"How can you look so unconcerned, Olivia ?" exclaimed a third. And though their tribute did not reach the young man in words, it floated as a subtle incense towards him, and at the nymphs' approving smiles he radiated benignity. His own particular nymph, as valedictorian, sat foremost, her brilliant beauty deepened by the crimson roses he had sent. She was in quite a bower of others he had not sent, but any slight uneasiness at this was quickly forgotten as the assemblage greeted him with enthusiasm, the Boxbury String Band burst into "See the Conquering Hero," and he overheard an elderly citizen remark to a stranger: "Yes, sir, our Mayor. Youngest we have ever had. Very able fellow, and we're proud of him.” And he very naturally felt that his greatness surely was a-ripening. These are the moments in which a freakish Fate delights.

The young lady deputed to salute the audience did so with the usual kindliness, assuring them that they were welcome, which they doubtless believed or they would not have come. Then six or eight of her companions-tall and short, slender and plump, dark and blond, but all appealingly attractive in the freshness of youth-delivered their views on such easy subjects as: "The Destiny of Nations"; "Epic Poetry"; "The Influence of the Italian Renaissance on the WorldSpirit"; "The Greek Dramatists"; "Buddhism or Christianity"; and so on. Proud parents gazed, their eyes glistening happily, and listened to the final word of Maude, Flora, or Agnes on these matters. The rest of the large and fashionable audience adjusted itself comfortably to a not unpleasant drowsiness; and only a cynic here and there muttered ironically: "When, oh, when will Progress put an end to this distracting custom as a close to studies called serious!"

As the pretty valedictorian came forward, her dark eyes sparkling at them over the red roses, Frank Thurby, a friend of the mayor, remarked to his companion: "Ye that have tears to shed-" and drew out his own handkerchief.

"Olivia Ferrill is not that kind," said the lady. In which she was right, for Miss Ferrill possessed her share of humor, and gave them by no means that depressingly pathetic farewell to Alma Mater and generally to the "Spring-Time of Life," which seems darkly to presage hopelessly arid deserts as henceforth the student's only footway. On the contrary!

"We know," said she, "how much we owe to these our guides. Also, how much we owe each other. But I venture to confess that we look forward happily and with healthful curiosity to the hidden ways and byways of the future. Some of us may tread them as business or as business or professional women, and these hope for much success-with a little enjoyment. Others will move in domestic or social walks only, and these hope for much enjoyment-with a little success." Then she sketched lightly and amusingly some possible careers for the modern woman, and ended amid applause and laughter from the hearers; her address, as crowning merit, being quite brief. At its conclusion she moved slightly aside, but continued standing; for it was her lover's turn to speak, and she was first to receive her diploma from him.

He drew himself to his full height of five feet eleven, and began: "It deeply gratifies me to be chosen to utter a few words of counsel to young spirits on the eve of their life's voyage." One "Young Spirit," with head demurely bent, was not heeding him closely, her mischievous sidelong glance taking note of a friend here and there in the front row. He frowned a little,. for he had not approved "the twentieth century tone" of her remarks, and went on:"The modern woman has strayed so far from the pursuits and surroundings which her nature and limitations clearly indicate as her legitimate sphere, that it may be well for a friendly voice now and then to raise itself in timely warning." At the word "limitations" Miss Ferrill's roving gaze was suddenly arrested, and he flattered himself that she was impressed. "I would have these fair girls, standing in life's vestibule, remember that no success in the business office, the forum, or the studio can equal that of the gentle household spirit. Not the meretricious charms of a Cleopatra, nor the gifts of a Sappho or Aspasia, may compare with those of the homemaker and the thrifty housekeeper. Believe me, dear graduates, our sex would gladly see you cease vain, restless striving after the impossible, and emulate the domestic virtues of women in the past. To become faithful and devoted wives and helpmates such as they, should be your chief ambition. A well-ordered household is a greater work of art than Rosa Bonheur's 'Horse Fair.' It is more important that a woman should be a good cook than anything else." The audience had now waked up to the situation, and was

VOL. LXXXI.-II

enjoying itself very much. Miss Ferrill's cheeks were of a damask rivaling her roses, and her eyes held a light awakened, Mr. Hadden fondly hoped, by his eloquence-as, indeed, it was. "Ah, my fair young friend," continued the orator, flourishing Miss Ferrill's diploma.

"Great Cæsar!" muttered Frank Thurby. "Whom the gods would destroy-"

"The idea of taking advantage-" said his companion, with feminine exasperation-" to-to preach at his sweetheart in public! Poor Olivia!"

"Poor Hadden!" corrected Mr. Thurby, with a chuckle. "Hear him rambling! And you wouldn't think what a straight business talk that man can put up. What's he at now? Milton! My auther and disposer what thou bids't unargued I obey. To know no more is woman's happiest knowledge and her praise.' Oh Jemima!"

The mayor was really too polite to have kept any lady standing ordinarily; but, being warmed with his subject, ambled unheeding to his doom, while Olivia changed her attitude twice or thrice in ostentatious weariness. Then: "This is intolerable!" she decided. Which reflection-so strange is woman-caused her pent up indignation to give way to an inscrutable serenity. In the very midst of this beautiful paragraph: "Yes, ladies; for softness was she formed and sweet attractive grace. Most revered when reverent, most admired when meek-" Miss Ferrill suddenly advanced a few steps, calmly took her diploma out of the astonished mayor's hand, and, leaving him transfixed, turned and walked to her seat, into which she sank with an engaging smile. There could be no question that Olivia had made the hit of the evening, the storm of mirthful applause which followed this being renewed again and again. And it was harsh, but perhaps excusable, in her lover mentally to characterize as "effrontery" the grace with which she bowed her acknowledginent. When he was permitted to hand diplomas to the other graduates, he contented himself with shedding upon them a fixed and artificial smile instead of the previous torrent of bland platitudes.

"An excellent mayor," said the elderly citizen to the much amused stranger, "but he has some things to learn yet."

"I wouldn't be in his boots," said Frank Thurby, as the dience went forth in high good humor not always dis

cernible after a Commencement; "I wouldn't be in his boots this evening for one of Miss Olivia's roses, though I should like to have that, too."

The subject of these remarks never knew how he got through the supper given to the graduates, at which he again presided. But his scattered thoughts were slowly crystallizing, and when he missed Olivia from the room for a few moments, he made a dash for his hat and overcoat. Her carriage was about to drive off when he reached the pavement.

"I didn't mean to keep you waiting," he said, with assumption of a cheerful confidence which was far from him.

"I was not waiting," replied Miss Ferrill, with clear-cut distinctness. She added quite sweetly: "If I had lived four or five centuries ago, and my name happened to be Griselda, I might be abject enough to wait meekly and thankfully for an escort who monopolizes the privilege of annoying me publicly. As it is-" she signalled the coachman, who drove on.

A half-hour afterward he was stalking about and gnashing his teeth in his own apartment, when a messenger boy brought him a package of books. He discovered them to be a ponderous "History of England" sent by him to Miss Ferrill, with a view to improving her mind. He opened a volume mechanically at a ribbon mark and found a description of the crowning amenity of William the Conquerer's courtship, when that enterprising warrior won his bride by pulling her off her horse, beating and trampling upon her. The historian's comment on this was delicately underlined. "How he ever dared venture into her presence again after this outrage, tradition does not inform us."

"Compares me to that unspeakable, mediæval brute!" deduced Mr. Hadden gloomily, and flung the book across the room where it damaged a valuable curio. And this was an evening on which he had promised himself both glory and pleasure.

FOUNTAINS ABBEY.

BY ELLIS SCHREIBER.

ESIDES her stately cathedrals, noble monuments of Pre-Reformation times, which, though despoiled in a great measure of their pristine splendor, are kept in repair to serve for the purposes of Protestant worship, England possesses other memorials of the past in the ruins of many an ancient abbey, that bear silent witness to the grandeur and architectural beauty of the religious houses once so numerous in that land. At Glastonbury, "A broken chancel and a broken cross" are the sole relics of the graceful edifice erected on the spot where the earliest missionaries constructed the first chapel in Britain, and planted the white thorn which still blossoms at Christmas-tide. The ruins of Tintern Abbey, doubly fair when seen by moonlight, have furnished a motive to the pencil of many an artist, the pen of many a poet. Again, on the heights overlooking the Yorkshire coast, stand the remains of Whitby Abbey, where in days of yore the famous Abbess Hilda held sway over both nuns and monks. Of all these and similar ruins, Fountains Abbey is perhaps one of the most remarkable, both because a considerable portion of the original structure has escaped the disintegrating action of time, enabling the beholder to form an idea of its former magnitude and magnificence, and also because ample information. can be obtained concerning the history of the community, since a contemporary narrative of the foundation is still extant, besides the official annals of the house, and a chronicle of the administration of the various abbots who ruled there. From these and other sources the routine of monastic life in mediæval times may be learnt with a fulness of interesting detail which has rarely been equalled.

The monks belonged to the Cistercian Order, whose monasteries were usually placed in situations of great natural beauty, in well-watered, well-wooded valleys, and these foundations