THE NEW PAUL AND VIRGINIA. CHAPTER I. ting, that she seemed at the same time to defy and to court attention. THE magnificent ocean-steamer the AusEvening fell on the ship with a soft tralasian was bound for England, on her warm witchery. The air grew purple, homeward voyage from Melbourne, carry- and the waves began to glitter in the ing Her Majesty's mails and ninety-eight moonlight. The passengers gathered in first-class passengers. Never did vessel knots upon the deck, and the distinguishstart under happier auspices. The skies ed strangers were still the subject of conwere cloudless; the sea was smooth as jecture. At last the secret was discovered glass. There was not a sound of sicknes to by the wife of an old colonial judge; and be heard anywhere; and when dinner-time the news spread like wildfire. In a few came there was not a single absentee nor minutes all knew that there were on board an appetite wanting. the Australasian no less personages than Professor Paul Darnley and the superb Virginia St. John. But the passengers soon discovered they were lucky in more than weather. Dinner was hardly half over before two of the company had begun to attract general attention; and every one all round the table was wondering, in whispers, who they could possibly be. CHAPTER II. MISS ST. JOHN had, for at least six years, One of the objects of this delightful curiosity was a large-boned, middle-aged man | been the most renowned woman in Europe. with gleaming spectacles, and lank, untidy In Paris and St. Petersburg, no less than hair; whose coat fitted him so ill, and who in London, her name was equally familiar held his head so high, that one saw at a both to princes and to pot-boys; indeed, glance he was some great celebrity. The the gaze of all the world was fixed on her. other was a beautiful lady of about thirty Yet, in spite of this exposed situation, vears of age, the like of whom nobody scandal had proved powerless to wrong present had ever seen before. She had her; she defied detraction. Her enemies the fairest hair and the darkest eyebrows, could but echo her friends' praise of her the largest eyes and the smallest waist con- beauty; her friends could but confirm ceivable; art and nature had been plainly her enemies' description of her character struggling as to which should do the most Though of birth that might almost be for her; whilst her bearing was so haugh- | called humble, she had been connected ty and distinguished, her glance so tender, with the heads of many distinguished and her dress so expensive and so fascina- families; and so general was the affection |