A Life's Hatred.

Limes , though he himself was frequently away . His little son grow apace , but . appeared to inherit Mrs . Percival ' s delicacy of constitution . I have nothing more to add , sir . " "Did you ever hear the causes that led to his ruin ? " asked Mr . Mordaunt .

"No , " was the answer , " It was surmised that ho had been speculating on 'Change , but it was purely conjectural . " " Was hc accompanied by his child when ho left these parts p " " Yes , but , as you have doubtless heard from Mr . Clarence , the ship they took passage in foundered with all on board . "

" Ihe agent communicated the latter fact to mc , " assented the gentleman . "I think , " he added , " that there must have been some mystery connected with the man . After his departure were ( here any enquiries made as to his whereabouts , or letters left P " "No , sir , " replieel the landlord . " It was thought by thc townsfolk at the time very singular that no one called at the Limes , or wrote . "

"I will not detain you any longer from your business , Mr . Newbury , " said thc guest , " I am extremely obliged to yon for your very interesting information . There is another question I should like to ask before you leave . Why has thc house been empty so loner ? "

" I cannot tell you , " was the reply . " A number of persons have been to view it , the terms are not unreasonable , bat strange to say , no one has ventured to take it , although nearly nine years have elapsed since it was occupied by the Percivals . " " Thank you , Mr . Newbury , I wish you good night , " said Mr . Mordaunt .

The guest when left alone sat musing over his wine for a considerable lime . At last he rung the bell for his chamber candle , and was duly conducted to his sleeping quarters . Next day he received the key of the Limes , and in company with au assistant of the agents proceeded on his tour of inspection . Upon the ponderous tloor being opened they found themselves in a large square hall , paved with mosaic tiles . On each side doors led to

suites of rooms . Mr . Mordaunt s companion entered first and drew back the shutters . It was a bright day , and the sun shone brilliantly into the spacious apartment thus disclosed which was of noble proportions , handsomel y wainscotled in oak , and ornamented with a broad decorated cornice . The capacious fireplace was surmounted by a mantel piece . In the centre of the hitter and embedded in the woodwork was an oval pier-glass .

J his room was formerly the library , sir , remarked the assistant . "You can see where the book-eases stood . " "A remarkabl y fine chain her , " said the gentleman . " Whose arms are these P " continued he , pointing to some heraldic designs grouped beneath the mantel glass .

"They are generally believed to have belonged to Nicholas Wotfon , an alderman of London , who built tho house anil laid out the grounds in the seventeenth century , sir , " was the reply . Mr . Moi'dannl then inspected the dining and drawing rooms , which were of corresponding style and size . Tho upper rooms and lower oflices were next explored . and gave the visitor apparent satisfaction , but his praise of the gardens and plantations was unbounded .

They were , indeed , of great extent and beauty . A long avenue of limes led to an elevation crowned by semi-circular terraces planned on the Italian mode . In one corner a capacious pavilion overlooked a line vista of open country . This particular spot presented a melanchol y interest to Mr . Mordaunt , as in reply to his query on the subject , his companion saiel it was the place where the hapless Mrs . Percival and her juvenile charge , Edith , were wont to sit in days gone by .

Upon leaving the terrace he was conducted to another quarter of thc grounds , and there beheld branching off from a broad expanse of lawn a number of alleys which were principally formed of yew trees closely cut , and hy their compact growth wore well adapted to give an agreeable shade from the noonday sun . Here ami there box , privet , and other trees of similar diameter wove trained and clipped in fantastic shapes , a prim style greatl y in vogue in the time of William and Mary .

A Life's Hatred.

As Mi : Mordannt . stood there and gazed around the silent , deserted and neglected ( loral courts and alleys , his mind reverted to that , bygone period when they re-echoed with tho merry sound of voices and laughter . JIc could imagine how much more picturesque the locale must have appeared in tho worthy alderman ' s era , aye , and for some generations after ; visions of beautiful women clad in the pretty fashions which prevailed at the cnil of tho seventeenth

and well into the eighteenth century , passed before him . On yonder plot of greensward many a stately minuet , hid been danced by them and their gaily attired attendant gallants . Within the adjoining arbours their elders of both sexes had sat and gossiped over their dishes of tea and chocolate , or bowls of bishop and punch . Many au amatory story had been poured into the pretty ears of some willing damsel , many a love-match sanctioned , and many a runaway scheme projected and carried out .

I here was also a melancholy side to those mental pictures of a long-forgotten past , llckncw that in thc nature of all things mortal , many false vows had there been made , many a fond heart broken , and many a trusting maiden and hopeful youth prematurely cut oil

when life had appeared so pleasant anil dissolution had seemed to them so far distant . In those gloomy plantations yonder it was probable that some valuable lives had been sacriticed in obedience to the then fashionable , yet false code of honour which insisted upon recourse being had tn pistol or sword in Ihe ohl duelling days .

Mr . Mordaunt was aroused from his fanciful reverie by his prosaic companion asking him whether he would like to visit the fish ponds . '' No , 1 am (| tii ( e satisfied will-, what I have already seen , " hc icplied . "The house and grounds are trul y delightful . If your principals and my attorney can arrange thc legal matters satisfactorily , I will purchase the property . "

I hey then returned to the town . Mr . Mordaunt stayed at the inn until the time arrived for him to enter into possession of the Limes . In the interim the place had been handed over to thc decorator , tho upholsterer , and the gardener . Several large vans arrived from London laden with a valuable quantity of furniture and elfjcts of foreign style and manufacture . The local people viewed with interest till these preliminary preparations , and discussion was rife as to the pribablc size of the household and its nature .

This curiosity was soon gratified , as on the day fixed b y Mr . Mordaunt for assuming hi . s tenancy , the London coach brought down an important-looking female of a dark complexion , who was accompanied b y a middle-aged man , also of a swarthy aspect . It then transpired that they were to be respectively installed as housekeeper and valet of the resident of tiie Limes . It may also he noted

that they were accompanied by some half-dozen domestics of both sexes . It was thought singular at the time why Mr . Mordaunt had not hired thc subordinate members of hi . s household in the neighbourhood . He certainly engaged a local gardener and assistants , hut they were not permitted to sleep in the house . The servants , when

brought into emit act with the tradesmen and others were very iiiietiniiiiuiiicalive , but it eventually leaked out that Mr . Moi daunt had recently arrived in J'Jiighiml from one of tha West Indian . Islands , where he hail resided many years , and that Mrs . Ambrose , the housekeeper , and Pierre Aruiand , his valet , were natives of the tropics .

This explained the behaviour of the gentleman in dressing so strangely . lie appeared to be oncof those eccentric individuals who never could get warm . In the hottest days of July and August when his neighbours were bathed in perspiration and otherwise distressed by the heat , he seemed quite cool , notwithstanding he was warmly

clad , lie discarded the thick blue roipielaure ho wore on his first appearance among them , hut in other respects hc continued to be most unseasonabl y attired . He was exceedingly affable in bin manner , and did everything ho could to propitiate his equals , and gain the respect of his inferiors .

A circumstance occurred shortly after his occupancy of thc mansion which won for him golden opinions , and showed unmis - takably his innate goodness of heart . Mr . Mordaunt , it may be hero recorded , was very fond of taking long walks in the surro-.-mding

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NORTHLONDONORUNIVERSITYCOLLEGEHOSPITAL, Founded ] GOWER STREET , W . C , [ A . D . ms . lviiios-THE QUEEN . V I . K I ' ATRO . N-H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G . A GENERAL HOSPITAL , CONTAINING SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS FOR MIDWIFERY CASES : DISEASES OF CHILDREN : DISEASES OF THE SKIN : DISEASES OF THE EYE AND EAR : DISEASES OF THE TEETH , * ¦ Tin- Hospital rniitains aid beds , 8 nf wltie-li , in ii separate ward , tiro devoted exclusively tn CliiliU'Ott tinder 12 years . The ANNUAL COST of tnaiiitaininj ; tin- Hospital in ils present , stale in over . ClO / JOO . The eeriain IXCOMK tiinoiinU to nearly 07 , 000 . V yearly DEFICIT 'if upwards of C 12 , UU 0 lias to lie pn . vidid for . During llie year ( IhOli ) relief was afl ' onled to : i , 02 U In-patients ; 7 . 002 Oiit-patientH ; . 't ' 1 , 177 Casualties ; I , 'l . "i 7 Ophthalmic eases ; !) . * > : ! eases of Diseases of tlies Skin ; ti ' . H eases of Diseases of Women ; HIS eases of Tlu-oat , Disease ; 121 canes of Iv . ir Disease ; l . jli Dental eases ; and l , 82 li wonu'n in Cliildliii-tlt were attended in iheir own lioines . Total , '" > , 70 l . It is sii' / treMcl that , an < x'client metliod of pet-pel tinting the memory of deceased relative * or friends is liy tlie en ! o \\' nlen' of a H . 'd or I ' . il , whicli can I"' arranged liy a Donal ion of L' 2 , ( lti ! l I ' m- imi-sttin-in in one sum , ,. ]• \ , y instalments . 60 Beds close ! for want of Funds , and the present Debt to Bankers and Trade imea exceeds £ L 3 , OJD . DONATIONS and Nl'liSC Itl 1 'TIONS will l , e received liy llie Hankies , Messrs . (' units and Co . ' >' . ) , Straad ; . Messrs . Smith , 1 'avne . and Co , 1 , Lombard Street ; liy the Ti'e . esui-ci- , Lord Moul-swe . il ; liy the Cliaii-iir . in of Hospital Committee , Henry hut ; is , Ksij . and bv tlie Si-iTeUirv , Mr . NliWTUN 11 , NIXoX , yL the Hospital .