BASED ON THE TEXT

To be trandaUd into French.

(See pagM 2 »ad 3.)

Thia ye«r we h«ve read in oar French cIms a oomedy by Eugène Scribe. It ia called *' The Glaaa of Water or EflFecta and Causes." We ha%'e fouud it very amusing. The scène takes place iu Loiidon in the time of Queen Anne. There are six principal eharacters : Queen Anne, ber favourite, the Duchess of Marlborough, Henry St. John, and the Marquis de Torcy, who is the envoy of the French King, Louis the Foorteenth. There are aiso two young persons who are in love with ooe Aoother, Maahani, a young eiuign iu the régiment of Guards, and Abigail Churchill, a cousin of the Duchess of Marlborough. The first four acts take pl&ue in a réception room of the Palace of St. James. The laat act takes place in the private apartment of the Queen.

(Pages 3 and 4. )

Id the first soeoe the Marquis de Torcy, the ambaasador of Louis XIV, is speaking to Visconnt Bolingbroke. The Marquis cannot obtain an audience with Queen Anne, and wishes to send a letter to her. The duchess is oppoised to it and liulingbroke tiwears that the lett«r will reach the Queen, and that the marquis may couut on his houe«ty and friendship. He lias never betrayed a friend. 'i'he auiliassador put» iu him his only hope of succès», although he knows tliat it is said that Bolingbroke is a spendthrift and a rake. The marquis loves his old suvereign, sud if he does uot succeed in hia misaiou it will kiU him.

(Pages 4-9.)

Mashara, one of the principal characters of the play, is a young man who has come to London, a poor country gentleman. His father had been killed on the battlefield, leaving his son an orphan. The latter had the idea of asking for a position in the Queen's household, for he had neither friends nor money. At last, in his distress, he was going to throw himself into the Thames, when he met the viscount, who lent him two hundred guineas. One day, on the opening of parliament, he succeeded in handing a pétition to Her Majesty. ïwo weeks after, he received a letter of audience from the Queen, and arrayed in his best he went to the palace.

(Pages 11-15.)

One day, when little Abigail, the clerk of the rich jeweller Toniwood, was at the counter, a beautiful lady came in. She took a faney for a pretty little golden bon -bon box which was worth thirty guineas. She had forgotten her purse and the jeweller's clerk said that she would send the box to the lady 's house. When the lady hesitated to give the name of her mansion, Abigail told her to keep the jewelry and that she herself would stand surety for her. The lady did not come back and Abigail was beginning to think her a cheat, when one evening a carriage stopped at the door and a lady alighted from it. A great many things had detained her. She was not able to leave her house when she pleased. Then she paid for the bon-bon box, and oifered the little girl a position in her household. Abigail accepted it and discovered that her new protector was the good Queen Anne.

(Pages 19-21.)

It is through little things that we arrive at great ones. The fall of an empire does not always come from grave and important causes Great men are often lead by what is most niean and contemptible in

the world. It i» said that a great war. which inflam«d ail Europe, was caïued by a remark of LouU XIV. wbich criticised a wiiidow of the Chàteaa de Trianon. The vaiiity of his minister, Louvois, being oSbndad, he determiued to begin a new war so tbat the kiog would fo>g«4 ttie mnndow. Thus little causes often pruduce great eifects. Thtb talent of a great nian does not consist in inventiog great events bat in profiting by tbein.

(Page. 26, 27.)

A* Abigail U about to leave the rooni, Masham, pale aud frightened, rtuhea in suddenly by the door at the back of the stage. In a lonely path in St. James' Pau-k he had just met, face to face, a noblenian who had once insalted him. Tbey had each drawn his sword, and in the duel the opponeut of Masham had fallen. The latter did not know if he had killed his uuknowu adversary, but he knew that it would be nnrnxiry to leav« Loodon that very evening. Before leaving he wishes to aee Abigail ooee nsore, to tell her that he will uever love anyone but her, and to lay farewell. Then he goe« away leaving her ready to weep.

(Pages 28-30.)

(1; loat m wuai I always uaod to aay. (2) That is your business. (1) That is nom <^ her buwne— . (4) Tbere were three uf us. (5) He made the «easbeni of the Hoiiae cl Commons wait. (6) He will make then wait. (7) I am aorry not to hâve wen you. (8) 8end him away every time that he appeara. (9) He bas just writteu this letter. (10) \Ve ha<l jut seen him in the waiting-rootn. (U) The affection of that dear eliild had alleviaied the Qoeen'a aorrow. (12) l>et Your Majeuty profit by what I aay. (IS) I eannot endure it. (14) Wliatever you ■lay do, yoar &Uher haa made ap hia mind. (\5) The Queen onlera yoo to eone at onee to the palace.

(Pages 36-,38.)

How little Abigail pitied the Queen ! Mr. St. John had said that she was no longer Queen, and he was right. It was the duchess who used to look after the aflfairs of state. The Queen had ordered Abigail to to corne into lier présence, and was going to give her a position. But the duchess announced to her that her request could not be admitted, and sent her away. Arthur, who had fought a duel with a lord in the gardens of the palace, had gone, and she did not know what had becorae of her protector, Mr. St. John. She was no longer asking anything for herself, but would be happy if Arthur had already reached the continent.

(Pages 44-46.)

But Arthur has not left London. On horseback he is leaving the city, when he hears an ofïicer galloping after him. The officer is better mounted than Arthur, and will soon catch up to him. For a moment the idea cornes to the young ensign to turn round and to défend himself, but he remembers he has already killed a man. He stops, and says to the officer, "Sir, I am at your orders ! " " There are my orders ! " replies the officer, and at the same moment he hands to Arthur a packet, which he opens. In the packet he finds his appointment as an officer of the Guards. The young officer tells Arthur to thank the Queen to-morrow.

(Pages 54-56.)

(1) Abigail is still overcome with her happiness. (2) She is permitted to dévote her life to her Queen. (3) She must hâve tliought that she was coldly received. (4) She never used to lose sight of the plans of the duchess. (5) Tell me what has happened. (6) Does Your Majesty wish me to read this bock to her? (7) I am ready to listen to you.

(S) Do yoa grow wear}* (of being) in the city. (9) She saw the Queen weeping. (10) Ail the courtiers désire positions and ail wish the beat.

(11) Âbigail will take the place of the brother whom the Queen regrets.

(12) The parliament forbids the Queen to choose a husband. (13) The Qaaeo is braver than Abigail thinks. (14) Ëven if it were possible, I sbould not be willijig to du it.

(Pages 87-89.)

BoUagbroke bas faithfully kept ail the promises M'hich he bas given the doebeM, and ahe bas kept ber» also. .She bas placed Abigail in the poùtioa which he deaired. Bolingbroke uow wishes to bave the Marquis de Torcy invited this eveuiug to the Queen's réception. The ilanh— . wbo ta the «aperinteudent of the royal household, bas the sole rifht ta mad the letter of inritatioo. Bolingbroke says that if she will reoder thia service he «rill reoder ber a still greater one in retum. When ahe refuses, he déclares to ber that she bas a rival, and he bas the proof of it. He knuws t)ie hour, the mouient and the signal fur the Bwetiiig. The ducheaa is jealuus and promises to write the invitation provided that Bolingbroke tells her ail that he knows about the

(Pages 108. 109.) (1) If jea tmâj kaew whet the dadteat mid ! (2) This U the

wîth whieh I aatrueted yen. (S) Arthur is a person in whura jea May hava eonfidaoee. (4) Even if the ducheas sbould ruin herself, ahe woald be williag to brtng disgrâce upon the Queen. (5) Why bave yoa not beeo able to hear more ? (6) I bave just heard some important aew&, (7) She waa eeoiiiig doarn the great staireaee with anuther daehoM. (8) AbigaU did not koew what the Qneaa BMaot. (9) The Qaeao aafced her what ailed her* (10) She is afraid that the duchees ■My kaow hiaa to be in the palace. (U) Bolingbroke ouuld nul restore kim to liberty. (12) What hâve you to say? You did uot see us?

VOCABULARY

This VoeabaUry coutaias ail important words occurring in the t«xt, and may b« used to advantage with the oue supplied in the High School French Gnunmar. The numbere aft«r the irregular verbs refer to the aeetions iit the Frenck Grammar wbere they are treated.

abandon. M., Amuttha.

abonné. M., aubaotiber, «Mtomer.

■bniMtr (de), U> take adranUc* o(.

accabler, to ererwhdin, cnMh.

accourir, f IM, u> nu up. haaten.

accueil. M., réception, widoomo accueillir, i 165, to weloome. rMcire.

acbevar. flU, to InWi, «ad, ooo-

acquérir, f in, u> acqaire.

acquis, p. p. oi acquérir, acquitter, u> deu- ; ^— 4», to pay, to petTorm.