works which looked outwardly most fair, were in reality frail, and unsubstantial, and lost most of their beauty on a more careful examination. Some, indeed, crumbled into dust while I was yet looking at them, and I saw with horror that others, whether from their more precious materials being mingled with the damp earth of the plain, or from whatever cause I know not, were inhabited by the most noisome reptiles, which wound themselves in and out, and rendered what would otherwise have been fair and beautiful, loathsome and repulsive to the beholder. Others appeared solely occupied in searching for the pebbles of the plain, while they took no heed of the precious jewels that were their own being lost and scattered at random over the ground; while others, again, appeared actually to study how they might most quickly fling away those rich gifts which, with even common pains-taking, might have been productive of so much benefit both to themselves and others. I turned sadly away, and again bent my looks on their wiser brethren. Some of these I now saw were chiefly employed in finding and trimming a lamp, which each carried in his hand, with which they directed the labours of their companions, and pointed out the way to the Palace through the thick gloom that at times overshadowed them. And here again I observed, with sorrow, that many of those unhappy ones of whom I have before spoken, also bore lamps and torches, which occasionally sent forth flashes of brilliant light, but which, instead of guiding the by-standers aright, only served to mislead those who trusted to them. For

'As in this bad world below,

Noblest things find vilest using,'

so light, which should be the purest of all things, was often rendered vile and corrupt by the admixture of base and earthly materials, and glared with a baleful and uncertain flame on all around.

I now thought I would more especially turn my atten

tion to some one individual among the crowd, that I might the better watch the use that was made of the materials assigned to each, and I soon noticed one on whom the observation of all around him was fixed. He was very young, and of so beautiful a countenance, that I wondered not that all who passed should turn to gaze on him. I noticed, too, that he seemed to have had richer and better gifts from the Treasury than any other near him—gold, and silver, and jewels of inestimable value, were his in profusion, and with these he was raising an edifice of such exceeding and marvellous beauty, that I felt as if I could never grow weary of looking on it. By his side was one whom I could scarcely believe to be his sister, though assured by my guide that such was the case, so opposite to him did she seem in all respects. No rich gifts were hers; it seemed almost as if she had received nothing from the Treasury, and a feeling of pity stole over me as I thought that she at least could do nothing worthy of admission into the King's Palace. I turned from her to gaze again on her brother, whose work appeared every moment to increase in beauty and strength, and I heard the voices of the spectators, in whispers at first, but becoming louder as he proceeded, saying one to another, if such were the deeds of his early youth, what might he not accomplish when time and experience had matured the talents that even now were so conspicuous. He heeded them not at first, but presently, when one nearer to him than the rest, spoke thus, he turned from his work to answer, and in that brief moment, a jewel he had been in the act of placing, and which was not as yet firmly fixed, slipped from its place, and had wellnigh fallen to the ground. A feeble hand was stretched out to arrest its descent, and when at her warning cry he turned hastily round, his sister was endeavouring to restore it to its original position. Then I saw she was not wholly unprovided with materials, though they appeared but scanty, and of the meanest kind ;

and with what seemed but ordinary clay, she contrived to fill up the interstices, and to fix the stone even more firmly than those surrounding it. Still I rather grieved at this, and thought it a pity that that common clay should be mingled with the rare and beautiful jewels of her more gifted brother. While these thoughts passed through my mind, my guide put a glass into my hand, and bade me look through it, telling me that it would show me things such as they would appear in the full light of the glorious Palace. Beautiful, indeed, now appeared the work at which I had been so long gazing, but I remarked a little circle of light which seemed to glow with a greater lustre and brilliancy than all the rest. I looked again, and saw that it was the clay which I had so despised, and which, without the glass, continued to look mean and worthless. In common with the rest of the spectators, I wished much to see the farther progress of this excellent workman, and fancied that he would be allowed more time than the others to finish a work which I was fain to think was more worthy of a place in the Palace than I had yet

seen.

any

Great, therefore, was my disappointment, when his work seemed but half completed, in spite of the marvellous rapidity with which it had proceeded, his course but just begun, to see a messenger from the King appear to summon him to his presence. Grief sat on every face but his, and that grew more radiant as he passed from among us-once, and once only, a cloud appeared to dim its brightness, as he turned his eyes on his seemingly helpless sister. 'My poor little Adoxa,' he murmured, 'who will care for you when I am gone?' and then he looked again towards the Crystal Palace, which at that moment appeared brighter and more distinct than usual, and the shadow passed from his brow, and he followed the messenger with a firm and joyful step, and was soon hidden from our sight. Greatly was he missed at first, and it

was long before I could resolve to pay particular attention to any of those remaining; but at last this feeling wore off, and I felt curious to know what had become of Adoxa. She had drawn nearer the Palace, but in all other respects was just as I had last seen her: too insignificant to attract attention, and exciting only a contemptuous pity in those with whom she necessarily came in contact. Once I heard her murmur to herself, 'Oh! that I had but one talent, that I might achieve but one work, however small; but I am useless to all, I can do nothing-nothing!' and the tears fell bitterly from her eyes; but a voice whispered softly in her ear, "To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.' Cheerfully and contentedly after this did she pursue her way, and soon came to where one was lying on the ground, in apparently hopeless despair. He had been one of those who had wantonly wasted and misused the precious gifts committed to him, scattering his goods heedlessly round him, or applying them to unworthy objects, and the few that were left him were so defiled and injured, that when at last, in consequence of severe wounds and injuries he had received during his reckless course, he had become roused to a sense of his folly, it seemed too late to make any effort to repair it. Every moment he expected the messenger to summon him to his sovereign's presence, and trembling and overwhelmed with horror, he had thrown himself down to await his doom, without ever a thought of averting the fate that he knew must be his. At this juncture Adoxa approached; there was evidently a slight struggle in her mind, as to whether she should turn aside from her own path, which appeared to lead straight to the Palace, in favour of one whom all deemed undeserving of pity; the hesitation lasted but for a moment, and the next she was kneeling by his side, pouring balm into his wounds, and striving to bind them up, and speaking to him all the

while in words simple indeed, and destitute of learning, but which seemed to go straight to the heart of the listener. Gradually he raised himself up, and anxiously examined the gifts still left him, to see if by any chance he might still be able to do aught for the glory of his King, while as Adoxa passed on her way, the same voice that had before spoken to her, whispered, ' He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.'

Long and humbly did he toil-seeking for the jewels that once he had thrown away-painfully too, meeting with many dangers and difficulties, and with all his efforts seeming to make so little progress, that at times he was almost tempted to abandon his work; but still he persevered, and when at last he followed the messenger to the presence of his Lord, it was with the hope that He who had already done so much for him, would not leave his work unfinished, but would still intercede for him with His Father, and plead His merits in justification of his offences; and when he disappeared from sight, I heard a chorus of voices singing, 'There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth!'

THE LITTLE DUKE.
CHAPTER VII.

OSMOND DE CENTEVILLE was soon convinced that no immediate danger threatened his young Duke at the Court of Montléon. Louis seemed to intend to fulfil his oaths to the Normans by allowing the child to be the companion of his own sons, and to be treated in every respect as became his rank. Richard had his proper place at table, and all due attendance; he learnt, rode, and played with the princes, and there was nothing to complain of excepting the coldness and inattention with which the King and Queen treated him, by no means fulfilling the promise of being as parents to their orphan ward. Gerberge, who