After All;

Silent , bare , . Ships , towers , domes , theatres , and temples lie Open unto the fields and to the sky , All bright and glistening in the smokeless air . When the sun steeped in his first splendour , valley , rock , or hill , in a deep calmhow could she hear unmoved the piteous tale of his lovetold in a low ,

, , gentle voice ; how could she continually resist his fascinating addresses . It was too flattering to her , too delightful ; and Miss Phane at last agreed to change her name with Merrisslope . He had wooed her where " the river glideth at his own sweet will , " and the very houses seemed asleep where " all that mighty heart is lying still . " Many a time and oft did Merrisslope lead Olivia to the marvellous sihts

g of the metropolis , and conduct her throug h' the busy haunts of holiday seekers , where they dreamed their happy lives away ; ancl yet not quite happythere was a shade of sorrow tinting their gladness . Humberton was not yet forgotten , and Merrisslope knew that she was not wholly his . They hacl not the same light-hearted wonderment at novel sights with which then' country cousins were infected , of whom it has been said that

In blithsome mood they visit every spot , The royal palace and the Switzer cot : Enjoy with equal gust the glare and gloom , The mirthful party aud the mournful tomb . No : theirs was an aesthetic enjoyment , half sad , half glad ; and a tinge of human pathos touched all they saw , varied as it was in this " resort and mart of all the earth . " London , great London ! is there not food enough for

speculation in this immense city , " by taste ancl wealth proclaim'd the fairest capital of all the world , " to occupy all thought ; and sufficient gaiety to drown all melanchol y ? Where has commerce sneh a mart , So rich , so throng'd , so drain'd , and so supplied As London—opulent , enlarged , and still Increasing London ? Babylon of old Not more glory of the ' earth than she—A more accomplish'd world's chief glory now .

So says contented Cowper , and we believe him . Olivia Phane loved London , her native city ; she cherished all the favourite haunts of The seat where England from her ancient reign , Doth rule the ocean as her own domain . She could say with sweet Southey , whose words she had written in her little album of

treasures—In splendour with those famous cities old , Whose power it hath surpass'd , it now might vie . Through many a bridge the wealthy river roll'd ; Aspiring columns reared their heads on high . Triumphal fanes grac'd every road and gave Due guerdon to the memory of the brave .

Of course there are many other opinions of London ' s goodly city , and many far from favourable ; for does not the facile Byron speak of A mighty mass of brick , and smoke , and shipping , Dirty and dusky , but as wide as eye Can reach Amidst the forestry Of masts , a wilderness of steeples peeping —• A huge dim cupolalike a foolscap crown

, On a fool ' s head—and there is London town . Not very flattering that , and our friend Olivia b y no means endorsed the impertinent lines . Hampstead Heath , z'omantic and noble , was one of her favourite haunts ; and there she had spent many happy hours amid its charming variety of land-