Bang! Bang! Bang! Sheila started from her doze in a snug corner of the verandah, and behold the island was a blaze of coloured lights, whilst the noise was like that of a bombarded city. She started up and ran forward, and then gave a little startled cry, for there was Ronald putting out his hand for hers, whilst he said in merry friendly tones— “A happy New Year to you, Sheila!” “Oof, how you startled me! But you are over there!” she cried laughing, and pointing to the quinta up in the hills, where a splendid show of rockets marked the exact spot. “Am I? I thought I was here, but no matter. Here or there, I meant to be the first to wish you a happy New Year!” “How nice of you!” cried Sheila, bubbling over with delight at the beautiful sight before her, and the happy feeling of having a friend at her side, “but you did go there surely?” “Oh, yes, I showed up and did my duty; but somehow it seemed dull and flat. Something was wanting. Then, you know, this is the place of all others for seeing the whole panorama of the illumination. Up there you are too much in the middle of it. So I just made my escape, got a fellow to run me down to the bottom of the hill, and here I am. Are you glad to see me, Sheila?” She looked frankly into his eyes, but saw there something that made her suddenly drop her own. With a new sense of shyness she dropped his arm, yet her voice had a happy ring in it as she answered— “I am very glad to see you. I wish you a happy New Year too.” “And I mean to get one,” said Ronald, suddenly possessing himself of her hand. (_To be continued._) VARIETIES. GOOD MANNERS.—To be always thinking about your manners is not the way to make them good; the very perfection of manners is not to think about yourself. BE ALWAYS LEARNING.—Of all treasures, knowledge is the most precious, for it can neither be stolen, given away, nor consumed. SELFISH PEOPLE.—The more self is indulged the more it demands, and therefore of all girls the selfish are the most discontented. INSIGHT. The riddle of the world is understood Only by him who feels that God is good. _Whittier._ MEANING IN MUSIC.—Mendelssohn felt intensely the meaning of music. Comparing music with words, he said, “Die Worte reichen nicht hinzu”—“Words do not go as far.” LIVING.—To live is nothing unless to live be to know Him by Whom we live.—_Ruskin._ THE HOME OF THE EARLS POULETT. [Illustration: HINTON ST. GEORGE.] It is a bright day in early spring—the ash-buds still look quite black in the front of March—as we mount slowly the steep hill that leads to the quiet village of Hinton St. George. The fresh air breathes out vigour, but still we rest near the top to look back over the lovely browns and purples of the plain below dotted with red-tiled barns and towers of churches—Lopen, Merriott, South Petherton—built of the soft Ham stone of the county.