on a very small scale, being merely an
entertainment to the four vicarage children and two
little cousins who were staying with them.
The vicar and his wife were the only grown-up
guests; but Mrs. Denbigh's life was such a
quiet one, that she looked on the occasion as
something of an event, and was anxious that
her house should wear its prettiest aspect. She
spent all that dull winter afternoon in renewing
the Christmas holly which dressed the room,
and tired herself thoroughly.

The hour fixed for her little party was, of
course, an early one. By six o'clock in the
evening the substantial tea was over, and they
went to the drawing-room, where the children
were to amuse themselves with games. "Magic
music" was the first, and the children's interest
was greatly heightened by Mrs. Denbigh
announcing that the child who found the thing
hidden, should keep it. A very animated scene
followed, the little ones searching high and low,
under tables, and behind curtains, as the music,
now loud, now low, encouraged them to proceed
or warned them that they were on a false scent.
And when fat little Johnny Carter, a sturdy
four years' old boy, the youngest of the
vicarage children, discovered that the prize was
buried in the white Astrachan hearth-rug, what
a merry shout there was, and how delighted the
little hero looked, as he undid the roll of paper
in which it was enveloped, and brought out a
quaint old Father Christmas, whose head
unscrewed, and showed all his venerable body
stuffed with sugar-plums!

"How very pretty Mrs. Denbigh is looking
to-night," Mrs. Carter whispered to her
husband; "one never grows used to her beauty;
it strikes one afresh constantly, does not it?"

"Remarkably well she looks; that black
velvet suits her exactly, and she is wonderfully
brightened up to-night."

She was indeed in unusual beauty; her fair
skin and blue eyes set off to peculiar advantage
by her dress, which, with its square cut bodice
and hanging sleeves, had the quaint effect of an
old picture. She wore a set of heavy old-
fashioned silver ornaments, and her sweet face
looked its sweetest.

"You must not tire yourself," said Mrs.
Carter, smiling at her, as she again took her
place at the piano.

"Oh, this does not tire me," she said. "It
is so nice to see the children happy? I wish
Philip were here."

"Do you?" thought Mrs. Carter, "I can't
agree with you. I wonder why I dislike that
man so.——When do you expect him?" she
asked aloud.

"Perhaps to-morrow."

"There is Isott making telegraphic signals
at the door," said Mrs. Carter; "I think she
wants you."

Mrs. Denbigh went to the door, and the old
servant drew her into the hall; her shrewd
honest face wearing a look of perplexity, as she
said:

"Here be a man a come as wants to see
master; and if master bain't at home, he wants
to see the missus—so he says. What be I to
do?"

"What sort of man is he?"

"Why, a queer sort of chap, ma'am, like to
a furriner; only he bain't a furriner neither, I
don't think; sum'at in the seafaring line he
might be, unless he be a tramp all the time and
after the spoons; but I've a showed 'im into that
there surgery parlour, and 'a won't get much
out o' that, unless 'tis pills and draughts."

"Did you tell him," asked Elsie, "that Mr.
Denbigh will be at home to-morrow, or the day
after, at latest?"

"Yes, I did; and he says you'll do every
bit as well as master. He's sorry to ill-convenience
you, so he says, but he 'ont keep you
not one minute."

"Just stay in the vestibule while I go
in, Isott," said her mistress. "Is there a light?
Yes? Then I'll come directly." And having
explained her absence to Mrs. Carter, and asked
her to take her place at the piano for a few
moments,  Mrs. Denbigh crossed the vestibule and
went into the surgery parlour.

The NEW SERIES will be commenced on Saturday
the 5th of December, with an original novel entitled,
WRECKED IN PORT.
BY EDMUND YATES.
And occasional Papers, entitled:
NEW UNCOMMERCIAL SAMPLES,
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

Early in December will be ready
THE COMPLETE SET
OF
TWENTY VOLUMES,
With GENERAL INDEX to the entire work from its
commencement in April, 1859. Each volume, with
its own Index, can also be bought separately as
heretofore.

FAREWELL SERIES OF READINGS
BY
MR. CHARLES DICKENS.
MESSRS. CHAPPELL AND Co. have the honour
to announce that MR. DICKENS will read as follows:
Tuesday, December 1, St. James's Hall, London;
Monday, December 7, Thursday, December 10,
Friday, December 11, Monday, December 14, and
Saturday Morning, December 19, Edinburgh;
Wednesday, December 9, Tuesday, December 15,
Wednesday, December 16, and Thursday, December 17, Glasgow.
All communications to be addressed to MESSRS.
CHAPPELL AND Co., 50, New Bond-street, London, W.

The Right of Translating Articles from ALL THE YEAR ROUND is reserved by the Authors.