Beatrice.

gentry also formed part of Mrs . Mortimer ' s society . Molesey of Molesey , already mentioned , was an unmarried county gentleman , a bachelor , a great sportsman , ancl a very cheery mate , ( an old college friend of mine , ) who lived where his fathers had lived , as he used to say , " for 400 years . " He was always pleasant , always agreeable , and always well dressed , and—I may let the reader into a secret—one of Miss Beatrice Mortimer ' s admirers .

I have before remarked that my friend was shrewdly suspected of not having been altogether indifferent to the charms of Miss Jane Morley . But this , after all , was only a surmise , and may have been a mistake ; though Twamley solemnly declared that Molesey , in an unguarded moment , had admitted the fact to him . Then there were the Tauntons of Taunton Dene , and the Charltons of Charlton , and the " Carrutherses " ( as the people called them ) of Croftley , and last , not least , the Rector of Molesey * ancl the Yicar of Charltonancl their friendly families . But in

addi-, tion to all of these was Mr . Miller , a Scotchman , who had made a fortune in opium , in China , ancl had settled at the old house of the Darleys of the Hall at Darley-cum-Appleton—one of those fine old manor houses happily still to the fore in this good England of ours . The family consisted of a daughter and a son . He was a widower himself , ancl though somewhat fond of arguing , ancl not a little addicted to snuff , was a worthy , kind-hearted old man .

It was mdeed whispered , but only whispered , that the widower was not averse to find a second Mrs . Miller ; though I may as well admit here that I fear myauthority is no better than . Twamley ' s , who was fond of declaring that not only had Miller a taste for " sheep ' s head , " but for " sheep ' s eyes , " especially when Miss Beatrice was present . Ancl here , kind reader , I have assembled for you my puppets , one and all , and ere I draw up the curtain and arrange my show , and place them in proper ¦ '' poses , " and show them to the best advantagelet me once again remind you that mine is a very humdrum

, tale , after all , and therefore do not , as they say , " go in " for anything of excitement , novelty , the startling , or the striking . Perhaps as the tale runs on , some of the episodes may seem a little strange , or a little serious , or a little trying , or a little queer , as the case may be ; but as my ambition is only to reproduce what goes on day by day before our very eyes , ancl what is to be found and seen in many houses and countless coteries at the present moment , I fear that my story will appear like an " ancient

saw , " if not a " modern instance , " to many who turn over the monthly pages of the Masonic- Magazine . But if they have the patience and courtesy to wait for another number , and read another chapter , I promise them that in answer to tho wellknown stage bell , for good or evil , pleasure or the reverse , the green curtain shall be lifted ancl the living scene , on a humble stage , shall be presented to their view . Till then let criticism be forbearing and allowances many . ( To be continued . )

Cleopatra's Needle.

CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE .

A S by the patriotic munificence of Bro . Erasmus Wilson , this noble memorial of - ^* - Egyptian history and Egyptian Obelistic Art will shortly look down with complacency on the Thames Embankment ( happy and safe refuge after the prostrate ignominy and curious vicissitudes of years ) , we have thought it well to Jay before our readers the latest authentic intelbgence of the true meaning of its inscri ptions , which our climate may perhaps ere long efface . Dr . Birch , of the British Museum , has just favoured Bro . Dixon with the following revised translation of the hieroglyphieal inscriptions : — " First Side—Central Lhie towards east when erected on Embankment . —The Horns , lord of the Upper ancl Lower country , the powerfid bull ; crowned in Uas or Thebes ,