IRON HOUSE.

The age of iron has really become ours. We have iron roads, iron bridges, iron boats, and iron houses. Our cut gives a representation of one of the most remarka ble of the London palaces of trade-the front of the noble show rooms of Messrs. Cottam and Hallen, in Oxford-street.

The whole of the elaborate decorations, all the distinguishing features of this building, which communicates with the premises of the same proprietors in Winsland-street, are made of iron. They are taken from designs furnished by that ancient and celebrated monument of Moorish splendour, of which we read with so much interest in Florian's Gonsalvez de Cordova. The varieties of fruit and foliage which they exhibit, it may be presumed in some instances image objects not familiarly known but in that climate. Not only the exterior of the building but also the series of galleries inside, present the same characteristic features, and are embellished in the Moorish or Saracenic style. The effect of the whole is eminently striking.

In the work of this balcony which is very elegant, we find a rare union of delicacy and strength, which cannot fail to recommend it to those who would adorn their villas with that which is equally durable and elegant.

The labours of the workmen engaged on it were for a considerable period concealed from observation. When at length the veil was removed, the effect was dramatic, and crowds of spectators paused to gaze and to admire.

But forcibly as the devices of the Alhambra may arrest the attention without,

it is the interior that furnishes the most interesting display, in the accumulated treasures which British industry and taste have produced to add to the comforts of civilised life. On this subject we cannot enlarge at present; we will only remark we have heard it calculated that in this island we have a supply of coals for two thousand years; but if some of the grates, &c., here to be found, come into general use, the litical economist will have reason to hope that our present stock will carry us through the next forty centuries, that is, to about the year A.D. 5845, keeping up good fires all

the time.

po

ON THE QUARREL BETWEEN THE
BAR AND THE PRESS.
Those who the felon's artful lie
Sustain as truth, the press would spite ;
Because these sages', dignity

Says men do wrong, if they do write (right).

The Wandering Jew.

Br EUGENE SUE.

Translated by the Author of the "Student's French Grammar," translator of Hugo's "Rhine," Soulie's "Marguérite," &c.

VOLUME THE TENTH.

CHAPTER III.-DUTY.

Dagobert had ordered Jocrisse not to tell the young girls of the malady of their governess; but he had, at all hazards, disobeyed this order.

"Is it true," said Rose, approaching Dagobert, "that poor Madame Augustine is attacked with the cholera?"

"No..... I know not ..... I think

not; besides, why need it concern you?"

"Dagobert," replied Blanche, "you wish to conceal this misfortune from us; I now remember, you were embarrassed when speaking of our governess."

"If she is ill," said Rose, "we ought not to abandon her."

"Come, sister, let us go to her apartment," said Blanche, moving toward the door, where Rodin was still standing, watching with increasing interest this unexpected scene.

"You shall not leave this," said the soldier.

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Dagobert," replied Rose, "it would be base to desert her."

"I tell you, you shall not leave this," resumed the soldier, stamping his foot with impatience.

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"But," said Blanche, our father, on leaving us, gave us an admirable example of devotion to his duty, and he would not pardon us if we were to forget this lesson."

"What! do you think if your governess had the cholera, I would permit you to approach her under the plea of duty? Your duty is to live, and to live happy, for your father's sake, and for mine also; therefore, not a word more of this folly."

"We run no risk," said Rose, "in visiting our governess in her chamber; therefore let us pass, good Dagobert."

Dagobert, who had hitherto prevented both the Jesuit and the sisters from passing, by placing himself in front of the door, shrugged his shoulders, and after a moment's reflection, said, "I was an old fool; you can go, Mesdemoiselles, and if you find Madame Augustine in the house, give you leave to remain with her."

"If our governess is not here," said Rose, "where is she, then? Perhaps she is dead!"

No, no, I assure you she is not; when she first felt the attack she desired to be taken out of the house, fearing that others. in it might catch the contagion."

Having said this, he turned to Rodin, whom he had forgotten for a moment, and said, "What! you are still there?"

"I must observe to you, my dear sir," said Rodin, “that, standing before the door, you naturally prevented me from going out." "Well, then, now there is nothing to prevent you from going."

"I am going, my dear sir, although I have, I believe, reason to be astonished at such a reception."

"It is not of reception, but departure, I am speaking; leave this."

"Well, my dear sir, I shall not detain you long; I am the bearer of excellent news from Marshal Simon."

News from our father!" exclaimed the girls, approaching Rodin.

"What! you have news from the Marshal?" said the soldier, casting a suspicious look on Rodin.

"What happiness it is for me again to bring gladness to these dear ladies! they are just the same as when I last left them still graceful and charming, though less sad, than they were on the day I found them in the convent, where they were imprisoned. What happiness it was to see them throw themselves into the arms of their glorious father!"

"That is their place, but this is not yours," said Dagobert, rudely.

"Acknowledge, at least," said the Jesuit, "that I was in my place when I restored you that noble and imperial cross, the loss of which you regretted so much."

"I am not," said Dagobert, "to be caught with your fine phrases. Listen to me. Some of your band of black-robes had stolen my cross; you returned it to me, and it is true that you denounced the renegade d'Aigrigny: the first proves that you were despicable enough to be their accomplice, and the second that you were base enough to betray them; now both these things are ignoble; therefore I regard you with suspicion. Leave this; the sight of you is not good for these children." "But, my dear sir-"

"I want no buts; when a man of your stamp does any good, there is something evil concealed under it."

"What interest can I have in deceiving

you?"

"You have an interest in remaining here in spite of me, after I have told you to go.'

"I have had the honour of telling you the object of my visit."

"Yes, I have that honour," replied Rodin, again approaching the young girls. "Come, then, at once to my apartment and tell me," said Dagobert.

"What! are you cruel enough to prevent these ladies from hearing the news that—"

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By heaven, sir!" cried Dagobert, in a voice of thunder, "don't you see that it goes against me to lay hands on a man of your age?"

"Come, don't be angry with an old man like me," said Rodin, as he followed the soldier out of the apartment.

About a quarter of an hour after, the soldier returned to the saloon.

"Well, what news from our father?" enquired Rose.

"He is, according to that old sorcerer, in good health, and hopes soon again to be with you."

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"What happiness!" exclaimed Rose; 'you see you were wrong in treating the old man so harshly."

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"I do not regret it; I have my reasons; the best of which is, I felt, on seeing him enter, a cold shudder, without knowing why. Had I seen a serpent approaching you, I could not have been more alarmed. In spite of the services which he has, after all, rendered us, I had great difficulty in preventing myself from throwing him out of the window. Now, this mode of showing my gratitude is not natural; therefore it is necessary to be on your guard against people who inspire you with such ideas."

"Good Dagobert!" said Rose, "it is your affection for us that renders you so suspicious."

"Yes," added Blanche, "that shows how much you love us."

Some one knocked at the door, as Dagobert was about to reply.

"Who is there?" asked the soldier. "Justine!" replied one of the servants. "Come in, then. What do you want?" "A lady has called in her carriage, wishing to know if she could speak to the Duke; she has been informed that the Duke is not at home, and she wishes to know if she can see his daughters respecting some charity."

"You may admit her."

"What!" said the young girls, “are you suspicious of this lady, whom you have not yet seen?"

"Listen, my children!" replied Dagobert; "I had no reason for mistrusting my kind and worthy wife, and yet it was she who delivered you into the hands of the blackrobes, at the instigation of her rascally confessor, without knowing she was doing wrong."

"It is true; yet, poor woman, she loved us!" said Rose, pensively.

"When had you any news from her?" inquired Blanche.

"Two days ago; she is much better; the country air at Gabriel's curacy agrees with her."

At this moment the doors of the saloon were thrown open, and the Princess de St. Dizier entered, holding in her hand one of those red velvet purses used in churches by the collectors of alms.

CHAPTER IV. THE COLLECTION.

We have said that the Princess de St. Dizier could, when it was necessary, assume a most amiable and seductive appearance. In approaching the young girls, she said, addressing them in a soft and insinuating tone, "Is it to Mesdemoiselles de Ligny that I have the honour of speaking!"

Rose and Blanche, little accustomed to hear themselves addressed by the honorary title of their father, blushed and looked at each other in confusion, without replying.

Dagobert, desirous of coming to their aid, said to the Princess, "Yes, Madame, these young ladies are the daughters of Marshal Simon; but, usually, they are only called Mesdemoiselles Simon."

"I am not astonished, sir," replied the Princess," that modesty is one of the habitual qualities of the Marshal's daughters; they will excuse me for having addressed them by the glorious name which recalls to mind the immortal memory of one of their father's most glorious victories."

At this flattering speech Rose and Blanche cast a grateful glance on Madame de St. Dizier, while Dagobert, proud of this eulogium, felt an increase of confidence in the Princess, who resumed-"I come to you, Mesdemoiselles, full of confidence in the examples of noble generosity which your father has given you, to implore your assistance in favour of the victims of the cholera; I am one of the patronesses of a work of charity, and, whatever may be your offering, it will be received with gratitude."

"We thank you, Madame, for giving us an opportunity of aiding you in this good work," said Blanche.

"Permit me, Madame," added Rose, "to go and see what we shall be able to offer you."

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Madame," said Dagobert, quite won with the manners and address of the Princess, "do us the honour of sitting down until Rose returns with her purse." Then, having handed the Princess a chair, he hastily added, "Pardon me, Madame, for calling one of Marshal Simon's daughters

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"Yes, Madame," said Dagobert, "I am proud of it, and not without reason; but here is Rose with her treasure."

The young girl returned with a silk purse tolerably well filled, which she gave to the Princess, who had already turned her head twice or thrice toward the door with secret impatience, as if she expected the arrival of some one.

"We would willingly, Madame," said Rose, "give you more, but that is all we possess."

"What! gold?" exclaimed the Princess, seeing several louis shine through the network of the purse; "this is rare generosity, Mesdemoiselles; this sum was, no doubt, intended to be expended on your toilet; such a privation is often painful to young ladies."

"Madame," said Rose, "this offering is by no means a privation to us."

"Oh! I believe you," graciously replied the Princess, "you are too pretty to need the superfluous resources of the toilet, and your hearts are too good not to prefer the enjoyment of charity to any other pleasure.

"We shall be happy, Madame," replied Rose, "if our offering should relieve some of those sufferings, which are, no doubt, dreadful."

"Yes, very dreadful!" sorrowfully resumed the Princess, "but it is some consolation to see the interest and pity which such afflictions excite in all classes of society. In my capacity of collector, I am better able than any one else to appreciate this noble devotion, which has also its contagion; for

"Do you hear that, Mesdemoiselles ?" exclaimed Dagobert, interrupting the Princess, with the view of interpreting her words, in a favourable sense, to the opposition he employed in resisting the desire of the young ladies, who wished to go and pay a visit to their sick governess; "do you hear what Madame says? In certain cases devotedness becomes a kind of contagion! Now, there is nothing worse than contagion; and

"

The soldier was interrupted by the entrance of a servant, who told him that some one wished to speak to him immediately. The Princess concealed her

satisfaction at this incident, to which she was no stranger. Dagobert, rather annoyed at being called away, rose and said to the Princess, with a look of intelligence, "Thank you, Madame, for your good advice on the contagion of devotedness; before you depart, say something more, I pray you, of the same kind, to these young girls; you will render them a great service. I shall return presently, Madame, for I must again thank you."

f

When the soldier had left the room, the Princess, although burning with desire to take advantage of Dagobert's absence, for the purpose of executing the instructions she had just received from Rodin, said, in a calm voice, "I did not quite understand the last words of your old friend, or, rather, I believe he has put a wrong interpretation on mine; when I spoke to you just now of the generous contagion of devotedness, I was far from throwing blame on this sentiment, for which, on the contrary, I experience the most profound admiration."

"Oh, Madame!" exclaimed Rose, "it was in this sense we understood you."

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And, Madame," added Blanche, "if you knew how opportune your words are to us!"

"I was sure that hearts like yours would understand me!" replied the Princess; "devotedness has, without doubt, its contagion, but it is generous, heroic! If you knew how many affecting instances I every day witness-how many acts of courage, which make me thrill with enthusiasm! Yes, praised be the Lord, all classes of society rival each other in zeal and Christian charity. Ah! if you were to see what emulation of devotedness there is in the places established for the relief of those that have caught the infection! Rich and poor, young and old, hasten to the aid of the unhappy sufferers, and regard it as a favour to be admitted to the pious honour of attending and consoling them."

"And it is for strangers that so many courageous persons manifest such a lively interest!" said Rose, addressing her sister in a tone of admiration.

"Undoubtedly," replied the Princess; "it was only yesterday I was affected, even to shedding tears. I visited an infirmary, not far from this: one of the rooms was almost entirely filled with poor people, that had been taken there in a dying state; suddenly I saw a lady of my acquaintance enter, accompanied with her two daughters, young, charming, and charitable, like yourselves, and mother and daughters, like humble servants of the Lord, soon offered their assistance in tending the sufferers. You are aware that the ministers of the Lord are at the head of those who fulfil this mission of charity. This morning,

Oh, no, Madame; you speak of courageous devotedness; it is he."

"Besides," added Rose, ingenuously, "Gabriel is easily known-he is as beautiful as an archangel!"

cess.

"It is he, no doubt," resumed the Prin"You will, then, understand the admiration in which he is held, and the incredible ardour of charity which his example inspires every one with. Ah! if you had heard this morning with what tender admiration he spoke of those generous women who came to tend and console their unfortunate sisters in that asylum of suffering!"

"Madame!" said Rose, whose heart palpitated with enthusiasm at the language of the Princess, "as our father is absent, we cannot do better than apply to you for advice. Our governess, who has always entertained for us the most lively attachment, was seized last night with the cholera."

"What a misfortune!" exclaimed the Princess; "and how is she?"

"Alas! Madame, we do not know." "What! have you not seen her yet?" "Do not accuse us, Madame, of indifference or ingratitude," said Blanche, sorrowfully; "it is not our fault that we are not now by the side of our governess." "And what prevents you?"

'Dagobert, our old friend, whom you saw here just now."

"He! Why does he prevent you from fulfilling a duty of gratitude?"

"It is, then, Madame, our duty to be near her?"

The Princess looked at the young girls, as if struck with the utmost astonishment, and said, "You ask me if it is your duty!you, so generous, ask such a question?"