circulated , ( though Beatrice has not yet beard of tbem ) , all accompanied Avith praises of Mr . Miller , AVIIO lias evidently . designs on Beatrice ! It seems , too , AA'bat . I did not knoAV before , that Beatrice has expectations from a distant relation ' s curious willon the death of that

, relation ' s , old maiden daughter—no-weighty—and which I only heard of ' the other day . " Quite true , " said Brummer , " quite true ; and I coidd tell you a good deal more ; bit here comes Twamley , and with his " geisfc " and good nature Ave ivill bold a friendly ' conseil cle guerre . '" When Twamley joined us , I saw by his serious if merry face that something AIMS really up .

" Have you beard , " were bis first words , " A \* hat is going on ? There is a worthy and mysterious gent , now resident at the ' Baldfaced Stag , ' AVIIO rejoices in the classical and silvery name of KirscheiiAvasser , ancl Avho , it is veritably believed , is setting about these stories , to the detriment of Morley , and the benefit , oil Avhoin do you think——" ni y dear friends , " said TAvamley pathetically , "but that aged rascal—old Miber . That venerable party , " continued Twamley , " weary of loneliness and whiskey-toddy , and even cheroots , and tbe merry songs , and artless charms of bis pleasant daug hter , is looking out for no less a person than poor Beatrice to preside at his table , to-nurse