of the first prize in the open class at the Palace and the champion prize at Birmingham) a small, finely-made dog, well adapted for her. Vampire, a bitch puppy only four months old, is by Old Trap out of Ruby II., and therefore half-sister to Venture, Mr. Gibson's well-known champion. She is white, with very pretty black and tan markings on the right side of the head and the left ear. Her head is good, though it might be a trifle longer with advantage; her ears are perfect, she is very compact and well made, and altogether an uncommonly promising little thing. From her breeding, she will be invaluable if Mr. Dixon succeeds in rearing her; for Trap, perhaps the best fox-terrier ever seen on a show bench, is now nearly twelve years old, and his services are entirely confined to bitches in Mr. Murchison's own kennel; white Ruby II., a great favourite at Thrapston, was worried to death by Trinket about six weeks ago.

In the stable are two stalls, each of which is boarded off, and thus three divisions are made. A similar bench to that in the loose box is placed in each of these compartments; while, by a simple arrangement of hook-and-eye, a box will fasten to each of these benches, and form a warm sleeping place in the winter. In the first division was Valiant, a big white dog by Jack, out of Dandy; Jack by old Jock. He is well made, with a rare long head, and good coat; but he is too long on the leg, and altogether bigger than a fox-terrier should be. There can be no doubt, however, that he is a thoroughly useful dog. He will draw a badger, and kill as many cats as are put down to him. He is thoroughly broken to ferrets, accustomed to a gun, hunts a hedgerow well, and can catch a rabbit single-handed. Most of these accomplishments are entirely thrown away in London, and the dog is for sale at a low price. The next we looked at was Vignette (Mr. Dixon is as true to the "V's." as Mr. Hodgman himself), a young bitch by Tyrant. She is white, with a black-and-tan head, and one black patch on the right side. Her ears are the worst part of her, as though she sometimes carries them close to her head, they have an unpleasant knack of occasionally standing upright. She has, however, a genuine Tyrant head, very long and lean, and has a cross of old Trap, on the dam's side. In the same kennel was Viper, a remarkably nice, though unfashionably-bred bitch. She is white, with black markings on the head, and a patch of the same colour on the stern. She has a long head, good drop ears, and a fine close coat; though, as she has only just recovered from distemper, we did not see her to advantage. The third compartment contained Vixen, for whom we cannot say much, except that she is well bred; and a bull-terrier bitch, a very old favourite.

Our ascent into the loft was a matter of some little difficulty, as four iron bars, firmly fixed across the angle formed by two walls of the coach-house, was the only means of approach. Mr. Dixon tells a laughable story of an ancient veterinary surgeon, who came to look at one of the dogs which was in the loft. The old gentleman succeeded in getting about halfway up, and then stuck fast, afraid to move either backwards or forwards, and it was nearly half-an-hour before he was safely landed on terra firma, declaring that a ten pound note would not induce him to repeat his attempt. The lofts,

for there are two of them, are divided by a judicious combination of wood and wire-work into three kennels. One was empty, but the second contained Vindex, the stud dog of the establishment. He is by Jock, out of a Tartar bitch, and is white, with a black-andtan head, and two or three black patches on the body. His ears are simply perfect, and he is a well-made, muscular terrier, with a good stern and nice fine coat. He weighs a shade over 16lb. in good condition; but unfortunately the Tartar blood shows itself in his head, which is shorter and broader than it should be. Still he would nick well with long-headed bitches, and with any that were deficient in muscle and power; and, as his fee is only a guinea, he is likely to meet with plenty of patronage. Two very nice bitches, Vesta and Vagrant, were also in the upper regions. The former is by Rival out of Fan, Fan by Trimmer. She is white, with slightly ticked ears, has a good long head, but a good coarse coat, and is slightly deficient in muscle. About a fortnight ago she had five pups by Hornet, but her milk left her very suddenly, and though a foster mother was procured as soon as possible, Mr. Dixon was unfortunate enough to lose them all. Vagrant is a highly promising puppy, just arrived at taxable age. She is by Chance out of Venus, Venus by Jock out of Wasp, Wasp by Trap. She is white, with an evenly marked black and tan head, and a black spot on her tail. She has famous drop ears, a good head and coat, and the only fear is that she will grow a little too big. The coach-house is not used as a kennel at present, but is occupied by a cupboard where the oatmeal, &c., is kept, and also by a stove for cooking the dog's food; while trusses of straw are hung round the walls. A stone kennel in the yard is tenanted by one of the biggest badgers we ever Both Vindex and Valiant know him well, though, as he has not yet grown cunning, and really takes a great deal of drawing, it is fully a fortnight before either dog recovers the effect of a visit to him. Altogether we were very pleased with our excursion to Fulham; and, considering that twelve months ago Mr. Dixon had not a single fox-terrier, he has not been long in getting together the nucleus of a very nice

saw.

kennel.

Oh, love! what is it in this world of ours,
That makes it fatal to be loved ?"-BYRON.

O dear Ophelia ! I am ill at these numbers; I have not art to reckon my groans; but that I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu !"

HAMLET.

eyes,

Upon attempting to advance into this, to me, " chamber of horrors," the head nurse and the clergyman's wife, both stepped forward on tiptoe, with their fingers on their lips, and uttering a suppressed "hush," said, "She sleeps, but it will only be for a few minutes;" "and," added the good wife," then she will look anxiously for you, Mr. May; you occupy her thoughts day and night; indeed, she is never easy unless talking of you. You had better, therefore, remain where you are, for fear of disturbing her, and you will then be ready for her. She will not be long with us now, my dear sir," she continued with tears in her and in scarcely an audible whisper, 66 a change in her countenance has taken place since about an hour ago, and I well know what that means. They then stole gently back again to their posts at the bedside, watching intently each breath of their interesting patient. I must here explain, as nearly as I can, the true position of affairs, and the arrangement of the room in which I now stood for the first time in my life; by doing so the reader will more easily comprehend this the last scene of all, which so far ends, as far at least as poor Agnes is concerned, our strange eventful history. It was not what is termed the "best bed-room," which is usually situated in the front, over the drawing-room floor, but, nevertheless, it was a most comfortable apartment, and chosen by Agnes herself from its very situation; for being at the back of the house it was free from the noise of the streets, more particularly that abominable itinerant music, the excruciating enemy to peace, and thought, and which caused her great annoyance and most distressing agitation. Its proportions were strikingly handsome, and it was fitted with every convenience and luxury that modern invention could offer. Besides all this it had the great advantage of a charming look out over the grounds of some nobleman's mansion, in which were a group of ancient elm trees of lofty growth, on the tops of which some families of rooks had for many years, far beyond the memory of the oldest inhabitant, annually built their nests, and reared their true-bred Cockney offsprings. These were my suffering Agnes's great delight and distraction before she had taken entirely to her bed, and was able to sit at the window in her reclining chair, book in hand, and

EE

enjoying the short flights and uninterpretable cawings, and first fond parental lessons, in teaching the young idea how to fly. These did dear Agnes love to watch for hours together, for she loved to look upon Nature, and praise all God's works; her gentle disposition sympathised with every living creature, and birds of every description were, she considered, under her especial protection. She made pets of them all, from the black bird, thrush, sparrow, and robin red-breast, even to the most ravenous hawk that ever tore up a leveret or young rabbit; and strange to say, through some unaccountable influence, they felt the irresistible charm of her presence and voice, and quickly yielded to her winning ways, and fascinating enchantments. She fed them daily with her own hand, giving them crumbs and seed, or whatever else she could think of to please them, encouraging them in everything to familiarity and friendship, so that she was generally to be seen surrounded by a host of half-tamed feathered favourites and followers, fluttering and flattering her, and perching as near to her as their timid and suspicious natures would allow them. Even in her present confined and mirky locality, she still insisted upon some description of food being placed on the outside of the window" for her dear little birds," and soon the town-bred sparrow, whose daring and impudence are proverbial throughout the metropolis, discovered the goodness and attentions of their new protectress, the pale-faced angel at the window, and they came at the break of day chirping and bickering amongst themselves over their tit-bits and fancied morsels, to the extreme gratification and joy of the ever-gentle Agnes, who listened with inconceivable delight to their shrill little voices, for Nature and heaven spoke to her through them, and she enjoyed it as a concert of God's creation. This window, therefore, soon became her only earthly pleasure, and there, reading His holy word, would she sit for hours upon hours pining gradually away, thinking of and sighing for her worthless, lost, irreclaimable husband. Too late, too late, alas! I learnt the inestimable value of the treasure I had so hastily cast from me. "Oh, wretched, wretched, Guy!" I inwardly exclaimed, " had I but have been blessed with a true moral principle! had I but have learnt the virtues of patience! had I but have waited to soothe her sufferings and calm her disturbed and clouded mind! or had I but called upon Him, who helps all in the hour of need and trouble! this terrible and cruel night, this bitter agony might have been spared me." Placing my hand on my heart, with clenched teeth, I growled out with dire detestation of myself," Guy May, you are a villain!" I absolutely writhed under the torture of my own well-deserved lash.

But let us proceed to recall the scene as it occurred. I stood in the door-way, statue-like, immoveable; obeying the warning of her anxious attendants, my hand firmly clasped in that of my reverend adviser; but I could plainly feel by a tremulous emotion that great nervous excitement prevailed in both of us. Two or three minutes earnest reflection served to re-assure me; I at once collected the whole strength of my presence of mind and resolution, and ventured composedly to look around me. I had not previously dared to do so. The bed, which contained the departing soul of my wife-for her body had already all but vanished-was so situated that she could see, without moving, or making the least exertion, all

who entered; the merely turning her eyes in that direction was suffi cient to satisfy her anxiety, for of late she had always been keenly sensitive, and on the qui vive to all that was passing around her. It was placed at the further end of the room between the two windows, and yet was so well arranged as to be free from all danger of draughts or chilly atmosphere. The fire-place was on the right of it, and threw out a generous, but not oppressive warmth throughout the apartment. I gradually prepared myself to look in that direction. Immediately that my eyes were firmly fixed upon the object of my search, I fell back aghast with horror and amazement. The kind-hearted and assiduous wife of the rector, whose hand I still held, was nearly lying on one side of the bed, her head closely inclined downwards in an anxious listening, scrutinising, attitude, her whole mind evidently absorbed on the subject which called for her earnest attention-she neither moved, nor spoke, or for a single instant withdrew her deep regard. On the other side of the bed, leaning over it, but by no means so closely, or with the same air of interest, was the chief nurse, the paid professional-the experienced, cool, calculating, punctilious soother of the last moments of anyone who could afford the luxury of complete indifference, with strict regard to duty and character-careful, attentive, watchful, and heartless-jealous in the extreme of her little knowledge, but nevertheless possessing a strict eye to the business of her calling the presents of friendly visitors all perquisites the "laying out," and its bringings in, not forgetting the main chance, and the established rule, of grabbing anything and everything that is not likely to be immediately missed, or immediately wanted. These two sedulous observers, had been in close attendance day and night without rest for more than a week, and were equally well alive to the slightest wish or uneasiness of their helpless charge. Not being able from my position to catch a good view of my now slumbering Agnes, who lay between them, I let go the hand of the sympathising minister, and adadvanced stealthily two steps towards the foot of the bed. He was quickly by my side, whispering in my ear, "Remember your promise;" but not before I had had time to well observe the earthly remains of my once more than beautiful wife.

"Good God! sir," I exclaimed, in an under tone, " can that be Agnes? is it possible that so fine, so elegant, so healthy and joyous a creature can have pined and shrunk away to nothing-scarcely even the shadow of herself? It is a fearful, heart-breaking sight-I tremble to think of our meeting-I cannot go through it." "Her heavenly spirit is indeed all that is left of her," he mildly answered, "but, my young friend, be of good cheer, she rallies amazingly after a calm sleep, and mark me, she will inquire most tenderly and impatiently after you immediately upon waking. Let me again therefore caution you to be prepared to control yourself to the utmost on first addressing her-all depends upon that-for the present let us observe the strictest silence."

Upon this we again relapsed into our former gloomy meditative state, and resumed our posts hand in hand, mute-like at the doorway. There is in the presence of death a peculiar faintness and weight in the atmosphere, which cannot fail to have been remarked by the most inexperienced visitor to the house of mourning, where the mortally and hopelessly afflcted lie in articulo mortis! The sick chamber also, at the