LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 421, 18 October 1875, Page 4

LITERATURE.

ALL THE DIFFERENCE,

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‘ Ah ! now you are getting out of my depth,’he said, ‘I know how far six hundred pounds a year won’t go as well as most fellows, but I can’t follow you into poetry. That was poetry, wasn’t it ? and not very good at that, by-the-way; for it stands to reason that the writer must speak entirely from supposition on one view of the question he cannot have had experience on both sides, don’t you see? If he has “never loved at all,” he cannot properly know the satisfactions of loving and losing ; whereas if he has loved and lost,” he does not knowhow much more comfortable he might not have been if he had left the whole thing alone altogether. Are you going ? Good-bye. I shall see you again, perhaps,’ he said, as Cavendish took advantage of an opportunity of making his way across the room. ‘ He asks my advice, but hasn’t the remotest idea of acting upon it, to judge from the empressement with which he greets her,’ he added to himself, gazing across the room. People do not ask advice with the intention of taking it, I think, as a rule. If your friend’s opinion chimes in with your own, it is pleasant, and justifies you in the course you are pursuing ; and if he differs from you, it is generally apparent that he knows nothing on the subject, and you desgise his opinion accordingly. Lady Hazelwood and her niece did not remain long. They had several other houses to look in at, she said ; and, as the way had become a little clearer, seeing the ladies to their carriage did not occupy half the time Cavendish would have liked, and the drove off rapidly through the squares. The evening had not been by any means unproductive, for Lady Carillier had asked him down to the Towers for September, and Florence gave him to understand that she and her aunt would be there about that time. Hunter was, luckily, not in the way, as Cavendish slowly walked home, moodily pulling his moustache. His friend’s philosophy had not the effect of rendering him particularly cheerful, and, being by himself, he had full opportunity of experiencing that delicious misery which doubtful lovers know so well. The amatory moth may escape the London season with only singed wings. Ascot, Hurlingham, Goodwood, Richmond, &c., offer counter attractions ; but if he is staying in the country with the ‘ object’ his chances of preserving his freedom are infinitesimal. Girls look so deliciously fresh and charming when they came down to breakfast in their tasteful morning-dresses; the often-made remark that English ladies do not know how to dress is about as most universally received sayings ; and let whoever doubts look fttuty the beeches at Goodwood next year,

There are so many excuses ready at hand throughout the day for forming plans to effect the complete subjugation of the haulting male. Tete-a-tete mornings in the billiard or music-room when the other men are shooting ; rides, during which you get separated from your companions ; walks, to go and look at the gold-fish, about which neither cares a single pin, or at any other interesting object you can suggest. I know one house in which the gold-fish have married off the two eldest daughters, and, though the remaining one seems rather to stay on hand, they are having the fountain replenished, and I hear the family is sanguine as to the result.

It was at the end of August that Cavendish made his appearance at Carillier Tower’s, and found that Florence and her aunt had arrived on the previous day. I fear that he did not sufficiently appreciate the perfection of the house. Under certain conditions of mind, a man is apt to neglect material comforts; but from the host and hostess downwards everything about the Towers was perfect. I always think there is so much in a butler—l mean to say, that a true specimen of the good old school gives a tone to an establishment. Old Compson, of Carillier, is one of the last survivors of a class which, they say, is nearly obsolete ; and he is very shaky now. The Earl is much attached to him, and, it is said, proposes to have him stuffed when he dies. There was no need for Florence Carrington to resort to extreme expedients for bringing matters to a crisis, even had she wished to do so, which under the circumstances was probably not the case. Poor Cavendish was pretty far gone already, and one quiet morning in the library the affair culminated. Florence liked him very well—yes, she would confess that she could love him ; but he must see her aunt before she could say what he wished —yes, she would admit, and what she wished also. And with Lady Hazlewood his success was very scant. She esteemed Mr Cavendish very highly, and would have been proud of the alliance for her neice, but for one insuperable objection —he had no fortune. She could not, now or hereafter, add anything to the means in his possession, and, though deeply regretting the necessity of giving him pain, it was much the best for all of them that they should think no more about it, but be good friends —the best of friends—as heretofore. No ; he had better not write to Florence ; indeed, she would ask him not to do so, for she feared no good could possibly come from a correspondence. The * sisterly affection’ which young ladies have a habit of proffering to rejected suitors is necessarily, and properly, of a very feeble character. Cavendish did not see Florence after his interview with Lady Hazelwood, though I hardly think that she would have made that stereotyped speech. Florence had guessed what her aunt’s verdict would be, but, nevertheless, was by no means satisfied with it. I must confess that I should have liked her better if she had taken Frank Cavendish and married him out of hand, and ventured on the suburban villas and omnibuses, or even adopted thick boots and an umbrella at a pinch ; but, of course, it is a difficult thing for a girl to oppose domestic authority, and rebel against the sentence of her only guardian. Very likely, too, Cavendish entered into the matter rather despairingly, and by anticipating defeat was half defeated.

He joined Hunter at Spa, and probably derived comfort from the wordly philosophy with which he was regaled ; and, at home, Florence strenuously resolved to be true to him, and tried hard to persuade herself, though I fear on rather untenable grounds, that things would come right. One of the most popular novelists of the day, a man of very considerable experience, has said that, though he never knew any one to die of love, he is acquainted with an instance of a thirteen stone man going down to ten stone four ; and so it might be said that a considerable portion of him had perished. Cavendish did not die, nor do I know the precise extent to which his avoirdupois weight suffered ; but it is certain that his rejection was an excessively severe blow to him. Hunter looked on with amazement, for it had never occurred to that astute person that, out of books, any one could possibly be so much affected by, what he considered, a lucky escape, and termed a close shave. Neither of them had any special reason for wishing to return to England, to they remained oscilating between Baden and Hamburg, and losing more money than they could afford. Lady Hazelwood had not left England, and was going a round of country houses. The object of her life was to see her niece well married, and that object she opined might be better pursued at home than abroad. Suitors were not wanting ; and had there only been unanimity of opinion between the ladies, the matter might have been well arranged long before Christmas; but, unfortunately, they differed as to the attributes of a perfect husband, A country position, good family, and a corresponding income, seemed to Lady Hazelwood all that any girl could desire ; and if these desirable things had been united in ‘ him,’ Florence would have agreed cordially with her aunt; but although she did not talk about it nor behave with palpable heroism, she had quite made up her mind to be constant to her lover ; and consequently was not encouraging to those who showed symptoms of attachj ment; but bided her time with sueh amount of hope as she could muster.

(To be continued,')