of English natives, but they are fat and sweet, and not to be despised on account of their size. The Victorians cook them in various ways, one of the most favourite is that of stewing them in milk; but for my part I prefer them (if cooked at all) rolled separately in bread-crumbs and fried.

There are many different kinds of crabs, some of half a dozen pounds in weight, but I don't think any of them are equal for supper to the small soft-shelled variety.

Strange to say, the lobster is an unknown crustacean in these waters; why, I cannot imagine, as a more singularly varied assortment of 'shell-fish' could hardly be found together in any other part of the world. Mr. Spence Bates, writing with reference to some new specimens of crabs presented by Mr. Lord to the British Museum, says, 'The extremely opposite and varied localities in which many of the species here represented have hitherto been found, suggest the idea that Vancouver Island corresponds with the extreme limit between a northern and a tropical fauna. It is only in this way I can account for finding the representatives of tropical species with others that are found only (on the eastern coast of Asia) in the Arctic and, perhaps, North Atlantic oceans.' One of the most common amongst the shell-fish is the great clam (Lutraria maxima), which is a most precious mollusc to the coast Indians, who keep them dried for winter consumption. I have taken one from off the string in an Indian's hut and tried to eat it; but it partook so much of what I should imagine to be the quality (both in flavour and substance) of the sole of a well-worn moccasin, that I could not manage to swallow it. I have also tried clam-bake,' 'clam-chowder,' and other 'clamdishes,' but invariably failed to dis

cover the good qualities which the savages seem to consider belonging to this fish; but then (as they said) I was not a savage. My first attempt at clam-eating was when wild-fowl shooting on the mainland, at a place called Mud Bay, where the muddy sandbanks were, at low water, left dry for nearly a mile. We happened to run short of food for the Indian and his squaw who acted as our servants; so at the instigation and under the generalship of the squaw, we sallied forth one moonlight night to gather clams. Before we had gone very far, our attention was directed by the commanderess-inchief to a small jet of water which squirted up some five or six inches, at short intervals, from a spot on the mud. That's a clam,' said she, and immediately hoisted out the amateur fountain-maker with a pointed stick. The unfortunate clam appeared to have been buried about a foot beneath the surface, his trunk-like feeding tube reaching to the upper air. It did not take us above an hour to fill a large basket, and then we journeyed back to our camp, and watched the happy savages prepare their supper. First they put a couple of dozen of the poor clams in front of the fire till they were half roasted, and then pulled them out of their shells and popped them into a large saucepan of boiling water, slightly thickened with flour. I tasted the soup, or stew, or whatever the mess might be called, and thought. it very nasty; but the noble red man and his charming better-half evidently held a different opinion, and put themselves outside' the contents of the saucepan in little more than the twinkling of an eye.

Having introduced the reader to the magnificent sturgeon and to the muddy clam, to the mightiest of halibut and to the most minute of oysters, to the terrible octopus

and to the curious viviper, and attempted to describe some of the manners and customs of these and other finny inhabitants of this wild and far-distant region, I must now conclude with a warning to him against imagining (from my description of a pleasant trout-fishing trip) that British Columbia is a colony adapted for sporting. Peculiar natural disadvantages render it quite the reverse; and so it will remain until the hardy backwoodsman, the pioneer of civilisation, makes it a little more accessible; but as the country consists of nothing but barren mountains, I cannot think this will ever be accomplished.

Bears, deer, and grouse are plentiful, and lakes and streams full of fish abound; but the extraordinary density of the forests forms an impenetrable barrier to the sportsman. Wild-fowl shooting may be had on the coast, and fishing on the more open waters; but in winter the thermometer goes down to 30° below zero, and rises above 100° in the shade in summer, when myriads of peculiarly large and blood

thirsty mosquitoes take undisputed possession of the whole country.

If painful experience entitles one to credit, I certainly ought to be believed; for both my feet, three fingers, and the tip of my nose, were badly frost-bitten in winter, when wild-fowl shooting; and the direst tortures of the Inquisition could scarcely equal what I have suffered from those terrible mosquitoes, when attempting to fish in summer.

Being an enthusiastic sportsman, I have encountered many of the little wretches in Canadian forests, on the plains of India, and various other places; but the bite of one of those puny insects can no more be compared to that of its transRocky-Mountain Brobdignagian relative than a flea's to that of a scorpion. So be warned in time, ye ardent and enterprising followers of old Isaac; and believe my too-experienced self when I tell you that (excepting for a week or two in autumn) it is far pleasanter to read the description than try the reality of 'Fishing in British Columbia.'

CHAPTER XXVII.

FELIX COMFORTS MARTHA DAY.

IN a very flutter of delight, Alfred hurried away from his sister and Mr. Sheldrake to where he had been informed Lizzie was waiting for him. He did not pause to reflect upon the strange manner in which Lizzie had been brought to the place; it was sufficient for him that she was here, that the day was bright, and that Mr. Sheldrake had promised him to see that his acceptance to Con Staveley would be made all right. It is only for a lit

tle while,' he said to himself, as he came to the gates of Bushey Park; 'when the Cesarewitch is run, I shall be all right. I daresay Sheldrake will put something on for me.' Attracted by the crowd assembled round the street acrobats, he paused, and saw Lizzie. He saw also a pale-looking woman on the opposite side observing her; but this did not strike him as being worthy of notice. He looked round at the men and women who were admiringly following the movements of the acrobats, and noticed, with a feeling of as much pride as pleasure, that Lizzie was the most attractive and the prettiest of them all. Her back was turned towards him; she was watching for him in another direction than that by which he approached her, and he stood quietly behind her, anticipating the surprise he was about to give

her.

ear.

'Lizzie' he whispered in her

VOL. XI.

'O, Alfred!'

The girl turned at the sound of his voice with such unrestrained joy in her face, that Martha Day bit her colourless lip until a blood-stain came upon it. Lizzie's heart beat violently, but she soon recovered herself.

Who ever expected to see you here, Lizzie ?'

'Are you disappointed?' asked Lizzie archly. If you are, I'll go back again.'

In earnest of her sincerity, she took his arm, and clung to it. Alfred laughed.

'It looks as if you wanted to go back,' he said, with admiring glances at her.

'O, Alfred, isn't this a delightful surprise ?'

He nodded, and heedless of the people about them, took her hand in his. But she, more immediately conscious of the proprieties than he, gave his hand a little squeeze, and withdrew her own. She had on a new hat and a new dress, and she wanted him to admire them.

'But you mustn't,' she said, with ripples in her voice. So many people looking! Give me twopence, Alf.'

"What for?' he asked, giving her the coppers.

For the conjurers-because I feel so happy.'

A juvenile member of the company had just tied himself into a knot, and having untied himself, Lizzie beckoned to him and gave him the money, the good example being immediately followed by others of the on-lookers.

'You've brought them luck, Lizzie.'

'I'm glad of it.'

But the hat question was not yet settled. She directed his attention to it.

'I made it myself last night, Alf. I want to know if it becomes me.' 'It's just the kind of hat that I should have bought for you,' he said.

'I made this dress, too. Do you like it? Feel what nice soft stuff it is.'

He squeezed her arm.

'I like what's in it best,' he said. 'What's that?' she asked coquettishly.

'You.'

'O, I daresay,' with a saucy toss of her head. But it's the dress I want to know about.'

It's the very prettiest dress I

ever saw.'

'I thought you would like it;' and then she inquired anxiously, 'It isn't too short, is it?'

With a lover's jealousy, he said he thought it might be a trifle longer.

Goose!' she exclaimed, with an air of superior wisdom. As if you knew anything about it! If I had ugly feet, of course I should have made it a little longer. Perhaps I have got ugly feet.'

'Little Vanity!' he said. 'You've got the prettiest feet in the world.'

Accepting this statement (with feminine logic) as a decision in her favour respecting the length of the dress, she said,

'I'm glad you're pleased with it; I never make anything for myself without considering whether you will like it. Just see if my panier is right, Alf.'

He called her Little Vanity again, and said, with a critical eye, that her panier was just the thing.

Martha Day noted this comedy with wistful gaze. To them it was the pleasantest of plays-to her it was the dreariest.

'So that, take me altogether, Alf,' said Lizzie, 'you think I'll do?'

'If you speak like that, Lizzie, I shall hug you. I won't be able not to.' (Most ungrammatical, but very expressive.)

If you're not quiet, Alf, I shall run away.'

'And now tell me,' he said; 'I want to know all about it. When Mr. Sheldrake gave me your note I was regularly knocked over. I had to read it twice before I could make How long have you known Mr. Sheldrake? And how did you come to know him? And how did he find out about you and me?'

sure.

Lovers are never tired of asking questions. In this respect they resemble the character of the American people, which, if I were asked to define tersely, I should define thus: ?

'It's like a delightful fairy story,' said Lizzie.

'Nonsense, Lizzie. Do be sen

sible.'

'It isn't nonsense, Alf. It really and truly is like a delightful fairy story, and if you don't think so, I'll not tell you anything about it.'

'I'll say it's like anything if you'll only tell me all about it.'

'Well, then, I must commence properly. Once upon a time—' Here she paused, in the most tan

talising manner, and asked, 'Where do I live?'

'Why, where you lived the last time I was at your place.'

'How long ago is that?' with an air of not having the most remote idea as to whether it was a day, or a week, or a year.

This day last week, you little tease.'

'Was it?' as though she really had no idea. 'Perhaps you're right. Well, everything's altered since then. I don't live there any longer. But, Alfred, isn't your sister here?'

Yes,' he answered, not knowing what to make of her humour.

Oughtn't we to go to her? I hope she'll like me.'

She loves you already, for my sake, Lizzie. She told me so, and is longing to see you. But we've no occasion to hurry. slowly, and then you your fairy story.'

We'll walk can tell me

'Well,' she said, with a smile at once bewitching and tender, 'you're a dear patient boy, and now I'll be good and tell you all about it. Once upon a time

They turned, and walked towards the entrance of Bushey Park. So interested were they in Lizzie's fairy story, that they did not notice Felix, who brushed quite close by them. He saw them, however, and saw at the same moment what was a greater astonishment to him— Martha Day, with a face like death, watching the lovers with misery in her eyes.

'Martha' he cried, alarmed at her appearance, and forgetting his own trouble for the moment, 'you are ill. How strange to meet you here, and at such a time!'

She made no reply to his expression of surprise, and did not seem to think it strange that he should make his appearance at that moment. Taking, almost mechanically, the hand he held out to her, she clasped it firmly, and made a

movement in the direction of the park gates. But Felix, not knowing what was her intention, held back. He had no desire to play the part of spy upon Lily's brother.

'Why do you restrain me?' asked Martha in a low voice.

'I don't wish to restrain you, Martha,' replied Felix; but I cannot go in that direction for a minute or two. You appear to me not to quite know what you are about. What is it you want, and what is the matter with you?'

'You passed close by them ?' pointing after Lizzie and Alfred. 'Yes.'

'And saw them ?'
'Yes.'

'What do they look like?' 'Like sweethearts, I should say, Martha.'

An expression of pain escaped from Martha's lips.

'Do you know them, Martha ?' asked Felix.

'I know one.'

'Which one?'

6

The girl. I must not lose sight of her.'

Again she made a movement in the direction of the retreating forms of the lovers, and again Felix held her back. She had clasped his hand so firmly during the time that he could not release it without being rough.

If you follow them,' he said, 'you must go alone. What is this girl to you?'

'She is my life-my soul !' cried Martha passionately, wringing her hands.

Seeing that her passion was attracting the attention of the bystanders, Felix drew her away gently towards the park, in the direction which Lizzie and Alfred had taken. Felix had not had much experience of Martha; but what little he had seen of her in his father's house had so decidedly exhibited her in the character of a cold pas