him with a kind of interest, as if he were an acquaintance, and she seemed gladly to direct her discourse to him. 'You are a stranger here,' said the grand duchess; 'you have not yet been a day within these walls, you cannot therefore be corrupted as yet: I challenge you, therefore, to be an umpire. May there not be given by nature a mysterious power, which-which (how shall I express myself?)-which, if one mischievously call upon, may bring us mischief ?' began the duchess.

'You are not impartial, mother,' said the princess, quickly; you have already by your question, in the way you have put it, taken prisoner the baron's thoughts. Say at once, if, accidentally in the interval of some years, six tiles had by degrees fallen from the roof of a house, and had killed some people, would you never again pass by this house? Why not? There must surely be in these tiles a mysterious power which—

How malicious!' interrupted the grand duchess. 'You wish to reconcile me with my mysterious powers to the house; but patience: the simile brought forward by Sophia is not quite proper to

Now, we shall soon see to whom the baron awards the right,' exclaimed the princess. "The fact is this: we have here a very fine opera; there is everything possible in it, old and new mixed up with each other, and, only for one exception, the most splendid and beautiful opera I know. I heard it for the first time in another place, and the first thing I did when I returned here, was to entreat that it might be given, but never shall my wish be gratified; and this not because it is too difficult-no: the objection is peculiarly ridiculous.'

'What is the name of the opera ?' asked the stranger. 'It is Othello !'

'Othello ?-assuredly a splendid composition. It is rarely that music speaks to me as this does; and, for days together, I find myself inspired with a solemn sort of feeling-nay, almost a holy one-after I have listened to the swan song of Desdemona.'

'Do you hear this?' said Sophia, gaily. He comes from St Petersburg, from Warsaw, from Berlin-I have never seen him—and yet he values Othello so highly. We must see it again. And why should it not be represented once more? None of the present day believe in such a fable.'

'Do not be wicked,' exclaimed the grand duchess. 'There are facts known to me which make me shudder when I only think of them; yet we speak to our arbiter in riddles. Fancy to yourself for once, whether it is not frightful when, on every occasion that Othello has been performed, there was a fire.'

Ah! once more a simile,' began Sophia; but the fable itself is yet more strange.'

'No, it must burn,' continued her mother. 'Othello was at first performed as the drama of Shakspere about five years ago; the tale went, it was not known why or wherefore, that, as often as Othello was performed, a certain event followed; and thus our fire: there was a burning followed that performance. The prohibition had been enforced for a length of time, and no Othello was performed. A new and very spirited translation appeared; it was given once more, and that unhappy event occurred again. I remember, even as if it were to-day, when Othello, changed into an opera, was performed. We laughed long beforehand at being able to have brought the unhappy Moor his victim, now that he was become musical; Desdemona had perished a few days later, and the black had a further sacrifice. The event occurred once more, and on this account Othello has never since been repeated: it is silly, but true. What say you about it, baron? Candidly, what say you of our dispute?'

"Your serene highness is perfectly right,' answered Larun, in a tone between jest and earnest. If you will permit me, I can confirm your statement from a passage in my own life. I had an unmarried aunt, a disagreeable and mysterious person. As children, we were accustomed to call her our feathered aunt, because she used to wear large black feathers in her hat. As with your Othello,

there ran in our family a tale, that as often as our aunt with the feathers came some of us must be taken ili. There were jesting and laughing about this, but still the illness came; and we were so used to the spectre, that, as often as our aunt came to the castle, preparations were made for the impending illness, and even the doctor was retained.'

A precious figure your aunt with the feathers!' exclaimed the princess, laughing. I can imagine to myself how, when she stretched her head with the hat and feathers from the carriage, the children would run away from her as if she were the plague, for no one will be ill that can help it; and how a groom must have hastened to the city to fetch the doctor when the aunt with the feathers made her appearance. Then you had in reality a living white lady in your family?'

Be quiet about such things,' interrupted the grand duchess, almost displeased; we ought not to speak of such things lightly-things which cannot be denied, and yet whose nature may never be revealed. So is it with my Othello,' added she, kindly. And you shall not see it, baron, here, and so must seek your favourite piece elsewhere.'

And yet you shall see it,' whispered Sophia to him. I must once more hear my Desdemona's song-sec and hear it on the stage, should I myself become the sacrifice!' 'Yourself?' asked the stranger, perplexed. 'I heard from the spectre Moor only of burning, not killing.' 'Ah! that was merely the simile of my mother,' whispered she, still more softly. The tale is far more horrible and perilous.'

The conductor gave the signal, the introduction to the second act commenced, and the stranger rose in order to leave the box. The duchess had taken leave of him, but in vain did he look around for the ambassador; he had long since returned to his own box. Undecided whether he should turn to the right or the left, he remained in the corridor, when a warm hand was laid on his; he looked up, and beheld Count Troniersky.

6

'So I saw aright,' exclaimed the count. My major, my brave major! How everything revives in me again! I throw away these thirteen unhappy years; I am the gay lancer as before. Long live Poniatowsky! Long live the emp-'

'Count!' interrupted the stranger, 'think of where you are. Why conjure up these shadows? They are past with their times; let the dead rest.'

'Rest,' rejoined the other, that is exactly what I cannot do. Oh, that I were among the dead!-how softly and calmly should I rest! They sleep, my brave Poles, and no voice, however powerful, awakens them more. Why should I alone not rest ?'

A gloomy, restless fire burned in the eyes of the handsome man; his lips closed with a bitter expression; his friend looked at him with an anxious interest. He no longer saw the happy and heroic youth, as he had once seen him, at the head of the regiment, in the days of his good fortune. That confiding, winning smile, which once so attracted him, had given way to an irritable and bitter expression; the eyes, before so full of proud confidence, of kind feeling, which looked around with so much freedom and candour, seemed to examine every object with mistrust, and to wish as if to pierce through it; that faint red which overspread his cheeks, was now no more than the reflection of that youthful bloom, which had acquired for him in the salons of Paris the name of the handsome Pole. Yet, notwithstanding this great change which time and evil fortune had engendered, one was forced to grant that there were many excuses for the Princess Sophia.

"You look at me, major,' said the count, after a pause - you contemplate me as if you would once more find old times in my features. Give yourself no such useless trouble; they are become other than they were. Why should man not alter with his circumstances ?' 'I do not find you much changed,' answered the stranger; I knew you again at the first glance. But there is one thing I do not find in you as formerly. From your eyes

has disappeared that kind of confidingness, which used to make me so glad. Alexander Troniersky seems to me to confide no longer. And yet,' he added, smiling, ' my spirit was always near him; I knew even the secrets of his heart.' Of my poor heart ? rejoined the count, much affected. 'I scarcely know whether I have still a heart, did it not sometimes beat from sadness. What thoughts would you discover there except unchangeable friendship for yourself, major? Upbraid not my eyes because they are joyful no longer. I have withdrawn into myself; I have placed my confidence in my right-in my impression, you will say, that I am always the same man as ever.'

'I believe so; but how is it that I cannot comprehend the thoughts of your heart? You say it beats only because of sadness. What, then, has a princely girl done, that your heart should beat so sadly?'

The count became pale; he pressed the hand of his friend strongly in his. 'Be silent,' he exclaimed; not another syllable about this. I know-I understand what you mean; I will even confess that you have seen aright. The devil has given you eyes, major. Yet, why entreat an honourable man like you to be silent? None of the eighth regiment ever yet betrayed his comrades.'

You are right; but, although none of the eighth ever betrayed his comrade, has no comrade betrayed himself ?' Come hither towards this staircase,' whispered the count, as several persons now approached. Does any one except you suspect?'

'When you will give confidence for confidence, I will then confess.'

'Torment me not, major. I will afterwards tell you whatever you will: but, quick, say whether any one besides yourself

'I will rescue him!' exclaimed his friend; and Count Troniersky placed his arm around him, pressed him warmly to his breast, and then hastened away from hi along the corridor.

It is well that I have met you,' exclaimed Count Troniersky, as, on the following day, he encountered the major in the streets; 'I wanted you, to speak to you about a small favour

Which I promised to do you yesterday?' replied the other. "Will you accompany me to my hotel? It is there ready for you.'

'No gold at present,' interrupted the count; you kill me with such prosaic stuff. I am in a divine humourtuned above the earth. Oh, my friend, I have told the angel that people have observed us; I have told her that I will fly, for to be near her, and not to speak to her-not to worship her, is to me impossible.'

'And may I know what she replied?'

'She is perfectly tranquil about it—she is greater than such mean people. What of it?' said she. People can say no ill of us; and, if they ever discover our circumstances, I must for once play some silly trick. Where lives one who has not so done at some time or other?''

'A sound philosophy,' observed the major. No one can think more sensibly in such a situation, for assuredly they are worst advised who fancy they can blind the eyes of all others. But may I ask another question? Do you see your lady alone, for what you have told me could scarcely have been discussed last night while 'Don Juan' was played.'

'The ambassador's lady!' exclaimed the count. 'She stated this. If I err not, she also spoke of a certain marshal's lady, from whom she heard the report.' The count in silence gazed for some minutes straight before him. He seemed to struggle with himself, and then looked timidly aside more than once at the stranger. 'Major,' said he, at last, in a faint voice, 'can you lend me a hundred napoleons?'

The major was surprised at this request. He had expected that his friend would have complained a little about his ill-luck, as is usual on such occasions; and now he looked at the count in astonishment.

'I am a fugitive,' continued the other. I believed that at length I had found a place of repose, where I might take a little, little rest, since I must love-must be loved, major-and how loved!' He had tears in his eyes; but be conquered himself, and added, in a quicker voice, 'It is a strange request which I make to you, after so long a separation; but I am not ashamed to beg, comrade. Do you remember the last famous days in the north-do you remember the days of Moscow ?'

'I remember,' said the stranger, while his eyes sparkled and his cheeks took a higher colour.

'And do you recollect how the Russian battery led up to the redoubt; how their shot whistled among our ranks, and the traitor Piolzky sounded the retreat?'

*Ha!' interrupted the stranger, in a threatening voice. And how you shot him down, major, so that he never drew another breath; how the hussars moved right onwards as you shouted Forward! forward, lancers of the eighth!' and in five minutes the cannons were ours? You remember it ?' said the count, with emotion. Well, I command again to the front. It is necessary for a comrade to hew his way out. Would you rescue him? En atant, major! Forward, brave lancer; will you rescue him, comrade?'

'How, then, can I serve you?' asked the major. 'If I do not mistake, you were coming to seek me.'

"You are right; I was so. It was on this account I was on my way,' answered the other, after he had considered a while: 'Sophia knows that you are my friend. I told her of you before this, especially of the story of the bridge over the Beresino, where you took me up beside you on the black horse. She spoke to you last night, and spoke of Othello-is it not true? The grand duchess will not permit it to be played, on account of some tale or other, of which I know nothing.'

They were very mysterious on the subject,' interrupted his friend, and, as it appeared to me, the duchess will certainly not permit it to be represented.'

'And yet I have prevailed,' answered the count. 'The princess begged and implored, and that I could not behold even for a moment without coming to her assistance. The duchess gave permission. She said, though with a very distressed expression and a lengthened countenance, that the piece should be given; but, as she left, she again exclaimed, 'You may give up the play for lost, for, although Othello stands now upon the bills, the Desdemona will become sick.''

'You have done well,' exclaimed the major, laughing. 'Yes, Sophia is beside herself for joy, that she has got her wish. I am now on my way to the manager of the opera. I shall bring him four hundred crowns, that the representation may not be hindered by any pecuniary drawbacks, and you must accompany me.'

But will it not appear remarkable that you should be the bearer of the money from the Princess Sophia ?'

'That is cared for. We bring it as a collection from some friends of taste. Represent yourself to be a dilletante, or enthusiast of some kind, or what will pass for such in our affair. The manager resides near this, and is an old and honest odd sort of fellow, whom we shall soon win over. Here, round the corner, my friend: do you see that little green house, with the bow-window?'

Now, by the system of freehold insurance, it is proposed to meet his case, by giving, in return for a guaranteed premium, an immediate possession in land, ready to be profitably occupied, instead of an equivalent amount of money at death-immediate acres instead of prospective pounds. Thus A, instead of paying £2: 10s. a-year, to secure £100 to his family at death, pays and guarantees that premium during his life, or for such period as may be agreed on, for an immediate possession, in freehold, of a hundred acres of cleared land upon the line of a colonial railway; paying also, of course, legal interest on the value of the land. His moderate capital is sufficient to provide him with all the other necessaries of a colonist, and the improvement of his land would seem to be the best of all securities to the company or colonial legislature who supplied him with the land. The mortgage of national territory thus systematically allocated, would, moreover, supply all the necessary funds in the outset for its physical development.

The practical application of this principle to the formation of Mutual Benefit Emigration and Building Societies is sufficiently obvious. Such associations (it has been suggested by Mr Scratchley), after the manner of the better sort of the Benefit Building Societies, should receive monthly subscriptions from investing members of, say 10s. per share, each subscription of 10s. per month, continued for thirteen years, amounting, at 4 per cent., to £100. Half or quarter shares might also be issued, and payments received in advance, subject to discount.

In consideration of such subscription, each member should be entitled, at option, either as a Borrower, to enter into immediate possession, on mortgage, of an allotment of land; his account, as an investor, to be then closed (the sum of his payments being made a set-off from the value charged to him in the shape of land), and the amount repaid with pront interest by instalments, by way of life annuity, or by annuity certain for such period as may be agreed on; or, as an Incestor, to the accumulation of his subscriptions with compound interest, and with share of profits at the termination of his membership; such proportion of the amount subscribed being laid out in adaptation and improvement as may, from time to time, be found practicable or expedient. The colonist receiving possession on mortgage, in consideration of an annuity certain, may, of course, secure the absolute reversion to his family, in the event of his premature decease, by a temporary life assurance.

only put off when he placed his wig upon his bald head, on going out. Strangely contrasted with this homely dishabille of the old man, was a modern, tight-fitting frockcoat, and wide, many-plaited trousers. They showed that the manager, in spite of his sixty years of age, was not dead to the vanities of the world. On his feet he wore wide, well-worn, furred shoes, in which he moved about the room apparently without lifting his legs. The friends approached him as he glided towards them on his skates.

The wish of their highnesses has been already announced to me,' said the manager, as the count made him aware of the object of their visit. 'I know already about this affair; it shall not fail through me; my peculiar object is to delight their highnesses' ears in the most choice way, but-but I must nevertheless venture to submit some counter representations.'

'How? You will not perform this opera?' exclaimed the count.

Ah! that were an open declaration of mischief to their highnesses' family! No! no! But if my word was of any value in the matter, this unhappy piece should never be given.'

'I never could have imagined,' rejoined the count, 'that a man such as you would be caught by a vulgar delusion. With astonishment and admiration, in my earliest youth, did I hear of your name in a distant country; you were called the king of singers. I burned with curiosity to see so celebrated a man; I beg of you, do not mar so famous a portrait by such imbecility.'

The old man appeared to be flattered; a pleasant smile flitted over his softened countenance, he placed his hand in his pocket, and crossed the room several times upon his furred shoes.

'You are too kind, you do me too much honour,' he exclaimed; 'yes, we were something in our time, now it has surely come to an end. Superstition, you are pleased to say; I should be ashamed of myself to indulge in any superstition; but, where there are facts, the discourse cannot be of superstition.'

'Facts?' exclaimed the friends, with one voice. 'Yes, honoured sirs, facts. You seem not to belong to this town or country, since you know not of them!'

'I have certainly heard of such a tale,' said the major. If I do not mistake, there must be a fire every time that Othello is performed, and—'

It is a great truth, beginning to be recognised, that England and her colonies require to be administered, rather than Englishmen and colonists to be governed. A practical faith in a Christian colonisation would surmount, if it did not remove, the mountain of crime and pauperism.

OTHELLO.

СНАР. ІІ.

THE manager of the opera was a little thin man. At an earlier period of life he was famous as a singer, and now, in his old age, reposed upon his laurels. He received the count and the major with a certain artistic elevation and dignity, the effect of which was somewhat destroyed by his singular dress. He wore a black Florentine cap, which he

The friends rose in horror from their seats, for the prophetic and determined tone in which the old man pronounced these words had something fearful in it; but they directly resumed them, and broke forth in loud laughter at their own discomfiture, which, however, did not bring the singer to his presence of mind.

"You laugh,' said he; I must therefore prove it. If you are not otherwise engaged, I will let you inspect the records of the theatre, in which, for a hundred and twenty years, the recorder of the day has written.'

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