a curse for my interference, or if the place is quiet enough, the menace of violence, or even violence itself. The amateur defender of birds is obviously powerless, and the rural police, even supposing them to be willing to charge themselves with an occupation that involves a good deal of trouble and no prospect of advantage, are little better off. Unless, indeed, stirred by the efforts of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the police in nearly all cases "wink the other eye." When an offender is caught—and such cases are few enough-the punishment meted out is rarely or never deterrent. I have now brought before me the case of a dealer who by a happy chance was run down and was without excuse. Instead of a penalty of £27, to which he had subjected himself, he was let off with a ninth of that sum.

I

LEGISLATION THE ONLY REMEDY.

AM not in these things speaking in condemnation of the authorities. Anxious as I am to stop an abuse which may end in depriving life of one of its greatest delights, I should hesitate before punishing with exemplary rigour those who seek, in a hard world, to gain an income by means not patently dishonest. Still, I am in favour of more vigorous legislation the world over. For a time I hoped that gentler methods would prevail. Again and again I have appealed to woman to show some of that mercy and humanity with which man, persistent optimist, continues to credit her. That hope I have at length abandoned. Man sometimes has qualms concerning the amount of destruction involved in keeping him alive and guarding him against the cold. Woman as a rule seems incapable of such a thought. When the question of adornment comes in she is absolutely immovable. What matters it that the seal, a bright, happy, and intelligent mammal, will shortly have ceased to be, or that the islands of the Indian Archipelago may no more be lighted by the glories of the bird of paradise? Not a jot is she moved when we preach! Just as much, to use the words of Sir Giles Overreach,

As rocks are,

When foaming billows split themselves against

Their flinty ribs ; or as the moon is moved

When wolves, with hunger pined, howl at her brightness.

Appeal is vain, and little as one likes the process, legislation furnishes the only remedy.

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HE interview had ended as such interviews are generally doomed

TH

to end. Eugene's step-mother had gone to his rooms in the Temple to throw herself mentally between him and his intention. He had bidden her be seated with an elaboration of manner which she knew to be ominous. His face was white and set, and as he stood opposite her where she sat, pouring forth entreaty and remonstrance in low hurried tones, she saw with dismay the deepening of the obstinate lines in his face. At length he interposed :

"You might have spared yourself the pain of this visit. My ways are not your ways, nor will they ever be. When I am among you all I laugh and jest with you and join in your pleasures. And all the while I am conscious of being false to my better self. My truest sympathies and interests lie among those whose life's programme is work and suffering. Why do you wish to keep me from what, with all your worldliness, you must know in your heart to be the better part ?"

"Eugene, you are not straightforward. I have not come here to talk abstractions. You know that your father and I have never thought to interfere with your changing ideals and pursuits. Nay, have even gone against our own judgment in helping you to further the particular scheme of the moment. But this last scheme-this marriage! Eugene, I know you better than you know yourself. Scorn it as you may in your present mood, you belong more to us and to our world than you believe. You have been bred all your

VOL. CCLXXXII. NO. 1994.

1

life in luxury, and the deprivations of poverty will affect your daily happiness in a way you will despise yourself for. You do not conceive what it means to live à deux on your own £200 a year; and you cannot look for help from your father in doing what is not only absolutely opposed to his wishes, but to all common sense!"

"By common sense you mean the gross worldliness which is at home the breath of our nostrils. I agree with you that my intention of marrying Miss Elizabeth Warner is not in keeping with its tenets. She lives in Islington, and has never been presented, or worn a low dress, I think. That she is good and pure, a clever teacher, a devoted child, does not, I know, mitigate the opinion you have formed as to her unworthiness to be your daughter-in-law. I believe your heart you had rather that I had chosen a music-hall artiste or a smart divorcée-it would have been more chic. Fortunately for my happiness, my tastes do not run in that direction. Fortunately also, my future wife's thrifty upbringing will enable us to carry out our scheme of life without need of help from any one. I have often kicked in spirit against the artificial surroundings of our home life, and do not question my own power to live contentedly a far simpler one."

in

"In your present mood there is nothing more to be said. I leave you in your obstinacy, knowing that you will bitterly regret the step you persist in taking. Of course, all intercourse between you and your family must now be at an end. You could scarcely expect us to receive you, acting as you do in direct opposition to our wishes. I am sorry for your little Islington teacher though. If she loves you she will be the first to discover her mistake. Please open the door -I am going."

His face flushed, but he turned to obey without any reply, and would have followed her down the staircase, but she waved him back; and in another moment he heard the sound of her carriage wheels as she drove away.

Then a great sense of loneliness and disgrace came over him, and he threw himself into the chair from which she had just risen and covered his face with his hands. Unconsciously he flung out his arms towards the door, in the way he had used to do when a naughty little boy, anxious for reconciliation after a scene of passion and defiance. These scenes in the old days had never had but one ending-his step-mother had always come back at the sound of his penitent "I will be good," tears and kisses would follow, and presently he would be trotting off with her hand in hand, his love and adoration for her welling up higher than ever in his childish heart.