Casaubon.

Dear Mrs. Casaubon,--Only a line to say that I am to lecture at the
Mechanics' Institute on Saturday. I can scarcely hope that, as Mr.
Casaubon is away, you will be able to attend my poor performance,
but on Sunday I may have, I hope, the pleasure of waiting on you in
the afternoon?--Very sincerely yours,

W. LADISLAW.

P.S.--I shall bring the 'Vita Nuova'--it is not so difficult as the
'Paradiso'--and I shall be happy to help you with a few of the
earlier sonnets.


From Mrs. Casaubon to Mrs. Forth.


June 5.

Dear Lady,--You will be surprised at receiving a letter from a
stranger! How shall I address you--how shall I say what I ought to
say? Our husbands are not unknown to each other, I may almost call
them friends, but we have met only once. You did not see me; but I
was at Magdalen a few weeks ago, and I could not help asking who
you were, so young, so beautiful; and when I saw you so lonely
among all those learned men my heart went out to you, for I too
know what the learned are, and how often, when we are young, we
feel as if they were so cold, so remote. Ah, then there come
TEMPTATIONS, but they must be conquered.--We are not born to live