Lady Albinia expressed her wish one day that Daisy should be "presented." At first Daisy did not quite understand her; when the fact was made clear to her, she said not a word; but with the bound of a wounded panther, rushed into her father's study, standing before him flushed, and bathed in passionate tears.

"Why, Daisy! what is the matter?" exclaimed Mr. Lamplugh, waking out of a half-doze in something like terror at the storm of passion that burst before him.

world interfere with her? Why must she wear would have fainted; though Daisy was so unstays, when they hurt her, and shoes too small ladylike as to laugh, and say she was no worse, for her feet, and too thin for the rocks? Was it while the blood was streaming over her short not very foolish to give herself a pain in her side white frock. But, Lady Albinia had sharp eyes, and chest, and to get her feet wet, besides cut- and saw more plainly than most people what ting them with shingles? That was not wise, blushes and paleness meant. Daisy and Charsurely, no more than wearing silk gowns that ley Musgrave were put under mental arrest after trailed in the mud, and caught in the ling and this, and the lady's vigilance over her prisoners the crags, and were spoiled by the rain and the never relaxed. bogs. Why must she turn up her hair? Because she looked like a great girl? But who saw her, excepting her brothers and Charley Musgrave, who was like a brother? It was much less trouble to let it hang down naturally. But if mamma liked, it should be turned up,she did not much care about it; which was one point gained, thought the Lady Albinia, grimly. To make Daisy wear gloves and fine bonnets, and lustrous gowns, or drive out in the carriage like a lady, or submit to be dressed by a maid, or to make her give up her Bedouin habits of roving about the mountains, or to impress her with a sense of her guilt in wearing a wide-awake hat, and in rowing out on the lake into long past midnight,-to civilize or tame her, in short, was beyond Lady Albinia; she might as well have talked politics to Daisy's mother, the Arab. Daisy stared, looked bewildered, perhaps would Hush, my dear; not quite so loud. But if burst into a wild laugh, run up to her step-it is good for you, Daisy?" mother, kiss her gaily, and then rush out of the house and up the mountain like a goat. Lady Albinia's own maid, one of the finest of that class of fine ladies, said that "Miss Lamplugh was quite wicked to forget Providence, who had placed her in such a high station; and she made bold to speak to her ladyship about it," tears coming into her virtuous eyes as she did so.

Lady Albinia had a choice of action: either to leave the Lamplugh children ignominiously to their mountains and their fox-gloves, ignoring them for ever after; or to take them by a coupde-main to London; turn off Charley Musgrave, and begin to mould them in good earnest into drawing-room exquisites. Mr. Lamplugh consented, when she consulted him-if her haughty wishes, curtly expressed, could be called a consultation-and he agreed to her plans, saying also," that Daisy was far too wild; and that indeed they did all need taming down sadly." When the children surrounded him, in an uproar of waving arms and passionate voices, and big eyes full of tears and lightning, he said, "No, no, my dears, you shall remain here; you shall not go to London." Which had the good effect of pacifying both parties.

Charley Musgrave was the Lady Albinia's pet aversion. It was he who led the way over the steepest crags, and who taught them that unfeeling indifference to pain and accidents, which horrified the Lady inexpressibly. When the eldest boy, Selim, fell and cut his forehead, Charley Musgrave bathed. and bound it up, heartless fellow! joking all the time, and telling the child to be sure not to cry, for it would soon be well again. Such an example to the rest. What would they become, if that dreadful young man remained with them? He was more moved though, when Daisy cut her hand with the garden shears. Indeed, Lady Albinia thought he

“Oh, papa! papa! Mamma says I am to be presented," sobbed Daisy.

"Well, my dear, what then?" said Mr. Lamplugh: pleasantly, poor man, smiling feebly. "Oh, papa! You promised I should not go to London-you know you did. You said I should not leave Todcroft."

"It can't be good for any one, papa-that horrible London-where I am to be dressed up, like one of those travelling monkeys we have seen here, in feathers and a train."

"Your mamma is right, Daisy," said Mr. Lamplugh, with a sigh; "you are a savage-s true Bedouin."

"I am what my darling mother was, papa, and what I always will remain," cried Daisy. "Heaven help me!" groaned Mr. Lamplugh. "What a life is mine! I, a quiet man, loving ease above all things, to be the battle-ground between an Arab child and the Lady Albinia." And he certainly was to be pitied.

So they all were; Lady Albinia with the rest. For, this unconventional atmosphere was just as hateful to her as her stiffness and suppression. was foreign to it; though not so hurtful. To the children, the chief harm done, was the sense of guilt taught them. They, who had never heard of evil, now found that every action of their lives was wrong, and wasted many an hour in tearful perplexity between good and evil, which had all the effect of real sinfulness upon them. Daisy, who had been as free as the winds of heaven, was now followed and watched, like a criminal. A strange air of suspicion and wrong was cast around her when she was with Charley Musgrave; an atmosphere of glances, whispers, inuendoes, hints, that she could not understand, and that irritated rather than controlled her. Altogether, it was a miserable household.

Unhappiness threw Charley and Daisy more than ever together; for he too was wretched. An unfettered nature like his could not find much nurture beneath the shadow of Lady Albinia; and, as it never occurred to him to leave the family, he remained and suffered with the rest. By being thrown thus mournfully together no longer in the innocent freedom of their former

life, thoughts and feelings which would not have ripened yet had they lived as of old, sprung up into quick maturity; so, Lady Albinia hastened the catastrophe she wanted to avert. Daisy and Charley Musgrave found out one day that they loved each other, yet not as brother and sister. Hitherto they had lived in the belief that they loved as brother and sister do.

Lady Albinia was horror-struck. Her stepchild engaged to a worthless tutor-a man, half artist, half teacher, who had actually to work for his living! It could never be. She flatly told Mr. Lamplugh so, and he shrugged his shoulders in despair, and said despondingly that he would not interfere. So, he went up to London suddenly, leaving his aristocratic wife and his wild household to fight out the fight by themselves. The lady was left a clear stage now. Mistress of the family, without even the seeming control of her husband, she would soon make matters conform to her ideas. She would try, at any rate. The morning after Mr. Lamplugh went away, she called Charley Musgrave into her room. Charley came in, in his old lounging, careless way, thinking more of a linnet's nest he had found, and wanted to show Daisy, than of the Lady Albinia.

"Is it, then, open war?"

"No, Mr. Musgrave, it is simply a negative warfare. I do not condescend to war with tutors and children;" and the Lady Albinia seated herself with inexpressible disdain. "Of course, Mr. Musgrave," she added after a moment's silence, during which Charley had been doing strict battle with his passionate impulse to defy her to her face, "you will consider this conversation as a sufficient dismissal from your place as tutor to the Master Lamplughs."

He bowed. Poor fellow, he dared not trust his voice now.

"And-it is best to be candid at once-I must forbid any attempt at communication between you and Miss Lamplugh. No letters, messages, interviews - nothing. You must forget each other, without a thought of renewing this absurd affair."

That, Lady Albinia, I cannot promise. On the contrary, I must hold such communication with Daisy as I can, and as she will grant. "Then, Mr. Musgrave, I must take my own measures."

"As you will, my lady: I must overcome them."

"Do you threaten me, sir?"

"Mr. Musgrave," began the lady stiffly, but 'No, Lady Albinia, I only warn you. You with all her renowned politeness, "I am sorry may attempt to separate, but you will never sucto be obliged to trouble you with a few unpleas-ceed in separating, Daisy and myself. I will ant words."

find her wherever she may be hidden, and she will be my wife in spite of all your opposition. Do I not know her, and can I not trust her. You are beating yourself against a rock. Daisy's truth and my love will never yield!" With these words, Charley Musgrave bowed, and walked out of the room.

"We shall!" said Lady Albinia, with a peculiar flame in her sharp, brown eyes. "I do not think I shall be outwitted by a reckless boy and

"Oh, Mr. Musgrave, we need not go into de-girl." tail. It is quite enough to say, generally, that the connection would be undesirable, and that I positively refuse my consent. Most gentlemen would be satisfied with this answer."

Tears, vows, prayers, all were unheeded; Charley Musgrave must go. The aristocratic Fate had cut the thread of love, and there was no way of help. Daisy's indignation, fierce and "But, Lady Albinia," urged Charley, "when savage as her love was deep, was of no avail. a man's prospects, and every hope of happiness, She besought Charley to marry her in the face are to be blighted, it is but fair to tell him plain-of her enemies, and to allow them no passing ly why. To say that the connection is unde- moment of triumph. sirable is very vague. Have you nothing more definite to urge against me-my habits, character, principles ?"

Nothing decidedly immoral, Mr. Musgrave; much that I entirely disapprove of."

"As what, my lady "

But, the tutor had a little more knowledge of the "proprieties," and told her to wait and be hopeful. Charley Musgrave went away, and poor Daisy was left shipwrecked and alone.

Lady Albinia followed up this first blow by taking Daisy and the boys to London. She and "Oh! Your freedom, wildness, and as I her servants had hard work to keep them all to consider it-vulgarity. I have always deplored gether on the road, for they made desperate atyour influence in this household-I confess it tempts to escape, and had to be watched like frankly and now I firmly oppose this engage- wild birds newly caught. Lady Albinia was ment. Granting that my ideas of good breeding twice threatened with arrest by policemen with are unnecessarily high for Mr. Lamplugh's chil- tender hearts, who could not believe that she had dren, yet still, Mr. Musgrave, your fortune, your law or right on her side when they saw the disworldly position, would be a sufficient barrier." tress of her poor prisoners; but her aristocratic "But if Daisy does not object to my pov-nose and perfect manners bore her over all such difficulties, and she arrived in London safely "Miss Lamplugh must be guided and con- with her charge. trolled."

erty?"

"And if she will not, Lady Albinia?"

"Mr. Musgrave, she shall."

In London, Lady Albinia was the Macgregor with his foot upon his native heath. She was absolute. Not even the ghost of marital author

ity disturbed her on her throne. The children her bright eyes, that reminded Mr. Lamplugh of were well watched; and, in such a wilderness as the young mother who had died ten years ago, London, had but little chance against natives; to in his arms. She was weaker too; and her old whom the perplexing streets were as familiar, as restless energy was quite subdued. All she did, the wild-flowers on the mountains were to them. was to sit by the windows looking into the park: They had only to submit; which they did like tears filling up her hollow eyes, and her tremtigers in a net; talking Arabic among them-bling lips repeating low songs in Arabic-all selves, and weeping such passionate tears as might have moved a heart of stone. But a fashionable heart is a very good imitation of stone, when the necessity of appearances is brought in

to action.

about the captive and his love-and the desert and sweet liberty.

66

And, oh, papa!" sobbed Daisy, clasping her thin hands together, "Give me back my brothers and Charley again!"

Mr. Lamplugh, frightened into manhood by the sight of his pride and darling drooping at his feet, sent for the family physician, luckily a Daisy was tortured. A French staymaker kind and skilful man. A glance at the Bedouin was called in to imprison her figure in a whale-child told him the whole secret of her malady. bone pillory; then a French dressmaker was She was dying, he said bluntly, of restraint. She called in, and Daisy stumbled over her trailing must just go back to Todcroft, to her wild life gowns, and tore her lace flowers at every step. of freedom again, if they wished to save her. Her feet were thrust into narrow-soled boots, and in a short time she had corns; which, besides paining her very much, inexpressibly disgusted her. Her hands were coaxed into gloves which Aye," said the doctor. "Miss Daisy had left a deep red mark round her wrists; and she better be married to Charley, I think, and the was not allowed to walk-only to drive out in young gentlemen had better go back to their old an open carriage with her stepmother. Charley home too. You see, Mr. Lamplugh, blood is Musgrave's letters were intercepted; the sharp stronger than breeding, and Lady Albinia would brown eyes read them first, and then the beak-scarcely have tamed these Arab natures, if she like fingers burnt them in the fire; so, as Daisy had had them from the cradle. She had better was too innocent to know of post-offices, and false give up the attempt, as it is. You want genera addresses, and could not have managed a clandestine correspondence, even if she had known how, she could do nothing but hope and wonder, and love and trust. She knew that Charley was faithful, she said, and she believed in him as passionately as she mourned for him.

But the poor child began to fade. She had a fixed pain in her side, a feverish flush on her cheek, a cough, and a wild wandering look in

tions, not individuals, for educational successes. Let Lady Albinia adopt some Saxon child, if she wants to prove some Saxon theory. The only truth she will prove with these children, is, that Bedouins don't make good followers of fashion, and that nature is stronger than the artificial rules and restraints of society."

The doctor's advice was followed, and the treatment succeeded.

From the Illustrated Magazine. A CARNIVAL ADVENTURE IN MILAN.

[THE following story, though imbued with an air of romance, which may seem to impart to it the character of fiction, is nevertheless (at least in all its main points) strictly true. The incidents occurred nearly as they are here narrated; and the persons who took part in them, lived and moved and had their being, not many years ago, in the gay circles of continental society. It is, perhaps, scarcely necessary to mention that the names of those persons are not identical with the designations of the individuals who figure in the scenes here described.]

It was carnival-time in Milan, evening was ap; proaching, and the noisy gaiety of the day had given place to a brief interval of comparative quietude. The more humble class of idlers, who had been perambulating the streets since early dawn, were wearily sauntering homeward; whilst the more fashionable votaries of pleasure were regaling themselves in the restaurants, or preparing for the revels of the approaching night.

The cathedral clock had just struck six, and in the second story of a house in the most elegant quarter of the city, a lady was seated at her toilette. This lady, a beautiful Italian brunette of about four-and-twenty, was familiarly chatting

and laughing with a female attendant. Suddenly her merriment subsided, and she looked thoughtful and serious. Then, after a brief pause, she said, in a somewhat petulant tone:

"But, after all, this is really very annoyingit is most unreasonable to require me to make my debut thus unexpectedly to-night. It was fully understood that I should not appear till next Tuesday. I am by no means well, and I feel myself getting quite hoarse. I would never have gone to the masquerade last night, had I been aware I was to appear so soon. It strikes me there is some treachery at work. Possibly an artful design for cancelling my engagement, if I plead the excuse of illness. And here have I been studying my part six hours a-day for the last month-it is too bad!"

After this outpouring of complaint, the Signora stopped short: she seemed as if apprehensive of having impaired the energy of her lungs by overtalking; for she presently began to try the power of her voice in a difficult roulade. The silence which succeeded this vocal exercise was, in a few seconds, again interrupted, and the lady, breaking into a fit of laughter, said to her maid- :

"Zerbina! a droll idea has just crossed my mind: suppose I were to run away to leave Milan this instant, and set off to Naples, without appearing at La Scala; what an excellent carni

"Madame," coolly answered Antonina, after a short pause, "I fully understand and appreciate your enthusiasm for the art to which I myself am ardently devoted. But do not be offended if I observe that enthusiasm, though a most desirable quality, is not the only one requisite to ensure success. In spite of all your earnest feelings and enthusiastic confidence, I am disposed to think that the realization of your wish is utterly impossible."

"The impossibility rests solely on your refusal," exclaimed the stranger with increased energy. "Signora Antonina, if you will accede to my request, there is no sacrifice I will not readily make to requite you. I declare to you sincerely, that for two hours of your existence I would willingly surrender all the advantages of mine."

The

subdue triumphantly the countless difficulties | the principal part several times every day. which attend such a career." object of this unremitting assiduity was to realize my wish of appearing on the stage. In the practice of the trios and concerted pieces, I have been assisted by several of my friends, amateurs like myself. Even the choruses have not been left untried. In short, I have had the most labored rehearsals under the semblance of musical soirées. The result is, I am thoroughly prepared to present myself to the public if you will give me leave to be your substitute to-night. My scheme has not been arranged without forethought, and I have not chosen La Scala, and the Mascherata for my debût without due consideration. This being my first visit to Milan, I am less known here than in any other capital of Europe, and the Mascherata being a Carnival piece, I shall have the advantage of performing in a demi-mask. I shall be required to unmask only for a moment in the last scene; and it will be very extraordinary, if, during that short moment, any one should recognize me. However, I will boldly run the risk, for few things are more improbabble than the chance of my being discover-¦ ed. As I am obliged to leave Milan in a day or two, I must resign the part to you on the second night of performance; and when we hear it remarked (as doubtless we shall), that Antonina sang much better on the second night than on the first, you and I may laugh in our sleeves at the simplicity of the manager, and the public. In personal appearance, it is true, we are in some respects dissimilar; for instance, my hair is much lighter than yours-I have blue, and you dark eyes;-but such little differences are scarcely discernible on the stage. On the other hand, we are as nearly as possible of equal height, and our figures are similar; your dresses will fit me accurately enough, and as to complexion and features, stage illusion will doubtless sufficiently account for them.

"I have no inclination to avail myself of any such sacrifice," replied the Signora proudly. "I am devoted to my profession, and am quite content to live and die a prima donna. But with regard to this evening's performance, to confess the truth, I am not particularly desirous of making my first courtesy to a Milanese audience to-night. I am somewhat indisposed, and my voice is not in such good condition as I could desire on the occasion of a débût. In short, I have several good reasons for wishing that some one else could be found to play the part for me." "Then the point is settled," exclaimed the lady, exultingly rising from her seat.

Antonina smiled at the self-confidence of her visitor, who was, to all appearance, perfectly insensible to the difficulties of the task she was so anxious to undertake. The prima donna therefore expected to create no little embarrassment, when she asked the stage-struck heroine whether she had bestowed any time on the study of the part she wished to appear in.

Without making any reply, the lady took her seat at the piano, and after trying some passages in two or three different keys, sang, with a clear, powerful voice, faultless intonation, and finished execution, an exceedingly difficult scene from La Mascherata.

"Dio vero!" exclaimed the astonished Antonina. "What an organ! what flexibility! what style! How did you learn to sing this difficult music in such perfection? For myself, I have been studying the part laboriously for months, and yet I have never succeeded in getting quite smoothly through the passage which you have just performed with such perfect ease and accuracy."

Next morning nothing was talked of in Milan but the brilliant debut of Signora Antonina. Never had so fine a voice been heard within the walls of La Scala-never had so charming an actress trod the stage. Whilst her features were concealed by the mask, every note that flowed from her mellifluous voice elicited admiration and applause; but when, in the last scene, she raised her mask, and the charms of beauty were added to the attractions of talent, the whole audience rose with one accord, and a shower of bouquets descended at the feet of the prima donna. As soon as the curtain dropped, a crowd of gentlemen had rushed to her box; but to their great surprise and regret they were informed that she had suddenly quitted the theatre. However, this modest withdrawal from public notice had served only to increase the enthusiasm of her admirers. "During the last three weeks," continued the Serenades had been performed beneath her winlady, that is to say, ever since the Mascherata dows until a late hour of the night; and not a has been announced at La Scala, I have practised | few fierce wrangles had taken place in the cafés

"Well, you are now satisfied that I can sing," said the lady, rising from the piano with a selfcomplacent air; "and I do not hesitate to say that I can go through the whole part, from beginning to end, without a failure. You may rest assured that the success of the opera will not be marred by my performance."

Antonina was silent, and could almost have persuaded herself that what she had heard was the mere illusion of a dream.