LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 469, 15 December 1875, Page 3

LITERATURE.

DR. SEYMOUR.

BY XARISSA ROSAVO, AUTHOR OF " POLLY."

DOCTOR Seymour stood outside the postofiice in the city of Bradford, and dropped a large square-shaped envelope into the letter-box. His hand trembled a little as he did so ; and no wonder, for he had just posted a proposal of marriage to Miss Ellen Pemberton. He was a .nan of quick sympathies, and of almost too deep and ardent sensibility. Medicine is a wearing profession to such a temperament, and he looked older than his years. Dr Seymour was not, however, ve T y young. He was the last man in the world of whom any acquaintance would have prophesied that he would probably propose by letter, if he felt matrimonially inclined, in place of urging his cause by that eager persuasive speech of which he was master, or aiding it by the lever of his personal inlluence, which was strong with nearly all who knew him : for he was a universal favorite. But then, who ever does what is expected of him ? He was a very modest man as regards self-estimation. And, pei haps, after all, he was swayed in this, as in most other matters, by his kind heart, which con Id ache a little even for the embarrassment of a child.

Dr Seymour's patients received a somewhat divided attention that evening, as he afterwards confessed. Nevertheless, he conscientiously visited c\ cryonc who had the least right to expert him on this occasion ; and, in consequence returned home late and weary, and quite ready for his dinner which had long been in readiness. But fresh work was awaiting him. Had it been possible for the lady to w hom he despatched the letter to have been forgotten, even for one instant, she would at once have been recalled to mind by the anxious of a respectable elderly man who was on the look out for him at his house, and who e gerly welcomed his return.

' .Miss Ellen thinks she's dying sir, I hope you'll come away and no time lost. She were seized very bad, sudd< n like, this afternoon.'

The doctor passed his hand across his forehead. ' The young lady ?' he gasped inquiringly. ' Our young lady, sir," the man replied, a little tartly. • Bat which of them ?' ' Miss Ellen, sir, of course. The one my wife and I has known all her life. We calls ohc other Miss Nellie.' The doctor swallowo 1 a little hot soup hastily, as an act of special lavour to-his housekeeper, while a fresh horse was being harnessed, and then hurried away with the messenger. The distance the two had to go was not far. They soon reached a pretty suburban house, standing in its own grounds. A neat lodge kept guard inside the gate. This was the abode of Haynes, the man who had summoned the Doctor. He was steward, gardener, and care-taker in general of the little place ; and also, as he considered, of its owners and mistresses. These were two maiden ladies -an aunt and niece. Although there was more than a dozen years years between them, they might easily have passed for sisters, had it not been that their names were identically the same. Both were simply Ellen I'emberton; no more and no less : to their great mutual indignation. On either side sundry hints and recommendations were continually being thrown out that the other should adopt the title of Nell, or Nellie, which had been unconditionally forced upon the younger of the pair by the lodge-keeper, but neither would yield the point, being specially disinclined to the abbreviation.

' I was christened Ellen, and Ellen I will remain until you bury me ; but you may call me Ellie, if you like,' the elder lady had had said, with a twinkle of fun in ht r eyes, the very morning of the day on which this story opens. She still wanted some years of being forty, but she was quite plump and fair enough for that age. A downright pretty woman, with a face lor ever beaming over with laughter and mischief. She could boast far more regular attractions than her niece, who was ytt a dreamy, sweet, soft little tiling of beauty, with a graceful, well-shaped head and small white hands.

' My hair certainly is a little thin,' continued Miss Ellen Femberton, ' but I really don't think those six grey intruders show much. I don't care about pulling them out. It seems mean. What is your opinionNellie '! " The speaker was standing on tiptoe before the chimney-glass. 'lt shall be Nellie, if I may call you Aunt Ellen. Now, that is a fair bargain. Shall it be so ? Otherwise I will never give in. I like Ellie best too.'

The originator of this last rather malicious little speech was caressing a silky cat

while she spoke. Pussy was enthroned on her shoulder. The two were inseparables within doors, and were rarely seen apart. The elder made a wry face at her niece. ' Can't you call me grandmother t once, you cross old thing ? ' And then the two sat down to breakfast, with Pussy sitting by to help. Before the meal was half over, a bachelor cousin dropped in. He was a familiar attache to the house, and the escort of the ladies whenever they needed his services in that capacity. The proposal of marriage, now on its way to the abode, had been hurried on by a sudden burst of jealousy awakened in the breast of Dr Seymour by having, on several late occasions, met the three together about town in very merry and confidential intercourse. Cousin Jim was in a very unusually self-absorbed mood this morning, however. He was so pre-occupied with his own thoughts that he aclually kissed his two relatives without leave, an honour only accorded him, as a rule, once a year ; and then under protest, and with a view to accidents, as the elder lady remarked.; invariably before his annual purchase of that long white cane called an alpenstock, which so many persons find rather an encumbrance than an aid to them >n touring about Switzer land. Having got through with his salutations, Jim sat down and twirled his soft hat between his fingers, and meditated. ' When do you start ?' inquired his eldest cousin. ' I—eh ! —start—where ? Oh, I'm not going to any place, just for a while at least.'

' Then what right had you to kiss us, pray ?'

'Kiss you! I?—what! did I though? Well, I suppose a fellow might do worse with his time. I daresay there are chaps who would envy me the privilege.' ' But you haven't the privilege, sir,' cried one.

' And he never even knew he had done it!' exclaimed the other.

' I declare I should not be surprised to hear you had matrimony in your mind,' the elder lady continued sagaciously. ' Women are always thinking of that, so they put it down upon the wiser sex that do the same,' Jim said, absently, but he blushed in a most unbecoming manner. He began some other speed), but his thoughts appeared to be too mighty for him. Hi rose, offered two more salutes, which were declined with dignity, made his bow, and departed.

' If I did not know we were both cut out for a pair of old maids, I should say Jim Compton wanted to marry one of us,' Miss Pemberton said, as the door closed upon him.

' I don't think it would be of much use for him to wish for either of us,' her niece replied composedly, emptying the cream ewer into a saucer for Pussy. It was on the afternoon of this same day that the elder of the two ladles was attacked by sudden and serious illness. Doctor Seymour found the house upset by alarm and great anxiety. Miss Nellie, as the gatekeeper called her, was sobbing as if her heart would break with grief for her aunt's sufferings, and from angry provocation at being shut completely out of the sick-room by Miss Pemberton's maid, who assumed as much authority within doors as the man-servant did without. The Doctor came away from his patient with a very serious face. Ellen was lying in wait for him. He was a very old friend. He told her he was very uneasy about her aunt. If she were not better in the morning, he should bring a second physician. His listener's tears fell faster th n ever. They went to his heart as mi:ch as if they had been caused bj some ache he could remedy. He longed to linger and try to stop their course, but he was forced by stern necessity to hasten back to town, in order to send immediate remedies. Haynes went with him.

There was more than medicine upon the Doctor's in nd that night. H e was deeply provoked with himself for having sent his proposal of marriage to-day. He felt fully persuaded that his suit was now certain of rejection, as it would arrive at so untoward a time He was tired out and hungry, and much depressed altogether. ' What sort of a life has a man in my position to offer a woman ? I feel too, now, that I have never prepared my way here And I have the illluck, and presumption to step forward, unexpectedly, at such a hopelessly unsuitable time. I throw away every chance by this abruptness.' This was his train of thought as he drove back to town.

' Haynes, do you know my handwriting well?' he inquired, suddenly, letting the reins fall on his horse's neck as he spoke. The man thus appealed to gave a rather indignant little snort. 'ln course I do, sir,' he replied, quickly. ' I am in a great difficulty,' the Doctor went on. • I this evening posted a letter on business to your ladies' house. It was directed to Miss Ellen Pemberton. Now, with all this sickness and anxiety thrre, I would give much to recall it for a few days. Could you help me in the matter, and can I trust you to keep the thing close ?' Haynes considered for some moments before he answered. • I doesn't much like keeping back or meddling with none of their things,' he said slowly; ' but— well, sure, if a man has a right to anything, 'tis to his own letter. 'Tis hard if he mightn't have it and no doubt 'twould be a bad job to bother Miss Ellen with business now. You has none many a good turn for me an' wife, sir ; I'll do this for you. All the letters for the house go into the box at the gate, and I unlocks it, and takes 'em up. 'Tis easy enough done anyways.' ' My note is in a large white square envelope.' ' All right ! You shall have it, sir.' The Doctor gratefully received and pocketed his missive next morning at the gate, when he threw the reins to Haynes. He rarely took his horse and trap to the house here. Merry voices reached his ears from the sick room as he ascended the stairs. 'ls it a resurrection?' he inquired, with a smile of surprise, as he passed the threshold of the chamber. It really seemed to be something of the sort. Either he had overrated the seriousness of last night's symptoms, or Miss Pemberton had made a most marvellous stride towards recovery. A good sleep had done wonders for her. The two ladies had their heads together over some letter, and were in eager consultation concerning it. The Doctor almost wished it had been his now.

' I begin to think it was a false alarm, Dr Seymour,' his patient said, jestingly. " I feel nearly myself again. At any rate you

need4*dt order the hatbands just yet. It is really a "case of Mother Hubbard and her pet. . ' She- went to the joiner to get him a coffin, but when she came back, why, the dog was a-laughing'!' Miss Pemberton had taken out a new lease of fun as well as of life.

Her niece slipped out of the room when the doctor came in, her face rosy with blushes. She went downstairs to await his descent, but to her great discomfiture she found that Cousin Jim had just arrived, and was full of anxious inquiries concerning the invalid's condition. He only stayed, however, until -Dr Seymour made his appearance; but when the latter recognised who it was that Ellen had just bidden farewell to, his spirits sank to zero. He scarcely lingered for a moment before he took his departure. Ellen's face was crimson now. Even her little white ears were blushing. She could hardly find voice to put a timid question or two about her aunt. The Doctor answered with something like impatient abruptness, and turned away after a cold and most commonplace leave-taking. (To be continued.)