candle on the hall table and went in, but | stepped back at once. The floor was wet. Her feet were moistened; she had trodden in a pool of oil. "How stupid-how like Anne! She has upset the can. I must not go in there for matches." She stepped towards the kitchen, very lightly, with inaudible tread. There she found fire still smouldering in the grate, and the oven door open, showing that it was filled with sticks. Moreover, there was wood on the hot plate of the stove. "How careless cook is! She is drying the kindlers for to morrow, and has not raked out the fire first." She stooped to remove some of the wood which lay on the ground, and which she felt as she walked without her shoes; and again was conscious of the smell of petroleum. She was surprised; but then recalled that she had stepped in the slopped oil in the pantry, and concluded that she smelt what she had brought away with her. Then she put her hand on the mantel-shelf for the lucifers, and found the box. She had left her candlestick in the hall, so she returned to it in the dark, and was about to strike a light, when she thought she heard a sound as of some one stirring in the dining-room. She stood perfectly still, not daring to breathe, listening. Again, she heard the noise. There was certainly some one in the room. The first impulse was to cry; but she controlled herself, and considered what had better be done. The noise might proceed from a cat. She stepped very lightly to the door, which was ajar, touched it, and drove it open sufficiently to admit her, sidelong, and she looked in. The shutters, which had been fastened, were open, and the moonlight flowed into the room. Every trace of dinner had been cleared away from the table, which now had on its usual printed cover. Josephine saw something, or was it some one, on the floor, moving? The light through the French window was so clear that she was left in doubt only a moment. She saw a profile against the window-pane, and recognized at once her father. He was on his knees, and was creeping about with a can, the oil-can, in his hand. She saw him decanting it on the carpet near the window curtains. He was in his dress suit, as she had last seen him, saying good-bye to his guests. "Papa," she said, "what are you about?" He started to his feet with an exclamation, either of terror or of surprise. or Josephine stepped fully into the room. "What is it, papa? Have you lost something?What are you doing?" He stood back, against the window curtain, and put his hands behind him, with the can. The moonlight was strong, and his position was against it, so that his black silhouette was sharp, as if cut out of lamp-blacked paper. She saw the movement of his lips, and his tongue shot out, like a serpent's, then drawn in again. He said nothing. "Papa, there is a very strong odor of petroleum; have you spilled the oil?" He replied in a suppressed voice, vibrating with anger: "What are you doing here? Spying on me, are you? Yes, I have spilled a little oil here.' "But why have you brought the can in here?" "Because," he answered in the same tone, "that fool Anne upset the gravy from the roast duck on the carpet, and I am trying to get the grease out." "Is not that better done by day, papa?" "I know best when it is to be done; I must apply the oil before the grease is trodden in." I "You have no light." "Am I a madman to take a candle when am using paraffin?" "True, papa; I did not think of that. There is a pool of the oil in the pantry. I suppose you spilled that. It would have been better, I think, to have left the extraction of the grease till to-morrow." "I know what I am about." She knew by the quiver of his voice that he was angry. "Get to bed with you, and do not meddle with me." She was too much afraid of her father to disobey him. She returned to the hall, struck a match, lit her candle, and thento her surprise saw a heap of wood, and a number of old newspapers that her father filed in his study, cast beneath the stairs. What was the meaning of this? Why had her father brought his newspapers there, and why had he also placed with them the sticks that had been cut and piled up for dahlia supports? She did not ask him; she went up the stairs to her own room, shut herself in, and undressed. Then the recollection of what had happened to herself returned, and displaced the thoughts of her father's strange proceedings. When she was in bed, she could not sleep for some time, thinking of what had taken place, and blaming herself for her want of consideration. When at last she did fall into slumber, it was into a fever She looked at him in surprise. He took the matter with singular coolness. "Now," he said, "run and rouse the servants. If the back stairs are on fire, we must all escape by the ladder." At the same moment a violent hammering at the front door and ringing of the bell were heard. The policeman in going his rounds had observed the fire, and had run up to rouse the house. In a few minutes the whole of the inmates were awake and had scrambled into their clothes, and were gathered at the head of the stairs. "Quick!" said Mr. Cornellis. "Josephine, Judith! save any of your trinkets and trifles. We must get out as quickly as we can." ish, fantastic dream, in which she believed gardener has been trimming the Ayrshire herself to be awake and struggling with rose, and has left the ladder against the sleep. She thought that she was arraigned window on the landing. It is quite provbefore court for having stolen gilt crack-idential.” ers, and that her father wore a wig, and was counsel for the prosecution; and Richard Cable also wore a wig, and was counsel for the defence; and that the rector sat as judge; and under his seat was the captain, looking dreamily at her, with pen in hand, as clerk, waiting to take down the evidence for and against her. On the table stood the ruby lamp, and the entire court was irradiated by it. She was annoyed with the lamp because it diffused so red a glow that it made her look as if she were blushing. Besides, it diffused heat as well as light, and the air in the court became oppressive because of the lamp. Then she asked to have it turned down; and the captain put his hand to the screw and turned it up, so that the flame shot out at the top above the chimney, and the redness in the court seemed to deepen and the heat to become more intense. The rector's gown, instead of being black, was scarlet, like the habit of a criminal court judge, and his face was as red as his gown. Then he raised his hand and pointed to Josephine, and said: "She blushes; she convicts herself;" and she was conscious of being suffused with color and shame and anger. She could endure no longer the heat and the glitter of the eyes turned on her in that red light, and she cried out and started up in bed, and in a moment was aware of a smell of fire, and of unusual heat, and of a crackling sound. She saw a light strike along her floor from under the door, and knew that the house was in flames. She sprang from bed, slipped on her clothes, and opened her door. Then she saw that the lower part of the staircase was in a blaze, that flames were pouring through the doors of the dining-room and the pantry, where the petroleum had been upset. To descend to the hall was impossible. She ran to her aunt's door, opened it, roused Judith Cornellis, and then hastened to her father. His door was locked. She knocked long at it before he answered; then he was some time before he had lighted a candle, put on his dressing-gown and slippers, and unlocked. 66 Papa," she cried, "do be quick; the house is in a blaze. We cannot go below. It is all flaming." "Indeed. How comes that about?" "Papa, what is to be done?" Then a spout of flame rushed up the stairs. The policeman and some one he had called to his aid had made their way in through the conservatory and drawingroom; and on opening the door, the air had fanned the fire into a blaze. Conscious of his mistake, the policeman hastily reclosed the door, went out, and ran round to the back kitchen. The flames were raging there also. The whole of the lower story, except the drawing-room and study, seemed to be on fire. It was extraordinary with what rapidity the conflagration had spread. Mr. Cornellis retained his composure. Miss Judith would have remained collecting the treasures in her bedroom, had not he precipitated her movements by snatching her bundle from her and throwing it out of the window. Then he made her descend the ladder. All were speedily in safety on the grass in the garden, looking up at the burning house. Very little could be saved. A few pieces of furniture from the drawing-room, some pictures of no value, bedding, and the contents of some wardrobes — that was all. The fire gained hold of the house rapidly; the floors of the bedrooms were hot, smouldering, the smoke thick; and there was no fire-engine nearer then nine miles off. Nevertheless, a rider was at once despatched for the engine, which arrived when too late to save anything, but not too late to spoil with the water such things as had been spared by the fire. Mr. Cornellis flew about in his slippers and dressing-gown. He had not had time to dress himself completely. Indeed, no He smoothed his chin, and said: "The man could have been more taken by sur prise; he had lost everything except a pair of trousers, slippers, a figured Turkish yellow dressing-gown, and his shirt. He did not lose his presence of mind. Some place of refuge must be found for his sister and daughter. He considered a moment, and then ran to the Hall and knocked up Mr. Gotham, who when brought to understand what had taken place, consented to receive the family under his roof. The servants of the Hall were roused; but indeed, the whole village was awake and out, and the grounds of Rose Cottage and the road and sea-wall were crowded; the boatmen who appeared were prompt in their offers of assistance, and formed lines to pass buckets of water to the burning house, but desisted when they found that the pailfuls were unavailing; the fire had gained too great a hold on the house. The few goods that had been rescued were carried by them to the Hall, and then they drove their hands into their pockets and stood watching the progress of the flames. The rector appeared without his hat. He caught sight of Josephine, grasped her wrist, and drew her aside. "How comes this about?" he asked bluntly. "Middling." 66 Only a twelvemonth for furniture and "The fire! Oh, Mr. Sellwood, how can wines, and books and plate. The house I tell?" "No, Mr. Sellwood; indeed, it is not!" "Is the house insured?" "What are you going to do? Where are you going? You must not stay here." Then up came Mr. Cornellis in his dressing-gown. was insured directly I bought it." "And your cellar of wines-all your fortunate purchases. By Jove! you may recover their value, but not the wines." "That is what I feel. Then there are my Oriental books, my Hebrew Bible and Greek Testament, full of marginal notes. I can never replace them. But Providence 66 Exactly," interrupted the vicar. He had an abhorrence of cant, and whenever he suspected any one with whom he was in conversation lapsing into it, he cut him short, and in so doing sometimes acted unjustly, interrupting expressions of real feeling. But he was a blunt and downright man. "I'm sorry for you - I am, "I say, Cornellis," said the rector, with all my heart. How came it about? "this is a bad job. How did it come But here is Gotham, looking out for you. about? But no; no questions now. We The ladies must be taken under shelter. must put the ladies under shelter. Poor I am selfish detaining you. I am glad Miss Judith looks ready to die. My you are insured all round." vicarage is at your disposal." "You are too kind, rector. But I cannot take the generous offer. Gotham has invited us to the Hall, and I have accepted. We are relatives." "Oh well. You would have been welI fear this will be a sad loss to come. you." From The Fortnightly Review. FRENCH AGGRESSION IN MADAGASCAR. THE hostile operations carried on under the government of the French republic, during the last three years, against Mada- | Hovas, who are the most advanced in civgascar have terminated, and a treaty of ilization. They now dominate the whole peace between the two nations has been of Madagascar. For centuries they were happily concluded. Now that the situa- but a small tribe confined to the small tion, from a French point of view, is de- central province of Imerina, which measclared "most satisfactory," the time has ures about eighty miles long from north come for a short retrospect of the Franco- to south and about sixty from east to west. Malagasy controversy. Their language may be considered the Since the reign of Louis XIV., when standard of Malagasy; it is the most cothe high-sounding name of "La France pious and least nasal. It is not more than Orientale was bestowed upon Madagas- sixty years since it was first reduced to car, on the most shadowy pretension of writing by missionaries. Past Malagasy possession, French governments have history depends upon tradition, and is hankered after the conquest of the great altogether unreliable. The literature conAfrican island, and have despatched re-sists of a collection of numberless provpeated expeditions for its effectual subju- erbs and a few legendary songs or poems. gation. Nothing but disaster has been The Hovas, unlike the Betsileo, who avthe corollary to this French ambition. erage six feet, are below middle stature. Three years ago, once more, and it is Their complexion is light olive, frequently to be hoped for the last time, under the fairer than that found in Spaniards, Italclaim of exercising its so-called "historic ians, or Turks. They have soft straight rights," and of imposing a protectorate or curling hair, dark hazel eyes, a wellover what is still an independent sover- proportioned and erect carriage, and are eignty, the French government sought a distinguished by great activity and courpretext for war with Madagascar, and soon age. Their neighbors, the Betsileo, on found a way for the prosecution of the the other hand, have a broad, low foresinister designs of its ambition. The ces- head, flattish nose and thick lips, and hair sion, illegal as will hereafter be seen, of that is woolly. They have none of the territory in the north-west by a tribe of distinguishing Malay characteristics preSakalavas in 1840, who were in rebellion sented by the Hovas. The Hovas are against the king's authority, furnished the self-reliant and intellectual, and are posnecessary pretext. sessed of a special faculty for organization Before proceeding to relate some of the and administration. The Sakalavas are incidents of a somewhat prosaic though nomadic tribes that live by plunder. They unequal contest between a great Euro- are sly, perfidious, brutal, arrogant, and pean power, and a native race but lately live perpetually in mutual fear of one anemerged from barbarism, it may be nec- other; even nearest relations are suspiessary to say something respecting one of cious of each other; and no European the two belligerents namely, the Mala- is safe amongst them. Their country gasy. The people of the numerous Mal stretches along the whole western littoral agasy tribes are naturally robust, and from of the island and is almost uncultivated. youth hardened to fatigue and endurance. Even those tribes which have been under The characteristics of the tribes, how- the influence of the French flag at Nosi-bé ever, vary greatly. Though they speak have not made a tithe of the advance in one language, they are not a homogeneous fifty years that the rest of the tribes of the people. The great divisions are the Ho- island have made during fifteen years unvas, the Betsileo, the Betsimisaraka, the der the central native Hova government. Antishanaka, and the Sakalava. The To-day the Malagasy government is pushHova race, which occupies the central and ing forward educational measures and laws metropolitan province of Imerina, num- tending to the modification of the semibers nearly 1,000,000; the Betsileo and barbarous state of the island. Schools, Betsimisaraka, on the eastern coast, ap-churches, libraries, and hospitals abound, proximately 3,000,000; the various tribes and are well supported. of the Sakalava, who inhabit the western side of the island from the north to the south, probably exceed 1,300,000; and the Antishanaka, a small but distinct tribe, are situated towards the north-east of the Hovas, and number 300,000. Thus the entire population of the island may be estimated at not less than 5,500,000. At the head of the Malagasy tribes stand the Their national history commencing, so to speak, with Radama I., who was the first to consolidate the Hova sovereignty and found the present dynasty-literally bristles, excepting the terrible reign of Ranavalona I., with reforms and improvements. A Christian in secret for some time before her accession, Ranavalona II., the immediate predecessor of the present sovereign, no sooner ascended the throne | political raison d'être of this arrangement than she issued commands for the public is obvious. The queen belonging to the burning of her "ancestral idols." The class of nobles (andrian) and the prime better-educated classes, long disgusted minister to the mainty (or people), the with the rapacity and imposture of the idol-keepers, who had spread desolation over Madagascar in the previous reigns, were quick to follow the example of her Majesty. Christianity thus inaugurated under royal auspices bore immediate and wonderful fruits. The schools and the churches which at the commencement of her reign numbered respectively twentyfive and one hundred and twenty, exceeded, at the close, eleven hundred and twelve hundred respectively. The work of governing the country, which had hitherto been performed by the prime minister, was divided into eight departments, presided over by a corresponding number of ministers, namely - home, foreign, war, justice, law, commerce and agriculture, finance, and education, with a staff of secretaries and clerks. union of the two preserves a sort of balance of power and strengthens national confidence. Succession to the throne is hereditary, but if the eldest son does not show promise of being an eligible successor, either through infirmity of mind or body, or through want of popularity, or through treason, he is superseded. The sovereign nominates his successor. Sometimes the sovereign has not only nominated his immediate successor, but has even extended his nomination to three or four generations. Should such successions by varying circumstances not take place, the nomination to the sovereignty then rests with the nobles. With the exception of the brief reign of Radama II., the crown has been worn by queens since Radama I. in 1828, a period of fifty-six years. Until 1863, when a change in the constitution occurred, the word of the sovereign was law. The monarch was lord of the soil, owner of all property, and master of all subjects. Upon the death of Radama, the prime minister Rainivoninahitriony announced that in future the word of the sovereign alone was not to be law, but that the nobles and heads of the people were to unite in making laws. Her Majesty Ranavalona III. is the youngest daughter of the sister of the late queen, and is twenty-four years of age. She was nominated by her aunt, the late sovereign, as her successor. She was educated in the London Missionary So Justice had been formerly bought and sold to such an extent that it had almost ceased to exist. But in 1878, thanks to the present prime minister, Rainilaiarivony, a sweeping reform was made in its administration by the formation of additional courts. In 1879 the army was reorganized. A much-wanted rural police was established, and taxes were equitably levied. New and trusted governors were appointed to distant provinces to take the place of old and untrustworthy ones. Lastly, a code of laws, comprising three hundred and five statutes, was promulgated, and all the Mozambique slaves in the island were emancipated. Ranava-ciety's Girls' School. Though youthful, lona II., died, and Ranavalona III., her present gracious Majesty, succeeded to the throne of Madagascar. The experienced minister and enlightened reformer of the preceding queen still remained prime minister to preside at the helm of the sovereignty, and became the consort of her Majesty. His hair is turning grey, but the fire of his eyes and their depth of intelligence are not dimmed by the approach of old age. He is known by the sobriquet of "Deal Fair," a name given by the foreign merchants. From the day of his entrance into the palace as secretary in 1842 to the present time, the life of Rainilaiarivony and the political history of Madagascar are identical. He has achieved a great position, and has won his laurels, step by step, by merit and not by favor. It is the law of the land that the queen should marry the prime minister. The her Majesty strikes all observers with the dignity and grace wherewith she performs the duties of a queen. Her life is full of business and responsibility, for everything regarding the government of the country and the welfare of her people is referred to her. To gentleness of manner may be added firmness of character. She is a fair rider and a wonderful shot; she is a good musician and plays the organ with skill and feeling. Her skill in lacework will bear comparison with some of the finest examples. Her palaces are furnished in European style. When she appears to the public it is in European costume. The queen seldom, if ever, acts in matters of national importance without first ascertaining the national will. This is done by publishing a royal edict for a great Kabary, which is always held on Mahmasina the Champs de Mars-a magnificent plain at the foot of the moun |