A cantata by Arthur Page, called “The Snow Queen” (Forsyth), is very clearly printed and prettily bound for 1s. 6d. only. This is much easier and for much younger girls; the libretto, by Bernard Page, is suggested by another story of Hans Andersen’s, and the characters are two children, Gerda and Kay, the Snow Queen, White Rose, Red Rose, and chorus of Snowflakes and Roses, all pretty and simple to dress effectively. These choruses are so bright and lively. We could weave long stories of the plots and descriptive music of these recent little works, but space only permits of our pointing out some of the best, which any girls wanting to find a special kind for performance, could ask to look at and try over from their music-sellers. MARY AUGUSTA SALMOND. THREE GIRL-CHUMS, AND THEIR LIFE IN LONDON ROOMS. BY FLORENCE SOPHIE DAVSON. CHAPTER IX. THE PROSPECT OF A CHANGE. A week before Jane and Ada returned to town, a letter came from Marion which filled Jane with dismay and showed Ada’s prognostications to be true. In this letter Marion announced her engagement to Mr. Tom Scott and the consequent breaking up of the household of “The Rowans.” Mr. Scott was returning to India in November and Marion was to accompany him. In the meanwhile she was with Mrs. Holden at Oban; in the course of a week or two she was to go to her own home until her marriage, which was to take place the last week in October. “Dear Marion, how we shall miss her! Jennie, how will you and I get on without her?” said Ada. “I don’t know,” said Jane tearfully. “I don’t want to be selfish, but I can’t imagine how we will manage. I suppose we shall have to live on aerated dainties or go to a boarding-house. Oh dear, oh dear! just as we were so happy,” and Jane’s usually cheerful face got very woe-begone and lugubrious. Ada seemed to take the matter more calmly. She had been looking very handsome of late and seemed wonderfully contented with things in general. As she wrote to Marion when congratulating her on her approaching marriage, “it is delightful to be amongst one’s friends new and old.” She was very much sought after at the tennis parties and picnics which were so plentiful in the Foxholme neighbourhood at this season of the year, but she was rather difficult of approach and kept most of her admirers at a distance; at least, so the rector remarked to Jane on the day after a certain little outing. “I wish that Mr. Redfern would keep his distance then,” returned Jane vindictively; at which the rector looked thoughtful. One day Mrs. Oldham found poor Jane sobbing in the schoolroom, leaning her head disconsolately on a pile of Miss Edgeworth’s _Moral Tales_. “My darling child, whatever is the matter?” “Oh, Aunt Joan, I am so miserable, I don’t know what I shall do.” By degrees Mrs. Oldham calmed her and induced her to tell her what was the matter.