The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-21 00:00:00

MISS EKE.

" She was an early riser, and might usually be seen at
her bow-window, about nine o'clock, apparently engaged
in reading a book or newspaper ; but, as her nose was fre-
quently elevated, and her mouth slightly agape, it might be
fairly conjectured that her mind was occupied more with
the affairs of her neighbours than the subject-matter she
affected to be perusing. It was surprising how great an
interest she took in the affairs of the butcher, greengrocer,
and fishmonger, and how accurate she became in foretell-
ing when her neighbours were likely to dine alone or re-
ceive company. She must have kept some kind of tally,
by which she could reckon how frequently the tax-
gatherer had called at the various houses, and by which
data she devised a scheme of calculation to determine their
affluence or poverty. As her mind, despite her apparent
studiousness, was utterly uninformed, the staple of her
conversation was generally derived from the small scan-
dals which she heard from her little waiting-maid, and the
conjectural creations of her own fancy. She was a capital
whist-player, and must have made a small addition to her
income by the silver threepennies which she collected from
her friends, who were principally confined to the residents
in the crescent."

With no little satisfaction we find simple, good-
hearted Tom Lazenby thus replying with the
" retort courteous" to the good lady--

"Well," said Tom, after a pause, "I will think over the
matter, and let you know in the morning. I always re-
quire to consult two or three pipes of tobacco before I de-
cide any important question, and this is one."
"Tobacco!" muttered Miss Eke, with a sneer.

"Yes, my clear lady," said Tom, "tobacco; I know it is
condemned by some who really don't like it—by others
who dislike what any one else approves—by those univer-
sal philanthropists who would make all the world after
their own pattern, which is never the best sample of my
ideas of angel-land. It bas, however, a charm for me—a
lonely bachelor—as I can talk to my pipe, and get uo
crabbed answer. Tho smoke, too, keeps away noxious
insects—that sting boldly at times, and backbite at others,
Miss Eke. So come, my dear ladies, and let us cut for
partners."
Tom Lazenby is throughout the staunch friend of
his old school-fellow Falkner Lyle, and Rosa
Marston on the other hand is devoted with most
obsequious adherence to the wayward and wicked
Bertha Clare or Lyle, whose heartless youth
developes into an althost fiend-like maturity. The
characters are various, the story is very intricate
and sufficiently interesting, and the style is through-
, out sparkling and animated. Without claiming for it
a very high position, we may congratulate Mr. Mark
Lemon on a very well-written and entertaining
novel.

The Refonu League.

A large and influential meeting of the Council of
the above league (adjourned from Friday last) took
place last evening to consider the Government bill.
The meeting was largely attended by representa-
tive men and delegates from the various trades'
societies, such as bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers,
shoemakers, tailors, printers, &c., and from twenty-
three metropolitan branches of the Reform League;
and by several well-known London reformers, in-
cluding W. 'l'. Malleson, E. D. Rogers, C. li. Elt,
Lieut.-Colonel Dickson, Dr. Perfitt, Montague
Leverson, Charles Bradlaugh, Richard Moore, Rev.
Mr. Bonner, Peter Gill, &c. _ .

Mr. BEALES, the chairman, having read the reso-
lution and two amendments brought before the last
meeting, a long and earnest discussion ensued, in
which Messrs. Bright, Peter Fox, W. T. Malleson,
Charles Bradlaugh, Lieut.-Colonel Dickson, George
Odger, George Brooke, W. R. Cremer, Wynne,
C. H. Elt, J. R. Taylor, Dr. Perfitt, Geo. Howell,
Thos. Conolly, Weston, and J. D. Nieass took part,
which resulted in'the adoption of the following re-
solution by a large majority
" That this council, while strictly adhering to the
principle of residential and registered manhood suf-
frage as the only just, sound, and permanently
satisfactory basis of representation for this country,
and whilst protesting against the insufficient provi-
sions of the Goveinment Reform Bill now before
Parliament, deem it their duty, under the circum-
stances, to support the Government against the
combined Conservative and sham Liberal parties in
enabling such bill to pass."