No. 5. YOUNG LADY'S DRESS.-Frock of green taffeta broché, a low body, opening to the waist, the opening crossed by bands of quilled ribbon. The shoulders and back are trimmed with the same, as is also the short round jacket that terminates the body. Short sleeve, finished at the bottom by two bands of quilled ribbon. Cambric under-sleeves confined by bands at the wrists. Cambric chemisette, made quite high. Pantaloons of the same, finished with worked flounces.

No. 6. MORNING CAP.-Of spotted muslin, very full trimmed with embroidered borders and rose ribbon.

Nos. 7. and 8.-New Patterns of EMBROIDERED SLEEVES.

CARRIAGE DRESS.. · Chocolate-coloured gros d'Espagne robe; the corsage, quite high and close, descends in a rounded point, and is trimmed with a

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. revers embroidered in soie torse of the same colour.

Mantelet à Chale, bordered with a very broad rich Henri III., a three-quarter length, open to the fringe.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

*

ESTHER. The first partition of Poland took place in 1772; the second in 1793, and the third in 1795. Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski was the last king of that unfortunate country; he died of apoplexy at St. Petersburg, 12th February, 1798. NELLY.-Apply to Mrs. Pullan, 126, Albanystreet, Regent's-park. (Aiguillette.)

S.S.S. must have a little consideration, and rest satisfied that all reasonable requirements of our subscribers shall be gratified in their proper turn. We should want double the space at our disposal to do justice to the subject suggested, which, after all, would only please a limited number of readers. The "hint" shall be acted upon.

ONE WHO IS ASTONISHED had better reserve her astonishinent for a more fitting occasion. In considering the Bloomer costume with any approach to favour, we must not be understood as showing any toleration for unfeminine bravada, or that ultra style of dress, represented by the caricaturist. We can surely in some degree modify our present walking attire without rushing into other extremes, and making ourselves laughingstocks. Reformation need not involve revolution. If our correspondent will refer to "The Illustrated London News" for the 27th September last, she will A LITTLE GIRL is clearly wrong: look again. see there a representation of Mrs. Bloomer in her new dress, which, fairly considered, is not NO PRIZE-HOLDER.-We are sorry for you; open to ridicule. The following particulars, but you must make great allowance for the diffiwhich we have extracted from an American culties which surrounded the jurors. Could you newspaper, are apropos :-" Mrs. Bloomer is the have managed the business better as a whole, and wife of a young lawyer of fine talents, now the post-given more satisfaction? It is true enough that the master of the village, and a probable member of distribution of medals was in some instances glaringly Congress in future. Her dress is quite like that irregular, and perhaps the world will not attach which embellishes the "Bloomer Polka;" she is very great importance to the possession of prizes seen in public generally in a rich black brocade, the given under such fallible circumstances. Public pants of the same material, gathered in at the ankles, opinion will correct what has gone amiss in the though in private they are sometimes worn loose, Great Exhibition. All true success is attained by and her appearance is much admired by the advo- meeting with rebuffs and conquering obstacles. cates of the new costume. In stature she is of about Plain sailing is very easy, and very insignificant. the medium height; her small features are lighted up with intelligence, and their expression is pleasing." Readers of the "Spectator" will remember with what raillery it received the introduction of the present female equestrian costume in 1712. How it describes Sir Roger de Coverley's tenants running out on every side to see "a gentlewoman, saving your worship's presence, in a coat and hat;" and how "another tenant, who meeting this gentlemanlike lady on the highway was asked whether that ISABELLA. The directions for netting are suitwas Coverley Hall; the honest man seeing only the able for any material. Silk, being stiffer than cotmale part of the querist, replied, Yes, Sir;' button, would not require to be washed. All the maupon the second question, whether Sir Roger de terials can be had of AIGUILLETTE. Coverley was a married man, having dropped his eye upon the petticoat, he changed his note into 'No, Madam." " Thus the ridiculous of one age becomes the mode in the next.

6

SARAH M.-The song of "Little Taffline" was
composed by Stephen Storace about fifty or sixty
years ago. Its burden is as follows:-
"And the lads will all say,

Dear heart! what a flash!
There's little Tafiline
With a silken sash!"

The melody is pretty.

A WATCH-MAN is thanked for the correction. It appears that the title to Mr. Reynolds' poem in our last number ought to have been, "To the Seconds Hand of my Watch," not "second hand," as erroneously printed.

S. A. We cannot undertake to give you the required advice. Remember the old fable of the donkey laden with panniers of salt. In fording a stream he found that the water dissolved some of the salt and diminished his burden: he communicated his

grand discovery to a fellow donkey carrying wool, who followed the advice and example of his friend, and soaked his load, but with a very opposite result,

for he thereby doubled its weight. You must take the hint, and find out whether you are carrying wool or salt.

* Seneca Falls.

A SUBSCRIBER, Brighton, will find her first wish gratified shortly. For the second mourning of young ladies, black glacé may be worn, either plain or embroidered with jet; or, according to the present fashion, a black glacé skirt, with a gilet of the same embroidered, and a velvet jacket embroidered in jet. Plain grey silk, or grey silk soutaché in black, would be equally appropriate, or black barege, or black cloth soutaché.

TRISMAGISTUS.-We shall be happy to return any articles that may not suit our pages, provided postage stamps are sent to cover the expense.

To A. F., M. W., S. T., and many others.-As we have received numerous applications to send "THE LADIES' COMPANION " through the post, we beg to remind our kind correspondents that such orders ought to be accompanied by a remittance of eighteenpence, as the postage of each number is sixpence, which must be paid in advance. Compliance with this rule will spare us the trouble of keeping numberless little memoranda and accounts. The most convenient and least expensive mode of procuring this Magazine is to order it of the nearest bookseller. Our correspondents are also requested to bear in mind that the duties of the Editor are quite distinct from those of the Publisher, and that the latter alone attends to the business management of the work.

W. S. M.'s wishes can be complied with on sending an impression or engraving of the crest, and stating the number of squares or stitches she would heraldic colours, or merely marked on squares. like the pattern to occupy; also whether painted in Letters must be addressed to AIGUILLETTE, 126, Albany-street, and contain a stamped envelope.

MRS. A. C., Teignmouth.-At present we have made as many pledges as we can keep. We will communicate with this correspondent if we perceive an opening.

Lo don.- Published at the Office, 246, Strand.

THE LADIES' COMPANION.

LONDON: MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1851.

VICTOR MIROTIN AND HIS DAUGHTER.

BY CATHERINE CROWE,

AUTHOR OF LILLY DAWSON," THE NIGHT SIDE OF NATURE," &c. &c.

(Concluded from page 177.)

"Ah dieu, Monsieur; how late you are!" said a decent, elderly woman, who opened the door; "and here is Monsieur Hector, who has been waiting for you these two hours."

there dwelt at that period a barber, an elderly, his being recognized as the Ecrivain of the respectable, grey-haired man, named Millefleurs, Quai d'Orsay, should any of his numerous who, after serving as footman, and subsequently customers chance to fall in with him. And the valet-de-chambre in several families of distinc- barber having promised to provide the necessary tion, had established himself as coiffeur in a disguise, the visitor rose, and with a frank offer fashionable part of the town, where he had a of his hand, which was respectfully accepted by flourishing business, till the Revolution came the other, he took his departure, and directing and spoiled it, by cutting off the heads he used his steps along the Quai Malaquais, he turned to dress. Indeed he very nearly lost his own as down towards the Rue Mazarine, where after a penalty for being so familiar with those of the being admitted by the concierge, he ascended aristocracy; and when, after a needful disap- to the quatrième of a respectable-looking house. pearance, he rose to the surface of society again, Here he rang the bell. his little savings having been swallowed up in the turmoil, he settled himself down as a barber of less exalted grade, operating upon customers of all conditions, for the lowest possible remuneration. Being Saturday night, there were a good many chins to be got ready for Sunday, so that the shop was still open, and the razors hard at work, when the Ecrivain opened the door and stepped in. As the barber raised his eyes and observed who it was, he stuck the implement betwixt his teeth whilst he fetched a chair, which he carefully dusted with his apron, and then placed, with more deference than might have been expected, for the stranger, who, nodding his head in a familiar manner, sat down to wait his turn; for which he appeared in no haste, as he deliberately perused the pages of some old copies of the "Moniteur," which lay on the counter, till he found himself alone with his host.

"A votre service, Monsieur," said the barber, carefully wiping the blade of his razor. thought I was not to have the honour of seeing you to-night. You're late."

"C'est vrai," returned the Ecrivain, absently. "Tell me, Joseph," he added, after a pause, "do you ever see Mirotin now?”

"Often," answered the barber; "he frequently passes this door."

"He has a nephew, I hear, living with him; did you ever happen to see him?"

"Mais oui, certainement; I saw him not an hour ago. He was here, to be shaved and have his hair cut. He's to be married on Tuesday, he says, to his cousin; and I fancy they're to have all the old man's money between them. Report says he's saved a pretty penny."

"I believe it; but I want to know something about this lad-this nephew. What sort of looking fellow is he?"

"Très ordinaire, young; not ill made; hair light; about my height; enfin, nothing to remark, one way or another."

"But is he in any respect above his condition? Has he any education?"

"Du tout, du tout; garçon chiffonnier; mais assez honnête pour son état. I hear he wanted to marry the daughter of Valin, the Charcutier, Rue Grenelle; but I suppose this is a match knocked up by the old ça ira?”

"No doubt," said Monsieur Blondin; after which he proceeded to make known to the barber, confidentially, that having a little affair in hand which required particular management, he wanted certain articles of dress, such as might prevent |

"Ha!" exclaimed the old man; "mon fils! est il possible?" and the next minute he was embraced by a handsome, noble-looking youth wearing the uniform of a French officer of Hussars.

A visit of the postman to No. 101, Rue de Lille, was by no means a common occurrence. Old Jasper had no correspondents; neither had Guillot or Margot; but on the Monday morning that succeeded the above little events, that functionary opened the shop-door and threw a letter on the counter, saying at the same time, interrogatively, " Ma'mselle Mirotin?" "Oui," answered Guillot, taking up the letter to examine it.

"Deux sous," said the man. Whereupon Guillot proceeded to deliver the dispatch, and ask for the money.

66

Payez pour l'amour de Dieu," said Adèle to Margot; "I havn't a centime."

So Margot paid, whilst Adèle retired to read her letter-an operation in which nobody was disposed to disturb her. The old man was out; Margot could not read, and Guillot concluded it was an answer to the epistle Robertine had engaged to put in the post.

As Adèle possessed herself of the contents of the paper, the colour rushed into her cheeks! What a relief from the despair into which she had been gradually sinking! For, in spite of the daily "Je ne t'épouserai pas, Guillot," the only expedient that had occurred to her for avoiding the marriage was, to throw herself on the protection of the priest that was to perform the cere mony; but how far better was the protection of the Prioress, which the letter promised, and in spite of the natural timidity with which she undertook such an enterprise, she waited eagerly for the evening, when, putting on her bonnet and shawl, she told Margot that she was going to take a stroll by the side of the river because she had a headache.

"Do," said the bonne; "for we must have no headaches to-morrow; and I wish you'd call on Ma'm'selle Delphine, and tell her I must absolument have my new gown home to-night!"

The old man was not yet come in, but Guillot was in the shop as she passed, and advanced to open the door, lamenting that business would not allow his accompanying her in her walk.

"Je ne t'épouserai pas, Guillot!" was on her