LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 368, 17 August 1875, Page 4

LITERATURE.

THE ATHELSTONS OF MORTE d’ ATHELSTON. {From the Dublin University Magazine.) ( Continued .) Chapter IX. . Lord Athelston having once regained his natural composure, was soon quite himself again, and yielding to the pressing invitation of Lady Eleanor, who was now joined by her husband, found himself located at the rectory, and making one of the familiar dinner party at two o’clock. It was such a new fife to him, everything so simple, homelike, and unpretending, yet he was taken quite as a matter of course, no fuss, no apology ; and then Sybil so fair, so graceful, waiting upon the children, and looking like a queen. Ihe man about town’ could hardly realise his position, but found himself thoroughly charmed with the happy home circle ; and very soon the unacknowledged halt-formed visions that were floating through his mind, began to settle into realities. Because one girl threw him over a cliff, it was no reason that he should forswear the sex, and turn misanthrope for his life. No, he would tiy his chance with this parson s daughtei * Hang the girl, he wished that she were not always more or less charm in variety, and it was a decided variety to Lord quite so cool and collected’ —albeit there is Athelston not to be made love to ; so that if Miss Sybil had known that he free and had been playing her cards accordingly, she could hardly have hit on a more successful plan. . , , . . , It was with a feeling almost akin to terror, that Lady Eleanor found herself before the eveningwas over,pledged to her guest to break personally to Lady Rowena, not only the fact of his (Lord Athelston) being alive, but the still more appalling fact that he declined to keep his engagement with her. The "young man did not tell his hostess of that disastrous scene upon the Castle wall, consequently Lady Eleanor did secretly think that he was not behaving altogether well to the desolate girl; and feeling as indignant as her mild nature could, she insinuated her opinion to Lord Athelston, who, with no doubt some slight confusion of manner, told her that Rowena really would not be the least surprised at the latter fact, ‘ As, to tell the truth, Lady Eleanor,’ he said, ‘she and I parted angrily, and I am certain that even if 1 wished it nothing would induce her to hold to her engagementand with this assurance, the worthy dame was feign to be content. Lady Eleanor talked the matter over with her eldest daughter that night, in the privacy of her chamber, moreover mentioning that Lord Athelston had asked to be allowed to remain a guest at the rectory during her absence, which latter apparently unaccountable, desire on the gentleman’s part, had put Lady Eleanor on the qui vivo, and roused all the keenness of her natural instinct for the preservation of the peace of mind of that golden-haired daughter, so dear to her, but whose attractions for mankind in general she had never thought of before. She did see now how lovely this girl was as, with face half averted, and the colour slowly rising to her brow, she heard for the first time of Lord Athelston’s strange request ; she had all that afternoon found her domestic duties of such an exacting nature, that greatly to the young nobleman’s secret chagrin, she had absented herself almost entirely from the family conclave, and left him to her father, who, feeling it incumbent on him to entertain his visitor, had final recourse to showing him the church, and other lions of the place, thereby gaining for himself no other advantage than the reward supposed to be derived from an approving conscience, which felt, that no matter however unsatisfactory the task might be, he was doing his duty ; and, truth to say, the 3 oung man was not an agreeable companion that afternoon to Mr Charnleigh, whatever he might have proved to Miss Charnleigh had she given him the chance.— 4 How long will you be away, mamma,’ inquired the girl. Lady Eleanor saw it all plain enough now, and her heart bled for her child. Supposing this man, who had jilted one girl, was only amusing himself with this ewe lamb of hers ; but she thought it better to seem to see nothing; her woman’s tact told her that the time to seek her confidence had not yet come, so she answered, ‘Y ou may be sure, i*-v child, not one day longer than I can help.’ “Mother, ma, j g 0 with you? Rowena would like to see mi,”

This was a new vfp,-w of the subject to Lady Eleanor, but nevertheless not altogether an undeniable one; certainly, both she and Sybil away from home together, would make the housekeeping and domestic arrangements at the rectory, not to speak of the individual comfort of their guest, rather doubtful; but, after all, that was a very secondary consideration, her child’s happiness came first ; and if it was to save that child, perhaps from weary y ears of sorrow and pain, she cared little for Lord Athelston’s enjoyment. Meanwhile, surely Sybil should go ; but she did not tell the girl her decision. * None of us can go till Monday, dear,’ she said, ‘and I will speak to your father. I dare say it would be a very good plan ; I really am a coward at travelling all by myself; and Mr Quill being away, your father could not well leave home,’

Then Sybil wished her mother good night, and went slowly along the passage to her room. ‘Lord Athelston free,’ she thought, ‘ no engagement now to hamper him ;’ and a cord seemed to tighten round the girl’s heart. ‘ Oh, I must go, I must go,’ she muttered, ‘ that only makes it more absolutely necessary that I must go, ’ The next day was Sunday, but what between church and Sunday-school, and her various Sunday duties, Lord Athelston saw little of Sybil, till they met at the early dinner, where Agnes, with her usual talka tiveness, asked if it were really true that Sybil was going with her mother, and that she, Agnes, would have to keep house while they were away. ‘ Oh, won’t it be jolly ?’ cried the girl; ‘ and you know, Miss Braddon,’ addressing her governess, * I shall never have time for any lessons, I shall have such lots and lots to do.’

Lord Athelston looked up cpiickly at Sybil, but that young lady was just then very busy teaching Master Tom good manners ; and Lady Eleanor told Agnes to hold her tongue. ‘You shall do your lessons just as usual, my dear,’ she said, ‘ at least as much as Miss Braddon will have time to teach you, for,’ she continued, turning to the governess, ‘ it is to your goodnature I must trust to manage the housekeeping for me, ’ * Certainly, Lady Eleanor, I shall only be too happy to do my best,’ responded Miss

Braddon ; while Agnes looked exceedingly crest-fallen, and took the opportunity of her mother’s head being turned away, to make the most lugubrious face at Lord Athelston, but that gentleman was by no means in a frame of mind to respond to that young lady’s playfulness. Sybil, then, was really going away the next day, and he by no means bargained for rural bliss without her; besides which, she was avoiding him, he could not make out why ; but it was becoming too apparent to be any longer a matter of doubt, so he was determined to checkmate the young lady, at all events, in that particular, before the day was over, he would. Fate was more propitious to Lord Athelston, in favouring his determination to see Sybil, than he had anticipated. The girl, utterly worn out with her mental struggle, which rendered her usual avocations a strain on her nerves almost more than she could bear, stole for perfect seclusion into her father’s study, he having gone to visit a sick parishioner. Lord Athelston had set out with him from the door, saying that he would like the walk, but I am afraid really with the deep design of putting the ladies off their guard, which he thoroughly succeeded in doing. Lady Eleanor retired, with a mind, comparatively speaking, at ease, to her afternoon class with her maid servants, and Miss Braddon and the children to their Sunday avocations, and the house was hushed in the stillness of a Sabbath afternoon, when Lord Athelston discovered that he had fotgotten his cigar case, and that to proceed farther in his walk under such circumstances, was a thing out of the region of possibility ; that most innocent-minded individual, the Rev Mr Charnleigh, at once saw the hardship of the case, and only hoped that his guest would excuse his not returning with him, as he had a long way to walk, and would be obliged to be back for evening service. {To be continued.)