After All;

scape scenery . Here she would admire the constant change of undulating hill and dale , with their pinky walks and clustering clumps of shady trees . Poor Arthur Humberton , the few opportunities he had been blessed with , he hacl taken Olivia to that grand and wealthy shrine , that mausoleum of statesmen , Westminster Abbey . Here they would reverently read the sacred monuments to genius and greatness , and listen to the sweet harmony of the rolling

organ , or the tuneful choir singing their songs of praise . What an inspiring place to tread ; how its nobility thrills one , filling the mind with elevating thoughts . Here the ashes of many great and good men are gathered together in their final resting-place ; they have clone their work and are no more . How solemn , how awful to contemplate ! In this magnificent pile of legendary foundation they had roamed on one or two occasions when the beautifully stained windows had been flooded with sunlight , and all their aspirations hacl worn a roseate hue , while their hearts were light as air . But she had never seen its marble columns and statues since Humberton had taken

her there . Its memories , even , were too sacred to arouse by visitation , and she hardly dared to awaken the old happy thoughts of long ago . Now , Merrisslope escorted her to St . Paul's majestic Cathedral , with its conspicuous cupola , golden ball , geometrical staircase , giant bell , and whispering gallery , rising Phcenix-like from the ashes of many churches ancl temples . This pantheon of warriors , rivalling St . Peter ' s of Rome in symmetrical beauty ,

is yet cold ancl uncomfortable in its interior in spite of its grandeur . Still Merrisslope preferred this magnificent ancl lofty building , the largest Protestant church in the world , to the wonderful Westminster Abbey . The Crystal Palace , too , another wonder of the world , was a favourite resort of his , and many honied hours had he and Olivia spent in the delightfully artistic gardens surrounding it . The style of the whole is by no means

" Early English , " but all is essentially modern . The fountains playing in various parts of the grounds are exceedingly pretty sig hts . The brilliant historical courts in the interior of the glass edifice are strangel y interesting . In this glittering house surely he could divert the sympathetic mind of sweet Miss Phane from the sad memories of Humberton ; surel y there was sufficient pleasing and interesting variet y here . Most of the wonders of the world are

gathered under its transparent roof , ancl the ephemeral attractions are too numerous to become monotonous . The best of music was to be had here , though the immense size of the building swallowed up much of its sweetness . Still the best talent was often engaged , ancl the most fastidious would find something to their taste . All forms of . art could be studied ancl admiredscul pture , architecture , pictures , photographs , manufactures , machinery ; also botany , ethnology , palaeontology , geology , and a thousand other interestingsections too numerous even to hint at .

Through all these the assiduous Merrisslope led the pliable Miss Phane , ever whispering of love , and gradually controlling her will until she became almost his—until , at last , his will was almost hers , and his wish began to assume the shape of a command .

CHAPTER XV . Subdued by the power of music . —POPE . Olivia Phane had now reconciled herself to her approaching marriage with Mervyn Merrisslope , and seemed happy . Mr . and Mrs . Phane were anxious thitt she should by all means forget Arthur Humberton , and they did all

possible to forward the consummating marriage to Merrisslope , trusting thus to conrplete the happiness of their daughter ancl finally settle all difficulties . M