B.—CONTINUOUS PROSE

Pacs 3-5.

Mme. Dupuis thought her husband mad when he said he saw Tom Rouvitre coming. She didn't believe it was he, for they had had no news of him for thirty years; and she was sure it must be M. du Luc or one of their friends who sometimes dined with them on Wednesdays. She insisted that she was right, and this annoyed her bnsband, who wanted to hear what Rouviére had to say of his travels. But Rouvière had more interest in the dinner, which, however, he abused in all its details. Judge of the mortification of Mme. Dupuis when he pays no attention to her cutlets, her fish or her coffee. And yet he sais he has eaten some very strange things !

PAGEs 6-8.

Because Rouvière's arrival was so unforeseen the Dupuis cannot entertain him #« they would like. If he would stay a few days, they could pr se him something better, There is nothing he has not eaten, so he thinks he is a good-humoured guest. But the truth is that he does not like anything bike other people, and even the macaroni which has been served especially for him he will not taste. The only thing he finds good is the wine, and that, he says, is exquisite. Mme. Dupuis has to leave them in order to go to church; she goes winter and summer, Whatever the weather. She wishes Rouvière to promise her to stay another day, and her husband insists upon it, but his friend is not persuaded. Mme, Dupuis is a little excited, and Rouvière is irritated by it,

The two friends chat together and Dupuis tells Rouvière about his life at Saint-Sauveur. ‘There is no theatre, he says, and in winter they pass their evenings in playing wbhist with the priest 1n summer they water their garden and take à walk, retiring rly For thirty-tive years George and Tom have not seen each other, and Tom tinds George a little rusty in his provincial life, and wishes to know why he has buried himself nere. Dupuis was in a fair way to acquire the practice of a lawver in Paris, when he had to come to Saint-Sauveur on family business, and surprised by the charms of

Mme, Dupuis, he married her and established himself there, After amassing some savings he sold his practice on advantageous conditions and abandoned his passion for travel,

Rouvière had 10,000 franes to begin with ; by selling his lands he tripled his income and freed himself from every fetter, He devoted his vouth to a trip around the world. This, he thought, was living. To touckr with his own foot the soil of India, China and America, to force à passage from north to south through the great woods of Canada and the innumerable rivers of Brazil, to see shaken on a gaming-table the treasures of earth and Ocean, was to feel tne sensations of à different world. One day he set out for the south pole and saw the limits of our universe, where the days and nights are cold and pale like those of a planet cf ice. No king could travel thus ; yet it seemed to Rouvière that his circle was restrictec,

While all this was happening, Dupuis was sleeping and eating. All his noble emotions have died ont and it is impossible to reconcile the brilliant imagination which he formerly possessed with this wretched existence, It seems that Dupuis himself suspected his decadence, but he preferred to speak of something else, But Rouvière intends to fulfil his duty toward his friend and he apprises him that he can now revive his faculties and assure his future. They will end life as they began it, like two schoolboys. The plan of visiting the capitals of Europe pleases George and he wishes to set out without waiting for his wife,

Ifthey delay their departure by one hour they will not go. All they need is to pack their trunks. They have money and the necessary linen. If Mme, D:pu: comes back, she will destroy their resolve. He admits that it is useless to all Marianne ; he can make all préparations himself. After all, Rouvière will do him the service of apprisirg Mme. Dupuis. He feurs a scese which would hurt him an@ be of no use, He gives Rouvière his word that he will not desert him. The purpose of both is to upset the notions of Mme. Dupuis, and this poor Woman 1s condemned to pass some sad moments on account of her weaknese, She will suffer the perpetual]

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Rouvière has never thought seriously of staying with the Dupuis. The plan has been to take away Mme. Dupuis’ husband while leaving her his heart. Rouvitre explains to her why George has grasped this opportunity. After living thairty years in a village it is time to re-enter the world of the living. It would be better that they should not see each other again, for George is not anxious to give any proof of his tirmness. Rouvicre pledges himself to take good care of his friend and to bring him back less frail than he is at present. In her afiliction she does not set great store by his consolations, which only increase her grief. His life has been so different from theirs that he cannot understand the bonds that unite them,

She thought that all their pleasures and sorrows shareä for so many years would have more value. She has often put the question to herself and now this journey answers it. He was not happy because she was not worthy of him. She flattered herself that she was able to appease in his heart the regret for his distant youth, but he did not perceive the poetry of marriage and sadness marked each moment of his life. To-day, when sh might prevent his departure, she will not try. She has given her promise to Rouvitre and would not irritate him by useless efforts, At least her silence must shorten his absence and he will be very glad to find her again.

It is not M. Dupuis’ custom to change his mind like a weathercock, and when he dixcharges a servant he does not retract his decree. So poor Marianne must go as soon as her wages are paid. Mme. Dupuis wants to buy her husband some clothes for the trip but he wagers that he can do without them, The fear that Mme Dupuis has of Rouvière puts her at a disadvantage, but now that the ice has been broken they recognize some good in each other. It à only Rouvière’s awkwardness which prevents him from seeing her virtues. Dupuis enjoys the ill-humour of his friend and is amuse ! at his caprices, but he believes sincerely that Rouviere is no longer anxious for the journey. He would give him back his word if he persisted in vexing him.

60 COMPOSITION EXELCISES.

At last everything is ready. All omissions are repaired and the moment of the test has arrived. Rouvière remembers that he must consult the calendar and he finds that it is the twelfth of January. Five years ago he was ill in an inn. We may think that sickness and death are the same everywhere, but when we know that we are going to die we de not want strangers to soothe our last sleep; we seek something or some one to mourn us. The reflections of a man for whom the book of life is à famihar memory show us that one cannot choose an existence out of the common rut without forgetting the divine laws cf duty and sacritice. Rouvitre’s illness made him lose his pride, and the memory of it saves him now from his selfishness.

Two lives united are the best example of human happiness. Who has not seen in his youth father and mother happy in the duty of instructing the family by their example? How is it possible not to envy their peace and honour when nowtheir heritage is sold, never to be redeemed* As soon as their devotion disappeared, my seltishness awoke and dragged me as by a chain over the whole earth, so that to-day, when I would assure to my old age the pleasures of a home, and forget my ingratitude, ! must taste the remorse of neglected duty. The happiness of his friends tempts Rouvière to share it and he is caught in the snare which he set for them. He abandons himself to the sweet dream of resting after his exile.

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