Andrew. The foreign correspondence is large. Mr. Dodds has died recently suddenly-there was some hint of delirium tremens, but I hope it can't be the case-and there is some hesitation as to the best mode of supplying his place." "So that," said Sir Henry, "if Mr. Carrington were to go down at once, in consequence of the application made by Mr. MacAndrew to you, which he only kept open till Tuesday, to take the place of Mr. Dodds, he would have the opportunity within five or six months of making himself so acquainted with that part of the business, which gives you most trouble, as to be able to tell you whether he would, or would not, accept the permanent post. "Not a bad idea," said Mr. Pierce. "But," continued the baronet, "if to oblige you, Pierce, and Lady Frances, and, I may add, myself, Mr. Carrington should undertake this responsibility, we must not forget-I am sure you are the last people to forget the claim it will give him on the business. He will give up a profession in which he has every prospect of success. He cannot do that upon an uncertainty." "We should be the last persons to propose it," said Mr. Pierce. "Well, then," pursued the baronet, "put it thus. Mr. Carrington goes down to-night as Mr. Dodd's successor. He will have for that purpose to be the-well, Guy, the ministers are the Queen's servants-the servant of the firm. So he will be pro tempore under the orders of Mr. MacAndrew, although that gentleman's power is liable to curb from the other partners. If, let us say, by the close of the year he resolve to accept your offer, a permanent position is assured to him at the salary of £1200 a year. "Nothing can be fairer," said Mr. Pierce, "and in the meantime, if he will be good enough to content himself pro forma with Mr. Dodd's salary-which I do not think was a very brilliant one-he may be assured, and you, Sir Henry, may be assured that Lady Frances and I will not, in any event, allow him to be a pecuniary sufferer." "Then, it only remains for Mr. Carrington to take his railway ticket," said Sir Henry, "and for you to write the note proper to be sent to Mr. MacAndrew. Allow me to suggest that you write a line by post, and another for Mr. Carrington to take as his credentials. And, Guy, you come at once into function by copying these notes for Mr. Pierce. You know where to find the writing materials." "One other note," said Mr. Pierce, looking up from the table. "There are rooms at Mr. Carrington's disposal at Plumville Hall. He need not fear intrusion. Lady Frances has taken a dislike to the place; and I am pretty sure that— that Lady Frances Plumville," said Mr. Pierce with some emphasis, "will never re-enter the park. But things go sadly to ruin when left to servants; so that it would be a real kindness to the executors if Mr. Carrington would pitch his tent in that desert. Mrs. Watkins will make him very comfortable, and, if he cares for flowers, he will be in a paradise." "I see no possible objection," said Sir Henry. "Guy, do you?" The thought of the bouquets that he would send to his mother flashed across the mind of Guy. "Indeed, Sir Henry," said he, "I am conscious of none, unless it be that it would accustom a young fellow to too much splendour. Might I pick the flowers?" he said, simply, to Mr. Pierce.. "Flowers and fruit, apples and pears, cabbages and asparagus," replied the latter, in high glee for him. "You shall have full right, title, claim, and easement to all that you can pick, pluck, eat, or give away-bar selling. If anything is sold, that must be regulated by Mr. Jessop, the head gardener. I will write a line to Jessop, as well as to Watkins." (To be continued.) UNDER THE LAW. [Aristippus was asked what advantage philosophers had over other men. He replied, "If all the laws were abrogated, we should still live in the same manner as we do now."] Hard-handed Giles, you know your duty well- With violent breath, high folk to "Go to hell"; Not strike the wife, nor with stray lasses mell: But since no temptings stir me to get free, CONTEMPORARY PORTRAITS. NEW SERIES.-No. 16. MARIE TAGLIONI, COMTESSE GILBERT DE VOISINS. DURING the reign of Gustavus III. of Sweden lived a celebrated tragic actor and very distinguished singer of the name of Karsten. As a mark of his preference for him the King bestowed upon him the office of Secretary of the Court. Gustavus was exceedingly fond of hearing Karsten's beautiful voice, and it is related that when his sudden end came (he was murdered), he said, just before he breathed his last, "Karsten, I shall no more hear you sing! Karsten's daughter was married to Philippo Taglioni. This daughter never appeared on the stage, but, as well as her mother, had a great talent for the harp. Mother and daughter were both beautiful. Philippo Taglioni, whose wife the latter became, was a Milanese, and occupied the position of ballet master and leading dancer at the theatre of Stockholm. He was one of a talented family-or rather perhaps his was a talented generation of the family, as there is no record of genius further back in the Taglioni ancestry. Philippo's two sisters were both public dancers, but their beauty was so great that they were snatched from the stage, as it were, before they had time to achieve any great reputation. One of them married Count Dubourg, of an old family of Lyons; and the other, who was considered a perfect beauty, married Count Contarini, of the family of the Doges of Venice. It was a saying, during her life, when travellers went to the romantic city of the sea, that they went "to see Venice and the beautiful Countess of Contarini." Another of their brothers was a mechanical inventor. Among other things he invented machinery for making buttons. He was a favourite with the King of Naples, who would commission him to make for him presents for the Queen, knowing that he would invent some quaint mechanical surprise to please her Majesty. He was a maker of violins also. Philippo Taglioni, the best known of this talented Italian family, came to the North for his bride, bringing with him the versatile genius of the South. From this union of northern and southern talent sprang a |