taining more vigour in localities where they have not been settled more than a hundred years than in their original homes. In the clothing of a railway embankment with plants the annuals which at first take possession have soon to yield to the perennials, and disappear after a year or two.

more especially in those rich in species, and where the soil is more valuable, until we come to the Arctic regions, where the species, like the natives, do not require to contend with other races, but only with the elements. In all this the student will observe that there is no confusion — no contradiction to the harmony In New Zealand especially do we see of the providence of nature but only this struggle for existence going on be-parts of one beautiful law. The wars of tween native and introduced plants and the roses may be a perpetual war, but animals. The Maoris have even recog- it is a war between well-ordered and nized it, and have a proverb that, "As well-disciplined foes. When we talk the white man's rat has driven away the of a plant being "rare" or "common,' native rat, as the European fly drives we in reality condense into these two away our own, and as the clover kills our words a wider world of fact and theory fern, so will the Maoris disappear before than is dreamt of. In a remarkable pasthe white man himself." Perhaps the most sage Darwin shows this; and there is remarkable instance is the threatened richer food for thought in it than even at extermination of the New Zealand Phor- first sight appears: "When we look at mium tenax, a strong fibrous plant, with the plants and bushes clothing an entanleaves sometimes ten feet long, by the gled bank," he writes, "we are apt to common white clover. Though when attribute their proportional numbers or masses of this "flax"-in reality it is kinds to what we call 'chance.' But how one of the lilies, and does not belong to false a view is this! Every one has the flax order (Linacea) at all are heard that when an American forest is broken up, number of other plants ap-cut down, a very different vegetation pear on the disturbed soil, yet the white springs up; but it has been observed clover reigns triumphant over all. The that ancient Indian ruins, in the Southcattle following the clover into the ern United States, which must formerly swamps, trample down the flax more and more, and so help its extinction, animal and vegetable thus working in har

mony.

have been cleared of trees, now display the same beautiful diversity and proportion of kinds as in the surrounding virgin forest. What a struggle between the several kinds of trees must here have gone over during long centuries, each annually scattering its seeds by the thou

sect-between insects, snails, and other animals, with birds and beasts of prey — all striving to increase, and all feeding on each other, or on the trees, their seeds, and seedlings; or on other plants which first clothed the ground, and thus checked the growth of the trees! Throw up a handful of feathers, and all must fall to the ground, according to definite laws; but how simple is this problem where each shall fall, compared with that of the

The original vegetation of the Cape Colony is being in many places destroyed or rapidly deteriorated by overstocking and by the accidental introduction of va-sand: what war between insect and inrious weeds. Among the most important of the latter is Xanthium spinosum, introduced from Europe, the achenes (or characteristic fruits) of which cling to the wool with such tenacity that it is almost impossible to detach them, and which render it almost unsalable. It spreads with such rapidity that in some parts legislative enactments have been passed for its extirpation; and where this is not done it almost usurps the place of the more useful vegetation. Mr. Ben-action and reaction of the innumerable tham states that the Xanthium has in the same manner deteriorated the pastures in Queensland, whilst in the south of Europe, where it is equally abundant, it does not appear to cause such injurious results. Though generally distributed through Europe, the plant is, probably, of Chilian origin.*

202.

And so it is in all countries, though

Shaw, Journ. Linnæan Soc. (Botany), vol. xiv.,

plants and animals which have determined, in the course of centuries, the proportional numbers and kinds of trees now growing on the old Indian ruins." Yet the equilibrium of species in the world, or in the same particular locality, is preserved by the number of foes or allies it may have among the animals and plants inhabiting the same region — a question we cannot go into. It would be equally foreign to the nature of this journal to point out what bearing the facts we

have enumerated have on certain deeply clasped one of his. The household coninteresting and important philosophical vulsion had made her herself again. The questions now agitating the scientific temporary coma had ceased, and activity world. It is enough to summarize the had come with the necessity for it. state of our knowledge, in the hope that Deeds of endurance, which seem ordiour readers, scattered over the world,nary in philosophy, are rare in conduct, may add to it. ROBERT BROWN.

From The Cornhill Magazine. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD.

CHAPTER LIV.

AFTER THE SHOCK.

BOLDWOOD passed into the high road, and turned in the direction of Casterbridge. Here he walked at an even, steady pace by Buck's Head, along the dead level beyond, mounted Casterbridge Hill, and between eleven and twelve o'clock descended into the town. The streets were nearly deserted now, and the waving lamp-flames only lighted up rows of grey shop-shutters, and strips of white paving upon which his step echoed as he passed along. He turned to the left, and halted before an archway of old brown brick, which was closed by an iron-studded pair of doors. This was the entrance to the gaol, and over it a lamp was fixed, the light enabling the wretched traveller to find the bell-pull.

The small wicket at last opened, and a porter appeared. Boldwood stepped forward and said something in a low tone, then, after a delay, another man came. Boldwood entered, and the door was closed behind him, and he walked the world no more.

and Bathsheba was astonishing all around her now, for her philosophy was her conduct, and she seldom thought practicable what she did not practise. She was of the stuff of which great men's mothers are made. She was indispensable to high generation, feared at tea-parties, hated in shops, and loved at crises. Troy in his recumbent wife's lap formed now the sole spectacle in the middle of the spacious room.

"Gabriel," she said, automatically, when he entered, turning up a face of which only the well-known lines remained to tell him it was hers, all else in the picture having faded quite, "Ride to Casterbridge instantly for a surgeon. It is, I believe, useless, but go. Mr. Boldwood has shot my husband."

Her statement of the fact in such quiet and simple words came with more force than a tragic declamation, and had somewhat the effect of setting the distorted images in each mind present into proper focus. Oak, almost before he had comprehended anything beyond the briefest abstract of the event, hurried out of the room, saddled a horse and rode away. Not till he had ridden more than a mile did it occur to him that he would have done better by sending some other man on this errand, remaining himself in the house. What had become of Boldwood? He should have been looked after. Was he mad—had there been a quarrel? Then how had Troy got here? Long before this time Weatherbury Where had he come from? How did had been thoroughly aroused, and the this remarkable reappearance come to wild deed which had terminated Bold-pass when he was supposed to be at the wood's merrymaking became known to bottom of the sea? Oak had in some all. Of those out of the house Oak was slight measure been prepared for the one of the first to hear of the catastrophe, and when he entered the room, which was about five minutes after Boldwood's exit, the scene was terrible. All the female guests were huddled aghast against the walls like sheep in a storm, and the men were bewildered as to what to do. As for Bathsheba, she had changed. She was sitting on the floor beside the body of Troy, his head pillowed in her lap, where she had herself lifted it. With one hand she held her handkerchief to his breast and covered the wound, though scarcely a single drop of blood had flowed, and with the other she tightly VOL. IX. 420

LIVING AGE.

presence of Troy by hearing a rumour of his return just before entering Boldwood's house; but before he had weighed that information, this fatal event had been superimposed. However, it was too late now to think of sending another messenger, and he rode on, in the excitement of these self-inquiries not discerning, when about three miles from Casterbridge, a square-figured pedestrian passing along under the dark hedge in the same direction as his own.

The miles necessary to be traversed, and other hindrances incidental to the lateness of the hour and the darkness of

the night, delayed the arrival of Mr. moment, and they all went up-stairs toGranthead, the surgeon; and more than gether, preceded by Liddy Smallbury. three hours passed between the time at Everything was silent as the grave when which the shot was fired and that of his they paused on the landing. Liddy entering the house. Oak was additional- knocked, and Bathsheba's dress was ly detained in Casterbridge through hav- heard rustling across the room: the ing to give notice to the authorities of key turned in the lock, and she opened what had happened; and he then found the door. Her looks were calm that Boldwood had also entered the town, nearly rigid, like a slightly animated bust and delivered himself up. of Melpomene.

66

and

In the meantime the surgeon, having "Oh, Mr. Granthead, you have come hastened into the hall at Boldwood's, at last," she murmured from her lips found it in darkness and quite deserted. | merely, and threw back the door. Ah, He went on to the back of the house, and Mr. Thirdly. Well, all is done, and where he discovered in the kitchen an anybody in the world may see him now.” old man, of whom he made inquiries. She then passed by him, crossed the "She's had him took away to her own landing, and entered another room. house, sir," said his informant.

"Who has?" said the doctor. "Mrs. Troy. 'A was quite dead, sir." This was astonishing information. "She had no right to do that," said the doctor. "There will have to be an inquest, and she should have waited to know what to do."

"Yes, sir; it was hinted to her that she had better wait till the law was known. But she said law was nothing to her, and she wouldn't let her dear husband's corpse bide neglected for folks to stare at for all the crowners in England." Mr. Granthead drove at once back again up the hill to Bathsheba's. The first person he met was poor Liddy, who seemed literally to have dwindled smaller in these few latter hours. "What has been done?" he said.

"I don't know, sir," said Liddy, with suspended breath. My mistress has

done it all."

"Where is she!"

66

Looking into the chamber of death she had vacated they saw by the light of the candles which were on the drawers a tall straight shape lying at the further end of the bedroom, wrapped in white. Everything around was quite orderly. The doctor went in and after a few minutes returned to the landing again, where Oak and the parson still waited.

"It is all done, indeed, as she says," remarked Mr. Granthead, in a subdued voice. "The body has been undressed and properly laid out in graveclothes. Gracious heaven-this mere girl! She must have the nerve of a stoic!"

"The heart of a wife merely," floated in a whisper about the ears of the three, and turning they saw Bathsheba in the midst of them. Then as if at that instant to prove that her fortitude had been more of will than of spontaneity, she silently sank down between them and was a shapeless heap of drapery on the floor. The simple consciousness that superhuman strain was no longer required had at once put a period to her power to continue it.

"Up-stairs with him, sir. When he was brought home and taken up-stairs, she said she wanted no further help from the men. And then she called me, and They took her away into a further room, made me fill the bath, and after that told and the medical attendance which had me I had better go and lie down because been useless in Troy's case was invaluaI looked so ill. Then she locked herself ble in Bathsheba's, who fell into a series into the room alone with him, and would of fainting-fits that had a serious aspect not let a nurse come in, or anybody at for a time. The sufferer was got to bed, all. But I thought I'd wait in the next and Oak, finding from the bulletins that room in case she should want me. I nothing really dreadful was to be appreheard her moving about inside for more hended on her score, left the house. than an hour, but she only came out once, Liddy kept watch in Bathsheba's chamand that was for more candles, because ber, where she heard her mistress moanhers had burnt down into the socket.ing in whispers through the dull slow She said we were to let her know, when hours of that wretched night: "Oh, it is you or Mr. Thirdly came, sir." my fault how can I live! O heaven, how can I live!"

Oak entered with the parson at this

-

WE pass rapidly on into the month of March, to a breezy day without sunshine, frost, or dew. On Yalbury Hill, about midway between Weatherbury and Casterbridge, where the turnpike road passes over the crest, a numerous concourse of people had gathered, the eyes of the greater number being frequently stretched afar in a northerly direction. The groups consisted of a throng of idlers, a party of javelin-men, and two trumpeters, and in the midst were carriages, one of which contained the high sheriff. With the idlers, many of whom had mounted to the top of a cutting formed for the road, were several Weatherbury men and boys among others Poorgrass, Coggan, and Cain Ball.

abroad as though by nature formed for such."

"So 'tis, Joseph. And now, neighbours, as I said, every man bide at home."

The resolution was adhered to; and all waited anxiously for the news next day. Their suspense was diverted, however, by a discovery which was made in the afternoon, throwing more light on Boldwood's conduct and condition than any details which had preceded it.

That he had been from the time of Greenhill Fair until the fatal Christmas Eve in excited and unusual moods was known to those who had been intimate with him; but nobody imagined that there had been shown unequivocal symptoms of the mental derangement which Bathsheba and Troy, alone of all others and at different times, had momentarily suspected. In a locked closet was now discovered an extraordinary collection of articles. There were several sets of ladies' dresses in the piece, of sundry expensive materials; silks and satins, poplins and velvets, all of colours which from Bathsheba's style of dress might have been judged to be her favourites. There were two muffs, sable and ermine. Above all there was a case of jewellery,

At the end of half an hour a faint dust was seen in the expected quarter, and shortly after a travelling-carriage bringing one of the two judges on that circuit came up the hill and halted on the top. The judge changed carriages whilst a flourish was blown by the big-cheeked trumpeters, and a procession being formed of the vehicles and javelin-men, they all proceeded towards the town, ex-containing four heavy gold bracelets and cepting the Weatherbury men, who as soon as they had seen the judge move off returned home again to their work.

"Joseph, I seed you squeezing close to the carriage," said Coggan, as they walked. "Did ye notice my lord judge's face?"

"I did," said Poorgrass. "I looked hard at en, as if I would read his very soul; and there was mercy in his eyes or to speak with the exact truth required of us at this solemn time in the eye that was towards me."

"Well, I hope for the best," said Coggan, "though bad that must be. However, I sha'n't go to the trial, and I'd advise the rest of ye that baint wanted to bide away. 'Twill disturb his mind more than anything to see us there staring at him as if he were a show."

several lockets and rings, all of fine quality and manufacture. These things had been bought in Bath and other towns from time to time, and brought home by stealth. They were all carefully packed in paper, and each package was labelled "Bathsheba Boldwood," a date being subjoined six years in advance in every instance.

These somewhat pathetic evidences of a mind crazed with care and love were the subject of discourse in Warren's Imalthouse when Oak entered from Casterbridge with tidings of the sentence. He came in the afternoon, and his face, as the kiln-glow shone upon it, told the tale sufficiently well. Boldwood, as every one supposed he would do, had pleaded guilty, and had been sentenced

to death.

"The very thing I said this morning," The conviction that Boldwood had observed Joseph."Justice is come to not been morally responsible for his later weigh him in the balance,' I said in my acts now became general. Facts elicited reflectious way, and if he's found want-previous to the trial had pointed strongly ing so be it unto him,' and a bystander in the same direction, but they had not said Hear, hear! A man who can talk been of sufficient weight to lead to an orlike that ought to be heard.' But I don't der for an examination into the state of like dwelling upon it, for my few words Boldwood's mind. It was astonishing, are my few words, and not much; though now that a presumption of insanity was the speech of some men is rumoured' raised, how many collateral circumstances