COOKIE (Barcelona).—Perhaps the following recipe would suit you. Take one pint of wholemeal, one teacup of milk, butter of about the size of a walnut; add a few small raisins and a teaspoonful of baking powder. Mix well, and bake for about half an hour. To make good soda buns, take of flour half a pound, butter three ounces, of sugar three ounces, of candied orange-peel one ounce (or more, cut in small pieces), one small teacupful of milk, the yolks of two eggs and white of one, of carbonate of soda a small teaspoonful (not heaped), and a little grated nutmeg. Beat and blend all well together, butter an oven-tin, and drop the mixture into it, and bake for fifteen or twenty-five minutes in a moderate oven. This will make about a dozen small buns. A. M. GARD.—If the man to whom you are attached has told you that he cannot at present marry, on account of his circumstances, and says, in addition, that the oftener you meet each other, the harder it is for you, and begs you not to fret, it is clear that he considers it expedient for both to be free, and to keep apart. Under these circumstances it would be both honourable and unselfish to keep out of his society. We should always look for Divine leading, and pray for it; and the indications in this case (quite out of your control) are very clear, and point to retirement on your part. A BERKSHIRE READER.—Take eight eggs for the rice cake. Tea, loaves and biscuits are to be obtained of any baker or grocer. SEPTEMBER.—1. The meaning of the name Cicely is “blind.” It is derived from Cecil, a male name, from the Latin Cæcillius, a diminutive of _cæcus_, “blind.” The original woman’s name was Cecilia, and Cicely is a corruption of it.—2. Your question is very vague, and you do not say in what part of London you wish to reside. The Young Women’s Christian Association has many Homes for women in business. Apply for information at the head office, 26, George Street, Hanover Square, W. LORA.—This name is a form of Laura, and is found as early as 1208 A.D. Laura is derived from _laurus_, a laurel or bay-tree. Laura corresponds with the Greek name Daphne. MAY MOREY.—The description you give sounds like the old willow pattern, which was manufactured at Stoke-upon-Trent, by the first Josiah Spode, about 1780. But we think perhaps the plate may be porcelain, in which case the name Spode would be that of the second Josiah Spode, who introduced the manufacture of porcelain in 1800. If the mark be _painted_ in red, blue or purple, the plate is porcelain; if _impressed_ on the clay, it is not. The first Josiah Spode introduced the blue printed china. We could not say what the value is, unless we knew its condition.