LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 672, 15 August 1876, Page 3

LITERATURE.

WHY ARE YOU WANDERING HERE, I PRAY. ( Continued.) * I will come and show you how to get out,’ was the answer in tones so modulated that while no syllable was lost, there was nothing harsh or discordant in them. * A lady ! I knew it I* thought Colonel Verschoyle triumphantly. Picking herjway with marvellous) dexterity over the shaking ground, which yet looked so soft and mossy, she reached them by some circuitous route known only to herself, and then, telling them to follow her in single file, she soon led them out into one of the ‘ lawns ’ which are a feature in the Forest. The ground was carpeted with t ailing wild - flowers, sweet - scented woodruffe, yellow tormentil, and periwinkle, whose dark-blue petals rivalled the sky that looked down through the foliage of those grand beeches, whose delicate green contrasted so harmoniously with the more yellow tint of the oak. A mingled chorus of thanks and admiration broke from the xescued party—thanks to Georgie ; admiration at the beauty of the scene. The soft sound of some murmuring rivulet was just audible; it was evening, and already choruses of nightingales were pouring forth floods of melody, and a delicious fragrance filled the air. It seemed a desecration to wipe muddy boots on the soft grass, as Mr Chalmers was doing. ‘How can we thank you enough?’ said Julia, her curiosity highly excited, like that of every one else, about her guide. Who was she, wite the bearing of a queen, yet wearing the commonest of housemaid fowns —lilac cotton, looped up over a coarse rick-red stuff petticoat, with heavy clumped boots, and a cheap straw hat tied round with a piece of red ribbon, carrying a basket of sun-dew, and guiding herself with a stout stick. ‘ I’m afraid we have taken you very much out of your way ; you came from the other side, I think,’said Colonel Verschoyle, in a tone which awoke a whole new world of sensation in Gergie’s being. As he spoke he took off his hat, bowing low, and she could see better the face which had fascinated her from the first—a highbred aristocratic type of face, with regular clear cut features ; a complexion bronzed to deep brown ; and violet-blue eyes contrasting well with black hair and sweeping glossy moustache. Had it not been for the eyes, the countenance would have been heavy. They redeemed it, and gave it its charm, a look of poetic spirituality not usually found in combination with the power visible in every line of the dark strong features. To Georgie’s girlish imagination, just stirred with the first dawn of passion, it was the very realisation of all her dreams of masculine perfection. The latent poetry in her nature leaped into active life, and henceforth things could never be again with her as they once had been. Troubled, she hardly kuew why, she answered vaguely.

s.r -1 t■ i ; ‘.Oh, it doesn’t signify ; that is, it’s not out of the way at all. I can get home as easily from here.’ ‘ You know the Forest well ?’ ‘ I have lived here all my life.’ ‘ This is our first experience of it,’ said Julia ; ‘ not a very fortunate one.’ * Most fortunate on the contrary, I think, interposed Colonel Verschoyle, ‘ for it has introduced us to this young lady. What a lovely basket of flowers you have got!’ turning again to Georgie. ‘ What are they ! I have never seen anything like them. * It is sundew, not a very common plant I believe, but plentiful about here. ’ ‘What wonderful eyes!’was his mental comment as he met her full clear glance. Troubled vaguely as she was at his presence, there was yet nothing of shyness m her look or bearing, ‘ I daresay you will kindly tell us how we can get back to Beechlands, said Julia, ‘fori haven’t the smallest idea where we &TG* * * Georgie readily volunteered her guidance, and she and Julia led the way out of the glade, through the chequered shade of the moss-grown paths, Colonel Verschoyle keeping close behind, debating with himself whether he should offer to carry the young lady’s basket. It looked so picturesque that he hesitated to deprive her of it. ‘ AsJlColonel Verschoyle says, our misadventure has had a lucky result in introducing us to you,’ observed Julia as they went along * Verschoyle I’ exclaimed Georgie, turning pale ; ‘is his name Verschoyle? That is my name too 1’ * How very odd ! Philip,’ turning to the gentleman in question, ‘ do you hear ? this young lady’s name is Verschoyle. Can you possibly be any relations ?’ ‘ 1 have none ; at least I know nothing of my father’s family,’ returned Georgie, her pallor giving place to a brilliant blush, as the mystery that had always hung over her parentage came upon her now with a sodden sense of shame, ‘My father’s name was Philip, and he was in the Grenadiers. That is all I know,’ she added speaking rapidly. . ‘My name is Philip, and I am in the Grenadiers too, so I have no doubt we are cousins in some way, and I have a double pleasure,’ said Philip the Second; and with this delicious non-sequitur he strode to her side. * I had a cousin in the Grenadiers once, I know; he married a Miss Arnold.’ Every vestige of colour left her face, and she almost staggered back against one of the lichen-covered trunks, as she exclaimed. ‘ Oh, that was my father! Can you tell me anything about him ! I wondered and wondered why I was so attracted by your face.’ At her passionate cry of recognition everyone had stood still; but after a momentary pause Colonel Verschoyle, hating a scene and already jealous for Georgie, took the basket from her unresisting hand, and made a movement as if to go on, * I’m afraid I can’t tell you much about .him,’ he said in a quiet low voice, which had the effect of calming her excitement; * he was only a distant cousin, and was years older than me. But he was a real good fellow; that I have always heard,’ ‘ Oh, he was. I was sure he must have been, though uncle George will never speak of him.’ ‘ Ah, there was some hitch about the marriage. I remember hearing of it.’ * Yes, uncle George didn’t like it. Mattie says lam like my father. Do you think I am ? Did you ever see him ? ‘ I may have done so as a boy, but I haven’t much recollection of him. I daresay you are like him though; you have a strong look of all the Verschoyles. Long before they reached the turning towards Beechlands he was acquainted with the main facts of her simple life, and she had learned in return that his mother and sister were expected in a few days, and that they would supplement the details of the family history which he had already given, * And meantime I may come and see you?’ he asked. Her newly-found happiness was suddenly dashed. A visitor was a thing unknown at The Lodge, and what would her uncle say ? but to refuse to see her father’s cousin was an impossibility. ‘ If I mayn’t see him indoors, I will come out and walk up and down with him.’ So she answered with queenly dignity : ‘Yes, certainly. Uncle George may not be very nice to you, perhaps; but you won’t mind that, as you come to see me, not him.’ 1 Certainly not. I shouldn’t mind anything I did for your sake.’ ‘ And I may come and see you too ?’ requested Julia, * and you must come to us. We are going to have a calico ball when Edith Verschoyle comes next week—’ * A calico ball ?’ ‘ Yes; every one is to wear calico, or satinette, if you prefer it.’ * I don’t think I ever wear anything but calico,’ answered Georgie luighing. * Then you will be all right for our ball.’ ‘ Oh, but I couldn’t go to a ball. Why, I can’t even dance, Julia politely suppressed all sign of surprise. ‘ Never mind that,’ said Colonel Verschoyle, ‘ You must do me the honor of being my partner, and I will pilot you safely through any number of dances, ’ ‘lt would be delightful. I know that,’ she exclaimed with simple rapture; ‘ but I’m afraid Mattie will say I have no dress fit.’ They had reached the turn to Beechlands, and Georgie stopped. ‘ You can’t, miss your way from here. I go in this direction.’ But Philip absolutely refused to leave her. ‘ I couldn’t think of letting you walk home alone.’ Georgie smiled at the idea of her needing a protector, but felt no hesitation in accepting his companionship. The acquaintance, begun not an hour ago, had already shot her life with gold. The setting sun was gilding the tree tops, nightingales were pouring forth floods of songs, as the two walked along, Philip Verschoyle glancing from time to time at the sweet eager face, upturned to his with the rapture of one to whom a sympathetic friend had long been wanting. Her freshness, simplicity, and charm were all as new to him as they were delightful, and he listened with a look of tender admiration on his dark face which considerably deepened the impression he had already made oa her. {To 69 mUmed,]