Lucille, after exchanging a warm English handshake with Denham, had held back, waiting her opportunity to slip away. She glided now towards the door, unseen by Ivor, who was gazing thoughtfully on the ground. Roy ran to open it, and she said softly as she went out, “Do not be merciless to your friend. Give him some small repose. He is what you call--dead-beat.” Roy nodded. “You always did seem to see exactly how Den was, didn’t you?” Lucille made her escape promptly, with heightening colour, and Ivor asked, “Where is the letter?” “Roy has it, put away,” Mrs. Baron said. “It is partly to Roy and partly to my husband. But you need food and sleep before anything else.” “Nay, if you knew how we have travelled and slept at night, you would allow the more pressing need to be for a bath and a change of clothing,” Ivor said, rather drily. “Well, since you can assure me that ’tis all good news, I will wait half-an-hour.” “And then I’ll read it to you, if you like,” observed Roy. “It isn’t very interesting, Den. More than half is from my grandmother to my father; and you know how she writes always of the things which nobody wishes to near. And the rest is from Molly to me. But as for Polly, my grandmother does not say much--does she?” with a look at his mother. “Save that Polly is well.” “Which point settled, I will beg, if I may, for a supply of water,” Ivor replied. (_To be continued._) HOUSEHOLD HINTS. MANY people think night air injurious and carefully close their windows even in hot weather, whereas, in towns, the night air is the purest and best, free from smoke and other impurities. And the sleep is more restful where there is some fresh air coming into the room of the sleeper. A LITTLE powdered borax on a damp flannel cleans dirt off white marble and china basins. WHEN the edges of palm leaves in pots get torn and unsightly, they can be cut and trimmed with a pair of scissors. WHEN tortoiseshell combs get to look dull, polish them with a little olive oil with the hand. If very bad, soak them in oil for a few hours. IN case of fire in a house, if the staircase be alight and retreat that way be impossible, the inhabitants should shut all the doors behind them and wait in a front room till help comes. A window that is over a doorway is preferable as there is then foothold for the firemen. If it is possible to escape otherwise, crawl on hands and knees on the floor rather than walk upright, for smoke rises and the nearer the floor the clearer the air. In any case doors and windows should be shut to prevent a draught. IF you do not want the smell of dinner all over the house, see that the slide over the kitchen range is open for the smell to go up the chimney. You will also save your coal bill largely if you keep this slide open except only when it is wanted closed for a short time to make a fire fiercer. THE seeds of the first blossoms on a plant or flowering shrub grow into the best plants. BREAD AND CAKES.