LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 563, 7 April 1876, Page 3

LITERATURE.

ROSE LODGE. ( Continued .) 4 Surely 1 shall, lad. I never saw such a nice little nest in all my life. And ther’s no risk : you heard what Copperas said. I shall get my money back again when we want to leave it.’ ‘ Look here, Tod : I was thinking a bit while we sat in the boat. Does it not seem to you to be too good to be genuine ?’ It was Tod's turn now to drop his knife and fork ; and he did it angrily. ‘ Just tell me what you mean, Johnny Ludlow.’ ‘ All that furniture, and the piano, and the carpets : it looks such a heap to be going for a hundred and twenty-five pounds.’ 4 Well ?’ 4 1 can’t think that Copperas meant it.’ 4 Not mean it ! Why, you young muff! There are the things; and he offers them. If Copperas chooses to part with them for half their value, am I to tell him he’s a fool ? The man is driven into a corner through lack of time. Sailors are uncommonly improvident. ’ 4 It is such an undertaking, Tod.’ 4 It is not your undertaking. ’ 4 Of course it is a tremendous bargain ; and it is a beautiful little place to have. But the Pater will never forgive you, Tod; or me either. He will say the world’s coming to an end.’ 4 If you are afraid of him, young Johnny, you can betake yourself off. ’ 4 Hand up your plate for some more lamb, and hold your tongue. ’ Away went Tod to Captain Copperas, and told him he would take the house, and drew out Iris cheque-book, to give a cheque for the money there and then. But the captain, like an honest man, refused to receive it until an agreement was signed ; and, if all the same, he said, he would prefer money down, to a cheque. Cheques were all very good, no doubt, but sailors did not much understand them. Oh, of course, Tod answered, shaking him by the hand; he would get the money. Inquiring of our landlady for the nearest bank, Tod was directed to St. Ann’s, a town three miles off; and vfo started for it, pelting along the hot and dusty road. The bank found—a small one with a glazed bowwindow—Tod presented a cheque for a hundred and fifty pounds, twenty-five of it being for himself, and asked the clerk to cash it. The clerk looked at the cheque and at us. 4 This is not one of our cheques,’ he said. 4 We have no account in this name. ’ 4 Can’t you read ?’ asked Tod. 4 The cheque is upon the Worcester Old Bank. You know it well by reputation, I presume ?’ The clerk whisked into a small kind of box, divided from the office by glass, where sat a bald-headed gentleman writing at a desk full of pigeon holes. A short conference, and then the latter came to us, holding the cheque in his hand. 4 We will send and present this at Worcester,’ he said; 4 ami shall get an answer the day after to-morrow. No doubt we shall then be able to give you the money.’ 4 Why can’t you give it me now ?’ asked Tod, rather fiery. 4 Well, sir, we should be happy to do it; but it is not our custom to cash cheques for strangers.’ 4 The cheque will be honoured,’ flashed Tod. 4 1 have five hundred pounds lying there! Do you suppose I want to cheat you ? ’ 4 Oh, certainly not,’ said the banker with suavity. 4 Only, you see, we cannot break through our standing rules. Call upon us the day after to-morrow, and doubtless the money will be ready.’ Tod came away swearing. 4 The infamous upstarts ! To refuse to cash my cheque ! Johnny, it’s my belief they take us for a couple of adventurers.’ ***** The money came. Getting it from the cautious banker, we rushed straight to Bose Lodge from St Ann’s. Tod signed the agreement, and paid the cash in Bank of England notes. Captain Copperas brought out a bottle of champagne, which tasted uncommonly good to our thirsty throats. He was to leave Cray Bay that night on his way to Liverpool, and Miss Copperas would give up possession on the morrow. Elizabeth, the grenadier, was to remain with us as servant. Miss Copperas recommended her, hearing Tod say he did not know where to look for one. We bargained with her to keep up a good supply of pies, and to pay her twenty shillings a month. 4 Will you allow me to leave one or two of my boxes for a few days ?’ asked Miss Copperas of Tod, when we went down on the following morning, and found her equipped for departure. 4 This has been so hurried a removal that I have not had time to pack all my things, and must leave it for Elizabeth to do.’ 4 Leave anything you like, Miss Copperas,’ replied Tod, as he shook hands. 4 Do what you please. I’m sure the house seems more like yours than mine.’ iShe thanked him, wished us both goodbye, and set off to walk to the coach office, attended by the grenadier, and a boy wheeling her luggage. And we were in possession of our new home. It was just dclighful. The weather was charming, though precious hot, and the new feeling of being in a house of our own, with not as much as a mouse to control us and our movements, was satisfactory in the highest degree. We passed our days sailing about with old Druff, and came home to the feasts prepared by the grenadier, and to sit among the roses. Altogether we had never had a time like this. Tod took the best chamber, facing the sea ; I had the smaller one over the diningroom, looking up coastwards. 4 1 shall go fishing to-morrow, Johnny,’ Tod said to mo one evening. 4 We’ll bring home some trout for supper. ’ He was stretched on three chairs before the open window ; coat off, pipe in mouth. 1 turned round from the piano. It was not much of an instrument. Miss Copperas had said, when I hinted so to her on first trying it, that it wanted 4 age. ’ < Shall you ? All right,’ 1 answered, sitting down by him. The stars were shining on the calm blue water; lights, looking like stars also, twinkled from some vessels at anchor. 4 If I thought they’d not quite die of the shock, Johnny, I'd send the pater and madam an invitation to come off here and pay us a visit. They would fall in love with the place at once.’

4 Oh, Tod, I wish you would ! ’ I cried, eagerly seizing on the words. 4 They could have your room, and you mine, and I would go into the little one at the back.’ * I daresay ! I was only joking, lad.’ 4 1 wish you’d let me write and tell them what we’ve done.’ 4 No,’ said he. 4 1 don’t want the pater to whirl himself off here and spoil our peace for that’s what would come of it.’ 4 But I ought to write to the mother, Tod. She must be wondering why I don’t. ’ 4 Wondering won’t give her the fever. Understand me, Mr Johnny, you are not to write. ’ Breakfast over in the morning, we crossed the meadows to the trout stream, with the fishing-tackle, and a basket of prog. Tod complained of the intense heat. The dark blue sky was cloudless ; the sun beat down upon our heads. 4 I’ll tell you what, Johnny,’ he said, when we had borne the blaze for an hour on the banks, the fish refusing to bite ; 4 we should be all the cooler for our umbrellas. You be off and get them. ’ The low front window stood open when I reached home. It was the readiest way of entering; and I passed on to the passage. The grenadier came dashing out of her kitchen, 4 Oh ! ’ said she, looking scared. 4 lt ia you ! ’ 4 1 have come back for the umbrellas, Elizabeth ; the sun’s like a furnace. Why! what have you got there ? ’ The kitchen was strewed with clothes from one end of it to the other. On the floor stood the two boxes left by Miss Copperas. 4 I am only putting up Miss Copperas’s things,’ returned Elizabeth, in her surly way. 4 It’s time they were sent off. ’ 4 What a heap she must have ! ’ I remarked : and left the grenadier to her work. We got home in the evening, tired out. The grenadier bad a choice supper ready; and, in answer to me, said the trunks of Miss Copperas were packed and gone. When bedtime came, Tod was asleep, at the window, and wouldn’t awake. The grenadier had gone to her room ages ago ; I wanted to go to mine. Tod, then! Do please wake up. It is past ten.’ A low growl answered me. And in that same moment I became aware of some mysterious stir outside the front gate. People seemed to be trying it. The grenadier always locked it at night. 4 Tod ! Tod ! There are people at the gate—trying to get in. ’ The tone and the words aroused him. 4 £h? What do you say, Johnny? People at the gate ? ’ 4 Listen ! They are whispering. They are trying the fastenings. ’ 4 What on earth do they want at this time of night ?’ growled Tod. 4 And why can’t they ring, like decent people ? What’s your business !’ he roared but from the window. 4 Who the dickens are you ?’ 4 Hush, Tod ! It—it can’t be the squire, can it ? Come down to look after us.’ The suggestion silenced him for a moment. 4 1—I don’t think so, Johnny,’ he slowly said. 4 No, it’s not the squire :he would be letting off at us already from the top of his voice; he’d not wait to come in to do it. Let’s go and see. Come along. ’ Two young men stood at the gate. One of them turned the handle impatiently as we went down the path. 4 1 wish to see Captain Copperas.’ 4 Then you can’t see him,’ answered Tod, woefully cross after being startled out of his sleep. 4 Captain Copperas does not live here. ’ 4 Not live here! ’ repeated the man. ‘That’s gammon. I know he does live here.’ 4 1 tell you he does not,’ haughtily repeated Tod. 4 Do you doubt my word ? ’ 4 Who does live here, then ? ’ asked the man in a different tone; evidently impressed, 4 Mr Todhetley,’ 4 1 can take my oath that Captain Copperas lived here ten days ago. ’ 4 What of that! He ia gone, and Mr Todhetley’s come.’ 4 Can I see Mr Todhetley ? ’ 4 You see him now. lam he. Will you tell me your business ? ’ 4 Captain Copperas owes me a small account, and I want it settled.’ The avowal put Tod in a rage; and he showed it. 4 A small account! Is this a proper time to come bothering gentlemen for your small accounts—when folks are gone to bed, or going ? ’ 4 Last time I came in the afternoon. Perhaps that was the wrong time ! Any way, Captain Copperas put me off, saying I was to call some evening, and he’d pay it. ’ ‘And I’ll thank you to betake yourself off again now. How dare you disturb people at this unearthly hour ? As to Captain Copperas, I tell you thet he is no longer here.’ ‘Then I should say that Captain Copperas was a swindler.’ Tod turned on his heel at the last words, and the men went away, their retreating footsteps echoing on the road, I thought I heard the grenadier’s window being shut, so the noise must have disturbed her. 4 Swindlers themselves ! ’ cried Tod, as he fastened the house door. 4 I’ll lay you a guinea, Johnny, there were two loose fellows trying to sneak inside and see what they could pick up.’ Nevertheless, in the morning, he asked the grenadier whether it was true that such men had come there after any small account. And the grenadier resented the supposition indignantly. Captain Copperas owed no 4 small accounts ’ that she knew of, she said ; and she had lived with him and Miss C. ever since they came to Cray Bay. She only wished she had heard the men herself last night; she would have answered them. And when, upon this, I said I thought 1 had heard her shut her window down, and supposed she had been listening, she denied it, and accused me of being fanciful. (To be continued)