Madeira," while that which was shipped direct
from Madeira to England was called "London
particular." This is the only Madeira at
present procurable in Europe. The usual price
was formerly twenty-five to fifty pounds the
pipe, but after the outbreak of the vine disease,
it became from fifty to eighty pounds. Other
mixtures of different sorts produce Verdelho,
Bastardo, Negrinha, &c.

It was generally assumed that an acre of
average land yielded a little over a pipe of
wine, but four pipes were the largest quantity
ever grown, on a single acre. The best soil for
the vines was a mixture of red and yellow masses
of tufa; a weather-worn basalt was also regarded
as yielding soil, while a stiff clayey one was of no
use. The grapes never ripened at a greater
height than one thousand five hundred feet
above the sea level; for, though vines were
planted at two thousand feet, and bore grapes,
the wine made from them was always of a very
moderate quality. It was believed that if the
grapes were to retain their good qualities, a
fresh set of vines was requisite every twenty
years. A great deal depends, however, on the
soil, and the mode of cultivation. A vine which
is carelessly attended to in poor soil, loses
its virtues in eight or ten years: while the
same vine, if carefully tended in good soil, will
lose none of its distinguishing qualities in fifty
years.

QUITE ALONE.

THIS Story will be resumed in the Number
(285) for October the 8th.

MEDUSA.

IN FIVE CHAPTERS. CHAPTER I.

Herne Court, February 13th, 1863.

DEAR EDWARD, I am not coming up. Your
bill of fare does not tempt me. I don't want to
see Bel Demonio: I saw the Duke's Motto,
which, was very much better. I don't care
in the least about scenery and dresses, but I
adore being harrowed. Ruy Blas, if you like!
I have seen it four times, and am good for a
fifth; or if they would only give that naughty
little French play, which, in dear consistent old
England, it is proper to sing but not to say, and
in which I believe Fechter is absolute perfection,
I would scatter decorum to the four winds, set
William at utter defiance, and rush madly off
with you to the stalls in no time! Only fancy!
He— William — went to see it in Paris, and left
me at home (though I was dying to go), and
then he came back, and told me it was a very
dull thing, and that I shouldn't like it: after
which he went twice again himself. What a
profligate old William! No; I shall wait till
I see a good Monday Popular advertised, and
then send you my commands as to places and so
forth. London is so dirty and dismal at this
season; no air, no light, no flowers. My con-
servatory here is already one mass of bloom,
camellias, rhododendrons, orange-trees, azaleas,
and a perfect regiment of dear little hyacinths and
narcissus, making the whole house smell of the
spring— it is too pleasant to leave. Besides,
the country, even at this season, is full of beauty,
and gives one an impression of complete and
pure delight twenty times a day. One's human
resources in London don't give one that quite
so often; even you don't, my dear boy, fond as
I am of you. And you, when are you coming
to Herne Court again? I have been carefully
looking up all the marriageable girls in the
neighbourhood for your especial benefit, and
among them there are really two or three who I
think would make your afïair, as the French say.
First there is Miss Laura Baker, a most cheerful
active girl, with an even flow of great animal
spirits (invaluable for you who have none); not
very brilliant, perhaps, but so easily amused.
Always laughing. About twenty-four, not very
tall, dark hair and eyes, and a great deal of
figure, nose perhaps a thought broad, and just
a leetle bit suddenly turned up at the end; the
mouth rather large— but a thoroughly good girl.
Do you like the description? Then, a charming
contrast. Little Amy Robarts, twenty-two,
and flaxen hair; not quite so much conversation
as Laura, but understands the old women, and
is capital down at the school. Her only real
drawback is a rather tiresome little trick she
has of repeating one's own words over again to
one; if you remark that it is a fine day, she
answers, "Yes, it is a fine day;" and if you add,
"Charming for driving," she immediately
replies, "Quite charming for driving." But I feel
sure that this proceeds in a great measure from
shyness; and if you would only come down, and
teach her to get fond of you, you could cure her
of it, I have not the least doubt. The thing
that perhaps tells most against her in society is,
that she has one leg a leetle shorter than the
other; it was an accident, poor thing, which,
you know, isn't like having been born so, and
one does not see it when she sits. I really don't
think I should mind it so very much; would
you? Oh! how I should like to see you once
really thoroughly in love— utterly and miserably
in love. It would be so pleasant, and so much
better for you than going about for ever as you
do, singeing yourself and every one else in a
conscienceless sort of way to no earthly purpose.
Think of it for my sake, now, do; and come
down like a dear good boy, and look seriously at
Amy and Laura.

Yours affectionately,

HARTY BRANDE.

61, Pall-Mall, 15th February.

Dearest Harty,— I am nailed in town by
business, I am sorry to say, for the next week
or two, and therefore quite unable to run down
at present to Herne Court. How like your
dear, funny, insensible (shall I say nonsensical?)
self, your letter is! and how well one sees by it
that you have always sailed in smooth waters.
If you had not, you would not desire that your
friends should be in a permanent state of