To cultivate this lily successfully is by no means an easy matter. It delights in a rich heavy loam of great depth and with a chalk basis. It dislikes peat and manures. If it can have the soil it likes, it does best when exposed to the sun all day long. This lily rarely does well for the first year or two, but when established gives no trouble whatever. It is a native of Greece and the Ionian Isles. Closely resembling the last lily is the nodding red lily of Carniola (_Lilium Carniolicum_). Comparing this lily with the last, we see that it is altogether smaller, the leaves fewer and the blossoms less lividly red, but spotted and usually solitary. It inhabits South Europe, and flowers in June. (_To be continued._) SHEILA’S COUSIN EFFIE. A STORY FOR GIRLS. BY EVELYN EVERETT-GREEN, Author of “Greyfriars,” “Half-a-dozen Sisters,” etc. CHAPTER XI. THE “PLYMOUTH CASTLE.” Sheila stood with sparkling eyes and ruffled hair on the deck of a great steamer that was slipping slowly down Southampton Water on a bright October afternoon. She felt a hand upon her shoulder, and, turning quickly round, exclaimed delightedly— “Oh, Miss Adene, you are really here! The stewardess said she knew you were on board; but I was half afraid you were not. I did not catch a glimpse of you anywhere.” “I was below with my niece setting our cabins to rights, as travellers like to do before getting out of smooth water. Well, little one, you look very bright; but you are thinner than when I saw you last. I am afraid you have had an anxious summer.” “Yes, rather,” answered Sheila. “Poor Effie was ill for a long time, and I don’t think all the doctors and specialists they called in did her any good. They tried all sorts of things for her breathing, and there was a sort of operation once, and I’m sure that did her harm. The last man who saw her said, ‘Take her out of England for the winter. Let her live out of doors and take no physic, and not see a doctor at all unless there is real cause.’ That’s what I call being sensible; and I remembered what you had said about Madeira and how delightful it was there, and Effie set her heart upon going. So here we are. Uncle and Aunt Cossart, and Effie and I and her maid. Oh, I think it will be delightful! I have never been abroad. It will be charming to cross the Atlantic and see beautiful new places!” There was a laugh from behind, and Sheila turned to meet the sunny glance from a pair of bright dark eyes, and Miss Adene said— “Ah, here is my nephew (as he likes to be called) Ronald Dumaresq! Let me introduce him, Sheila, my dear.” The girl held out her hand with her pretty manner, half shy, half frank, and Ronald shook it heartily, saying— “I have heard a lot about you, Miss Cholmondeley, from my aunt. I know all about that fire in which you played the part of heroine.”