DINNER DRESSES.-STANDING FIGURE.-The robe is a spring silk, striped in two shades of green, the border is trimmed with a deep flounce cut bias, and headed by two very narrow ones. The latter are set on with very little fulness. The corsage high behind, but opening rather low on the bosom, is partially covered by a double pelerine en cœur. Moderately full sleeve, surmounted by a mancheron composed of two bias falls. Collar and cuffs of clear Indian muslin beautifully embroidered. Pale straw-coloured pou de Soie hat, a round, open, moderate sized brim, the interior trimmed with a puffing of tulle and moss roses; ribbons to correspond, and a wreath and sprig of blossoms of the sweet-scented pea decorate the crown.

SITTING FIGURE.-Pou de Soie robe, grey shot with a beautiful new shade of red, the corsage opens very low en cœur, fits the shape closely, and is trimmed with a double ruche of tulle; the sleeve is easy but not wide at the lower part; the mancheron is very full and composed of two double falls; the front of the skirt is decorated with the material of the dress disposed en tablier. The hat gives a back view of the other figure.

GENTLEMAN'S DRESS.-Frock coat of dark plumcoloured cloth; tight pantaloons of contil, striped in two shades of grey. Cashmere waistcoat.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS,

CONSISTING OF TALES, ROMANCES, ANECDOTES, AND POETRY.

more established renown, had borne away the prize that was to have been the guerdon of all his toils and perils. But then he remembered the look she had given him at parting; could she have looked thus and then deceived him? Immersed

DE VOIRON.

BY MISS DE PONTIGNY.

"O cor ingrat rude, e inezorable

Plus dur cent fes a plegar q'un gros aubre, Coura aura fin vers my ta crudeltat?

SAVARIC DE MAULEON.

"Where shall I spend the night?" thought Hugues de Montfort to himself as he rode along, on his sable palfrey, through a lonely part of Dauphiné, while the shades of evening were closing in, and no habitation-not even as much as a peasant's lowly hut-appeared in sight.

"Under some goodly tree, as I have so often done before;" thus he answered himself," and what better tent can a man desire than the starry heavens above his head, or what softer bed than the mossy grass beneath his feet?"

And indeed such a necessity, on a fine summer's night, was no hardship whatever to one who had braved so many perils in the course of his wanderings, whose head was full of past achievements, and before whom the future rose in the brightest visions. Still he rode on-one place is equally good with another, when one chooses one's chamber in the wide world, and a couple of hours more riding would bring him nearer the place of his destination, which he was so eager to reach. It was now two years since he had set out in search of adventures and renown-two long years since he had seen the lovely Mahaud, that fair object of his undivided admiration, whose image was so deeply engraved on his heart, that the brightest eyes in the world might have looked on him in vain, or the sweetest lips have smiled without attracting his notice. During this long intervalan age to lovers-though he felt proudly conscious that he had acquired the glory he so ardently sought for, was he equally sure that he had not lost what, next to glory, was nearest and dearest to his heart-Mahaud's affections? Mahaud was so beautiful that, judging of others by his own sentiments, and concluding that every one must see with his eyes, he felt serious misgivings lest some happier aspirant, some knight perhaps of

reached a turning in the road, when all at once the wild aspect of the country was suddenly changed for one of enchanting beauty, and a little Eden seemed laid open before him, with a stately castle rising in the distance.

"Well!" thought Hugues, "Fate has, after all, decreed that I am not to sleep under the canopy of Heaven, and has provided most sumptuously for my accommodation."

For in those hospitable times the inhabitants of every mansion opened their gates with a cheerful welcome to the wandering knight or minstrel, and a courteous deportment never failed to ensure a gracious reception from the lady of the castle. Hugues had therefore already begun to fancy how pleasantly he should rest after his fatigues; how the pages would disarm his weary limbs, and some young damsel present him with wine; and how, instead of going supperless to bed, he should be seated at table on the right hand of the lord of the castle, and either recount his own achievements, or listen while the troubadour sang to his lute the last new ditty composed in honour of his mistress's beauty. While these pleasant anticipations were passing rapidly through his brain, Hugues again raised his eyes towards the windows of the magnificent castle, which he was endeavouring to approach by the nearest pathway, to see if any one was there to bid him welcome. For all was so silent around that, had it not been for the good condition of the building, he would scarcely have deemed it inhabited. There was no warder in sight, no retainers were visible, neither was there a pennant streaming from the topmost tower. An uneasy kind of sensation crept over Hugues. He could almost have fancied that the owner was under sentence of excommunication, or that some heavy curse rested over the inhabitants of the castle, when he was suddenly relieved from this apprehension by perceiving at each window the form of a woman of surpassing beauty, who seemed to invite him to approach. No houris of Mahomet's paradise, no nymphs of classic lore were ever comparable in beauty to these enchanting beings. What strange illusion had stolen over his senses? These could not be creatures of earthly mould.

X

Such forms could only be pictured to mortal eyes in the wildest dream of a fervent imagination!

"By all that's holy!" exclaimed Hugues to himself, "if these be the daughters of the lord of the castle he may call himself rich indeed! Not all the lands in Christendom were a dowry equal to the peerless beauty that each will bring her husband!"

And the brave Hugues bent his eyes to the ground for a moment like one dazzled by a sudden light, for though, as we said before, he had never looked on any beauty otherwise than with the admiration of an indifferent spectator, for the first time in his life he almost doubted whether he ought to trust himself within the dangerous precincts of such an assemblage of more than earthly charms. The doubt, however, was dismissed

almost as soon as formed.

"Shame on such a thought!" cried he, urging his horse to a more rapid pace, "shall it be said that Mahaud's knight, who never turned away from the point of a lance, fled from the encounter of a company of bright-eyed dames?"

nearer.

And strengthening himself with this argument he boldly glanced at the castle as he advanced But where were the lovely inhabitants? Gone! vanished! and in their stead at each window was seen a vase containing a blooming flower! Hugues was confounded and perplexed. He concluded that these ladies being as modest as they were beautiful, had been offended by his presumption in gazing at them, and had adopted this means of marking their displeasure. Wishing, therefore, to repair whatever might have been unseemly in his behaviour, he turned his horse and began riding away slowly, hoping that such a proceeding might appease them, and perhaps induce them to recal him. But no such summous came; yet on reaching the angle of the road which would conceal the castle for ever from his sight, Hugues was fain to turn his head once more, when lo! the lovely châtelaines had returned to their places, and by their smiles and kindly looks appeared to entice him to retrace his steps. Yes, there they were, more beautiful, more enchanting than ever. So various too in their attributes that they seemed as if culled from all the corners of the earth-the choicest flowers of beauty gathered into one nosegay. There was the melting blue eye, and the impassioned dark one; the sylph-like form, and the plumper mould of Sultana-like beauty; the serious Hebrew features beside of the blooming Circassian; the majestic Grecian outline, and the laughing sunny charms of more infantine loveliness. Each and all of such finished perfection, that Mahaud, peerless as she was reckoned, would have seemed a mere rustic beauty, compared to them. Not that Hugues would have allowed this, even in the inmost sanctuary of his soul; he would have stoutly maintained that in Mahaud's single self were centred all the charms distributed amongst these fair strangers; yet was he both perplexed and dazzled.

"They cannot be the Châtelain's daughters," said he to himself, as he yielded to his own wish of returning on the plea of answering to their civility, "for there exists no more likeness between them than if they had not been born in the same

hemisphere. Surely it must be some choice society of courtly dames who have repaired to this castle, either for the sake of enjoying themselves in so lovely a spot, or of leaving the world in sudden darkness by withdrawing their bright eyes from the haunts of man. I am right curious to ascertain their history."

And Hugues pushed on, repeating to himself that curiosity alone impelled him. In a few se conds the space that lay before him was cleared, and he had reached the spot where he halted a short time ago, but apparently as fruitlessly as before; for again, as if by the wave of a magic wand, were the ladies transformed into flower-pots.

"What witchery is this?" quoth Hugues, "Do my eyes deceive me, or can it be some jugglery meant to delude the unwary traveller? I have heard wise men say that the happiness that lures us from afar fades like a dream when we think to grasp it, and methinks this is no unapt exemplification of their theories."

And in greater perplexity of mind than he had ever before experienced, Hugues galloped off, then returned and reined up his steed, but though he had fixed his eyes stedfastly on the windows he was unable to catch the precise moment of the transformation, and more bewildered than ever he was about to repeat the experiment, when a man of commanding appearance, dressed in the garb of a hermit, suddenly advanced and warned him away, saying

"Stranger, beware of that fatal castle, lest it should cause your everlasting misery, as it has done mine. Profit by my dearly bought expe rience ere it is too late; leave this ill-fated, though alluring spot, and follow me to my cell, where you are welcome to rest for the night, and may be that my advice at least may help to preserve you any further danger."

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Hugues was so struck by the tone in which these words were uttered that he never hesitated moment in accepting the stranger's invitation, but dismounting at once and leading his horse by the bridle, he followed the hermit, who led the way to his cell, which was on the side of a gentle acclivity, embowered in trees and shrubs, which he bid him enter with a courtesy and graceful ease more appertaining to one conversant with the world than to a recluse. The stranger indeed bore on his face and in his whole person the air of one whom neither nature nor education seemed to have destined for the retirement that he lived in, but whom the pressure of some deep sorrow had compelled to embrace a solitary life. Although advanced in years his wasted form had preserved a remarkable degree of dignity and elegance, and his countenance, which was of the finest cast, was rendered still more interesting by the melancholy expression of his large dark eyes. Hugues was so taken up with observing the features and deportment of his host, and felt so desirous of knowing more about him, that he forgot the flower-pots for some moments in this new object of interest; yet not venturing to ask any questions which might appear indiscreet, he remained silent until the stranger, having placed some fruit and bread on the table, politely offered to help him to unlace his armour. so doing that Mahaud's portrait, which he always

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