become insolvent from the numerous and heavy drafts of the novel-writer; the regions of fancy have been so despoiled of their blossoms, that scarcely a flower can be culled by him who would entwine a garland for the brow of his heroine; and such even as may have escaped the grasp of this voracious horde, will be found to have faded under the withering influence of those insects of literature, which, fluttering or creeping about their petals, have rendered their fragrance pestilential, and turned their honey into bitterness. Where can be found the emblem of that damask lip which, arched like the bow of Cupid, shot an unerring dart, whenever a smile relaxed its tension? We might describe the perfect symmetry of her form, but what language could convey to the mind's eye the witcheries with which the Graces had surrounded it? we might depict the features of her countenance, but how could we catch and fix the varying expressions which lighted it up with the magic glow of intelligence? We must, therefore, exercise the judgment of Timanthes, and leave the reader to the sway of his own imagination.

CHAPTER XVII.

A CURIOUS AND DISCURSIVE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE VICAR AND MISS VILLERS. A PASSIONATE APPEAL IN FAVOUR OF FLOWERS.-AN ENIGMA.

THE RIDDLES OF SAMSON AND CLEOBULUS. THE MYTH OF CASTOR AND POLLUX. SOUND. HOW PROPAGATED BY AERIAL VIBRATION. -THEORY OF MUSICAL SOUNDS.

On the following morning, Miss Villers, accompanied by her friends, proceeded to Osterley Park, to pay her compliments to Major Snapwell, and to add her entreaties to those of Mr. and Mrs. Seymour to induce the venerable major to spend a few days at Overton Lodge. The children, of course, had a holiday; but was it a holiday? Tom and his sister have been frequently heard to declare that they never passed a more dull and listless day; and on resuming their scientific sports, their manner sufficiently testified that increased pleasure which always accompanies our return to an agreeable occupation.

"Mr. Twaddleton," said Miss Villers, addressing the worthy vicar as he entered the library at Overton, “I am happy to say that Major Snapwell has consented to pass a few days with us; but to this promise he has annexed a condition, and I hope you will cheerfully ratify the agreement of which I have ventured to approve. It is that our party should return with him to Osterley Park, and assist in planning and laying out his flower-garden, which I must admit is, at present, in a very disorderly and undisciplined condition."

"Ha! ha! ha!-The vicar of Overton, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, turned Gentleman Usher in the court of Flora!-Well, well! be it even so-I am content,"

said the vicar," sheltered as I shall be under the hallowed wings of Lord Bacon, Evelyn, Pope, Addison, and Shenstone, all of whom, with a host of other eminent men, have delighted in the cultivation of the flower-garden. As for myself, I am a true lover of flowers, not only for their beauty, of which I am keenly sensible, but for their cheering influence upon the poor invalid, languishing on the bed of sickness. You may well suppose, my dear lady, that as a Christian minister I can testify to their soothing and consolatory influence.-How often have I during my parochial visits seen the languid eye brighten, the cheek glow, and the smile of pleasure animate the pallid countenance, as I placed on the pillow a bouquet of flowers, fresh from the garden, and steeped in all the richness of their native fragrance! they were welcomed as the emblems of hopeful promise, breathing, as it were, their healthy freshness upon the decaying frame of the sufferer; and arousing the faltering powers of life through the influence of a mysterious sympathy."

"I never heard a more eloquent and passionate appeal in favour of flowers," said Miss Villers.

"We must also enlist the young people into our service upon this occasion," observed the vicar; "for if I recollect correctly, Xenophon in his Cyropædia represents the study of flowers as an important branch of the education of the Persian youth."

"I am no stranger," replied Miss Villers, "to the scheme in which, with Mr. Seymour, you have been so laudably engaged, to divest science of its sterner aspect; it is a subject which greatly interests me, and I shall be most happy in being allowed to become one of your pupils: nor am I unacquainted, sir, with the advantages which your antiquarian knowledge has conferred; you have garnished the intellectual banquet with some of the choicest flowers of literature, and clothed the mouldering remains of former times with a reviving verdure."

"You do me far too much honour, madam," said the vicar, as a gracious smile flitted over his countenance; "but I rejoice to find that you attach a becoming importance to the researches of the antiquary. May I be allowed to hope that you will favour me with a visit at the vicarage, and inspect my poor collection of antiques?"

"I anticipate a great treat, I do assure you," said Miss Villers; "but you speak too humbly of a collection which the major informs me contains some of the rarest relics of ancient days."

"The major, madam, is no doubt a judge, an excellent judge, madam, although he is occasionally—but no matter—no matter. I certainly, as he justly says, do possess some few remarkable specimens. I have, for instance, an undoubted specimen of the leathern money coined by John of France; some very tolerable samples of tapestry of the 'high and low warp;' a series of sigilla or seals; as well as an interesting collection of impressions in wax, taken from grants of William the Conqueror, and, what is curious, the colour of these waxen impressions is green, with a view, as it has been said, to signify that the acts should for ever continue fresh and in force."

"The symbolical interpretation of colours," said Miss Villers, "has lately engaged my attention, and I have learnt that the colour of the falling leaf led certain nations to adopt yellow as the symbol of mourning."

"More poetical than just," observed the vicar, "for be assured, my dear lady, that black is indicated by nature as the garb of mourning. It is felt by the senses, and acknowledged by science. It is the emblem of darkness, excluding that joy which light universally imparts. It is the emphatic emblem of death, for, were the emanations from the sun suspended, even for a few seconds, all nature would return to chaos. But, quitting this digression, let me resume the thread of our discourse. We were speaking, I think, about my collection at the vicarage. Well, let me consi

der; what other curiosities have I to display for your amusement and approbation? Rock-basins? yes, the rockbasins from Carn-breh. Ay, madam, you will be quite astonished at a specimen which-" At this instant, Mr. and Mrs. Seymour, followed by the children, entered the apartment, and abruptly cut the thread of the vicar's harangue.

"What do I hear?" exclaimed Mr. Seymour: "rockbasins! for mercy's sake, my dear vicar, let us not again dive into those horrid basins of Druidism; I verily believe you would willingly go to the stake in defence of those supposed pools of lustration."

"Well, well," replied the vicar pettishly; "let us drop the disputed subject, as I have another treasure lately obtained from Cornwall, which you have not yet seen-a sepulchral stone! In vestibulo astat,' as the poet has it." "Why, I never observed it as I passed through the entrance," said Mr. Seymour.

"Excuse me," observed the vicar, "the Vestibule, if you please. You doubtless know it was a custom amongst the Romans to have an altar sacred to Vesta in the entrance of their houses, and hence the term. But I beg a thousand pardons- venia sit dicto'—I am perhaps too critical.”

"Not only pardon, but thanks, my dear sir, for the information you have afforded us," said Mr. Seymour, in a tone of conciliation.

Miss Villers was now invited to be present at one of the scientific conversations.

"I shall be grateful to you for so pleasing a privilege," observed the young lady; "and," continued she, "may I be allowed to ask whether you have not been lately teaching my young friends the operation of those various toys which act by the force of the air? the object I have in view in asking this question you shall presently hear."

"Papa has lately taught us the reason of the kite's ascent, and the action of the squirt, sucker, and pump," said Tom.