She is our family forty years. Mrs. Danvers made no comment. She could well understand that Mrs. Tremaine had sent her faithful old servant somewhat as a check upon her actions, but she did not resent the implied suspicion. It was enough for her that Nigel did not manifest a similar feeling. They stopped at last in a narrow side street, before an unpretentiouslooking little house, one of a row of houses all alike. "Number five, John Street, Old Ford," said Nigel, easily. "That is our address for the present. Our landlady's name is Snape-Mrs. Snape. She has a husband somewhere in the background, I believe." He was talking with unusual vivacity, perhaps a little forced. Mrs. Danvers kept silence; Clarice trembled upon his arm. He had laid his hand upon the little iron gate before the house, and was about to push it open, when Mrs. Danvers arrested him. 66 One moment," said she. "You are risking something-on my recommendation. You are doubtful about the success of our experiment. If you like we can even now relinquish it. If you repent, I will take her back.” If The smile had faded from Nigel's face. His eyes were as steady as her own. Not a muscle of his face quivered. He answered curtly "I shall never repent." "You will weary of it?" "Of nothing until I have made her my wife." Let Mrs. Danvers bowed her head. us go in, then," she said, and pushed open the little gate. Almost as soon as she had done so the front door opened. The landlady had been on the watch. She was a meek looking person, with a subdued and feeble voice, but she seemed obliging and respectful. A small servant hovered in the background. Mistress and servant were vaguely sur prised that there was no cab and no luggage. "We are going to get our luggage presently," said Mrs. Danvers, in her quiet tones. "Are these the rooms? Yes, I think you have made a very good choice, Nigel." amusement. Her instant adoption of the role she was to play gratified and astonished Nigel. His blue eyes danced with He turned to her with some slight answer on his lips; but the words died away before they were uttered. Mrs. Danvers had put up her veil. And then he perceived for the first time that she was a very different looking person from the Mrs. Danvers whom he had seen in the garden. She gave him a warning glance, however, which recalled him to a sense of his own part. "Here is Martha," he said, as a grey-haired old woman in a cap advanced from an inner room to meet them, and the landlady still hovered in the rear. "Well, Martha, how are you?" said Mrs. Danvers, shaking hands with the old servant, as if she had known her for the last twenty years. "I hope you find your room comfortable? I think we had better have some tea before we go out again, Nigel, and I She is will get Carry to bed at once. Ah! this is the very tired, poor child. bedroom." The bedroom opened from the sitting-room by folding doors. Both rooms were on the first floor, and were of moderate size. The rooms that were to belong to Nigel and Martha respectively were on a higher story. Mrs. Danvers called the old servant to follow her and shut the door of communication between the two rooms. Nigel looked rather disconcerted by this sudden disappearance, but_contented himself by directing Mrs. Snape to send up tea immediately. He had ordered what was a sumptuous repast to the inhabitants of John Street— eggs, bacon, mutton chops, and tea; and Mrs. Snape herself had added suggestions of Madeira cakes and marmalade. Moreover, Martha had been put by Mrs. Tremaine in charge of a hamper of country produce, which was likely to be more acceptable to Clarice than Nigel waited with some impatience "Isn't she coming back?" he asked, ruefully. "She is tired," said Mrs. Danvers, smiling. "Besides, I have a little difficulty about clothes. I do not want her to be seen in those she was wearing at Charnwood. I must go out almost immediately, or the shops will be shut. Hush, say no more at present." Tea was brought in. Mrs. Danvers carried in a cup to Clarice, as well as some food, which the girl was too weary and excited to touch; then ate and drank a little herself, and prepared to go out. Clarice was left under old Martha's charge. Nigel accompanied Mrs. Danvers. She went to the Mile End Road and commenced a series of purchases, during some of which he was banished from the shop, and in others allowed to look on. She made her transactions as short as possible, but could not bring them to a close for more than an hour. Finally, she went into a portmanteau shop; selected two of the largest, and one small one, and directed Nigel to place the parcels with which he was laden inside themrather to the amazement of the shopman, who was just closing for the night. Then with great difficulty they procured a cab, and were driven with their new portmanteaus to the door of Mrs. Snape's house. Later in the evening, Nigel turned to Mrs. Danvers, and said— "I fancied that by this time I should have begun to understand you a little. But I am more puzzled than ever." "I am going to explain myself," she said, quietly. He had to wait some time, however, before she spoke again. "Look at me," she said at last. I seem very different to you?" Do You have dis "Very different. She smiled. "The other was my disguise. is my natural self.” This "What!" said Nigel, hastily. “You were disguised while you lived at Sir Wilfred Vanborough's ?" "Yes." "You must have had a strong motive for such a disguise." "I had." 66 Can tell me what it was ?" you Mrs. Danvers had grown pale. She did not look at him as she replied. "I wished," she said, "to hide myself from Constantine Jacobi's knowledge, and yet to keep guard over his actions. If he had seen me as I am now he would have recognised me— and been afraid." "Been afraid?" "Desperately afraid. And, but, for Joan's sake-but, for Geoffrey's sakeI would not have left him in ignorance. But the time was not ripe." She mused for a little while, her hands clasped before her upon her knees. "It is not ripe yet," she said. "Let him fill up the measure of his crimes. I told you did I not?-that his wife was living still ?" "Yes." She rose and lifted her arms a little. "Look at me," she said. "I am like other women. I do not look as if a blight had fallen upon me?—as if my heart were buried in a grave? And yet this is so. It seems to me that I am the most wretched woman of all women who have ever lived." With his eyes, Nigel asked her why. He dared not speak. She turned to him with a magnificent gesture of despair. 'Pity me! she said, in a voice of exceeding bitterness. "Pity me. I am Constantine Jacobi's wife. Maddalena Vallor!" (To be continued.) I am "OUR DOCTOR." By "IATROS." THE OCEAN AS A HEALTH RESORT. Of the various curative measures which the physician of the present day has at his disposal to enable him to cope successfully with disease, not one is more potent to arrest certain diseases when they have once manifested themselves, or to prevent their actual occurrence when they are threatening, than simply changing the conditions. under which the patient lives. by Everyone knows of persons whose lives have been embittered dyspepsia and hypochondria for years until, recommended to have a few weeks' complete rest and change of surroundings, they regained health and happiness. Cases of this kind. are common enough. But whilst the beneficial results of an inland change are universally recognised, it is doubtful whether the even more important results that in many cases attend a sea-voyage are sufficiently well known and appreciated. There are several reasons to account for this. Until quite recently medical men had some diffidence in proposing a sea-voyage in many a case in which such a course would unquestionably have been productive of good, because they were unable to assure to their patients the care and comfort necessary to valetudinarian. Now, however, passenger vessels are so well equipped and appointed that all the comforts and conveniences of a hotel are to be a found on board, so that the physician need have no fear of his patient having to put up with any hardships. The benefits of a sea-voyage in certain forms of consumption are well known-so well known, indeed, that it is needless to do more than advert to them; but we doubt whether it is commonly known that sea-travel in warm latitudes offers special advantages in many other chronic ailments -notably in affections of the kidneys and in chronic rheumatism. The subject of change of air and climate also comes home to most of those who are either naturally delicate or who begin to feel the tax of prolonged physical toil and exertion, or mental tension. In such cases the sea-voyage, when practicable, especially when it leads to new lands, new topics of thought, novel scenery and associations, is very desirable. In each and all such cases the change is not uncommonly of inestimable benefit, and almost always productive of some decided good. The powerfully tonic effect of a seavoyage is better understood in the east than it is among ourselves. The inhabitants of eastern settlements, accustomed to travel, and familiar with the steamships which come to their ports, have learned to recognise in a sea-trip a means of regaining health when medicine has failed to help them. Many of these very striking results with which medical men practising abroad are familiar, are simply due to the very powerful tonic effect of seaair, and we would be equally familiar with them if our patients could be brought to look on a voyage with less apprehension. To brain-workers, merchants, and professional men of all classes, a sea-voyage offers a form of holiday which is probably unequalled for good results. An attempt to recruit an exhausted nervous system by violent muscular exercise-walking, touring, shooting, fishing, etc., unsuitable to a man who has spent the previous nine or ten months in his study or office, too often leads to an attack of acute disease. To such men the rest which a voyage offers to the nervous system can hardly be over-estimated. The restoration of his exhausted energies begins with his first day at sea, as soon as he realises the intense relief of knowing that for a time he has escaped the post office and telegraph wire. 66 It is a commonly accepted idea that a sea-voyage is very slow." After some experience of sea-travelling we are in a position to contradict this notion. A sea-voyage in an ordinary passenger vessel is anything but slow. In reality a man can make his voyage almost what he would wish it to be beforehand, if it be of moderately long duration. It may either be a complete dolce far niente, or a series of remarkable events. But a voyage ought to yield not only pleasure, but profit as well. We are, therefore, in the habit of recommending patients going for a sea-voyage to a distant shore to learn what creatures they may expect to meet with during their progress, the latitudes in which they are to be looked for, the sort of weather in which they commonly make their appearance, and to acquire a special knowledge of their habits and natures. Were all passengers to do this they would not only lay open to themselves a rational and innocent source of amusement during the passage, but would qualify themselves for adding facts gained from personal experience (and such facts are never without their value) to the general stock of information. And if, under these circumstances, a diary be kept it will bear less resemblance to a log-book than such volumes usually do; and may afford on perusal not only interest but perhaps even instruction. "OUR GARDENER." BY DAVID A. CRICHTON. Most gardens suffer more or less during our long dry summers, and amateur cultivators are often disheartened by the loss of plants in which they take pride, and the withered appearance of many others. But the true lover of a garden will not be altogether discouraged from these trials, and will try and turn the experience so dearly bought to good account in the future. Hot dry weather will always prevail during the summer months, and every one who values a garden should endeavour to guard against it by every practicable means. In the first place, in laying out a garden the ground should be well prepared, and a sufficient depth of soil provided to supply the plants with nourishment. Then again it is utterly impossible to grow small plants and delicate shrubs suc cessfully when the roots of large trees are interfering with them. Plants may also be materially assisted during the summer months by mulching the beds and borders before the hot weather sets in. Mulching is of the greatest importance in garden operations in a climate like this, as it is a check upon rapid evaporation from the soil and lessens the quantity of water required to keep plants in a growing state. Another means of mitigating the effects of dry weather is to secure effective drainage in heavy retentive soils. It may not be generally known that when land is well drained it will retain more moisture during a dry season than soil that wants drainage. Though water must be used more or less in every garden, yet there is no necessity to be continually flooding the plants as some people are in the habit of doing. When this practice is adopted, it takes a great deal of water, and a considerable amount of labour, while at the same time much of the plant food in the soil is destroyed by the constant action of the water. Roses should have all suckers removed from stems of budded plants, and rampant shoots ought to be carefully regulated, so as to keep the plants as shapely as possible. Another slight pruning may be given to plants of the Bourbon, Tea, and Noisette sections, as also to free blooming varieties of the Hybrid Perpetual section. Plants belonging to these classes will flower more or less at all seasons of the year, and frequent light prunings will greatly assist them. The budding of Roses may be proceeded with throughout this month, but if circumstances are favourable, it will be advisable to get the work done as early as possible. The safest way of preparing the buds is to take them off under cover and put them in a basin of water at once, in order to keep them from getting dry. Though budding is a very useful operation for propagating new or choice kinds quickly, and facilitating the growth of many delicate varieties, yet it must not be forgotten by the amateur gardener that many Roses do best upon their own roots. Standard Roses when well grown are attractive, but they feel very much the effects of strong winds and a burning sun upon their naked stems. Dwarf, or, as they are sometimes called, Half Standards, are better adapted for this part of the world than tall ones, as they are not so much affected by high winds, and their stems are more shaded. In growing Standard Roses in this part of the world, the heads should be allowed to grow to a good size, in order to protect the stems as much as possible. Many of our native plants are very beautiful, but strange to say but few people cultivate them in their gardens. Most of them are compact in habit, have attractive foliage, and the majority bloom in the winter and spring months when other flowers are somewhat scarce. These plants have also the advantage of being able to resist the effects of long continued dry weather better than most other or kinds, and if well established they require but little no watering. The only protection they require is a thick mulching with dry litter during Care must, the very hot months. however, be taken not to use stimulating manures to Australian plants, and not to disturb their roots to any great extent when the borders are dug or hoed over. This remark will also many other hard-wooded apply to plants, and more especially to evergreen shrubs. If the surface soil is lightly loosened with the fork occasionally, it will be quite sufficient for native plants, and many of our most popular border shrubs. The common practice, however, is when the borders are dug over to dig with the spade among the roots, when, as a matter of course, a large quantity are destroyed or mutilated, and the plants suffer in proportion. If the layering of Carnations, Picotees, or Pinks was not done earlier in the season the operation may be performed now with a fair chance of success, but no time should be lost. Many of the plants that are known to gardeners as "tender annuals" make fine displays in flower gardens during the the autumn months. Among many plants that can be specially recommended are Zinnias, which flower profusely for a long period, and possess every shade of colour, from the purest white to the deepest crimson, purple, or orange. The Gomphrena (Globe Amaranthus) is also a most desirable plant, its neat globular heads of purple everlasting flowers, which are produced in great profusion, being Portulacas general favourites. also attractive small tender very plants, as their brilliant salver-shaped flowers, of various colours, are freely produced. The Amaranthus family embraces a number of very beautiful species and varieties, from which a good selection is easily made. The Celosias, or branching Cockscombs, are also admirably adapted for the ornamentation of flower gardens during the autumn. They embrace various shades of red, scarlet, purple, and yellow, and are graceful and attractive in habit. For ordinary purposes seed of these plants should have been sown much earlier than this. Good plants are |