LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 830, 20 February 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

ONCE, AND A LIFETIME.

( Continued.)

' I agree with you,' said Bert, to whom Deerswood was, next to his cousin, the dearest thing on earth; ' but 1 did not think its beauties would be appreciated by so travelled a gentleman as yourself,' ho added, with a curl of his lip. 'Have you any new neighbors worth cultivating? Adelaide Ga:;coigne is not of a nature to subsist on scenery, if there's nothing socially attractive around. You see she leaves the gayest life in London to vegetate here. Bert, who is that '!' 1 Your memory must be remarkably retentive, I must say, since you have forgotten Agnes so soon,' Bert told him angrily. But Oswald did not heed the anger. He stood still, his eyes fixed on Agnes, apparently forgetful that Bert existed. And Agues was a miracle of beauty as she appeared on that morning. Her face was turned slightly away, revealing the outline of the delicate profile as she gathered a heap of glowing flowers. Catching the boughs, she drew down a shower of glittering dew and perfumed petals on herself before she succeeded in breaking off the coveted blossoms, and it was only when the basket she carried was full that she faced her audience completely. Beit was wonderfully relieved to find that she neither btarfced nor grew pale, but smiled, and advauced at once with the dignity of a fair young empress. ' We began to fear that you had forgotten Deerswood altogether, Oswald,' she caid quietly and composedly. ' There was no danger of that,' Oswald replied, never taking his gaze off' her, and with less self-possession in his tone than he habitually had. 'I am delighted to be back,' he went on, clasping her hand and never concealing the admiration that euragedßert, who strongly objected to any man playing fast and loose with the one woman that was peerless to him in all the world. But o;y\vald cared nought for his Wother'a scowl. 4 What have you been doing to yourself, Agnes ? You were nob always as pretty as this, surely.' The girl blushed, a hot fleeting blush that naturally heightened her beauty, and her eyes fell uoder tlio star© that, in any other

man but Oswald, she would have thought insolence.

' I do not think I can have gained in looks this year,' she answered nervously. 'ln fact both my uncle and aunt consider that I have fallen off.'

'They must be blind,' Oswald Barclay remarked disrespectfully. ' Bert, don't you think she is far more beautiful than she used to be ?'

Before Bert, fuming with rage, could put in a word, Agnes interrupted with, ' Please recollect, Oswald, that I am quite unaccustomed to be dieted on compliments, and have compassion on my blushes. Breakfast must be ready, and we had better go

Back accordingly they went. Bert limping grimly along, while his brother showed himself an adept in the pretty speeches of what Agnes had called 'a man of the world.'

He was in truth inspired by the sparkling face that looked up into his own, with just a faint shadow of wistfulness resting in the depths of the large eyes, and a half-repressed love shining out of them as well. In all his sojourn in cities, Oswald had not seen a face to compare with thi» one, and the realisation of the fact came to him with a surprise that he could not disguise. He had thought occasionally during his twelve months' absence of his little sweetheart so far away in the green solitudes of his country home, for whom he had had a slight fancy; but that the little sweetheart had expanded into such a woman as the one by his side was an idea that had never flashed across him. He had, in fact, forgotten her features as completely as he had forgotten how that incipient fancy of his, of which he thought so lightly, had bound him to her. Such volatile impressionable temperaments swarm like flies in this world. No man would have stuck up more stanchly for a point of honour than this scion of the Barclays; but with a mind from which impressions were effaoed as though made in sand, and a heart on which impressions were easily made, besides a habit of ignoring everything that was embarrassing or inconvenient, Oswald had contrived to drift further and further into a position which would have startled him if he had seen it with the eyes of his brother, for instance. Oswald was in exuberant spirits, and in the most self-complacent of moods, as he sauntered along between Bert and Agnes, while the latter was puzzled with his conduct, and the former was justly indignant. 1 Surely he has forgotten all the past,' the girl thought to herself, as she marked his utter unconsciousness and natural gaity. ' He thinks Agnes only good enough for a toy, to be thrown aside at will,' Bert muttered almost audibly.

' How pleasant it will be to live over again the dear old days, Agnes ! Do you remember our delicious rows on the river ? You must go with me again, and we shall be able to discuss the olden times at our leisure,' Oswald said effusively. ' Olden days are well enough for sentiment, but not at all for active interests, you know,' Agnes remarked carelessly; • and, besides, there wasn't much in them worth recalling.' This Hash of spirit called up a smile to Bert's mouth, and struck pleasantly on his ears. It was during breakfast that Oswald announced the advent of a friend of his.

' You have not possibly heard of Howard Leighton down here; but in London he is a great man.' ' Is it the Leighton over whom you used to gush before ?' Agnes asked. « Yes.'

' And how has he become so great ? ' ' In his profession he has the reputation of being one of the ablest pleaders and most brilliant speakers going. His intellect is so been that even the old lawyers arc a little afraid of him.'

' I hope we shall not imitate them,' Agnes observed with a laugh. 'lshe a conquering hero in society as well ?'

' Equally so; in fact he is the rage in town, and those who do not know him can scarcely imagine that the hero of dinners and balls is at the same time the hardest working of men. In his profession his energy is wonderful; in society he has the air of one whose sole aim in life is to kill time and avoid ennui.'

' What a piece of affectation he must be!' ' No, for there's a certain charm about him ; women in scores are in love with him, and it's only friendly to give you a hint, fair coz, to look after your heart.' Again the careless unconsciousness of her real feelings towards himself struck like a knife-thrust. Agnes winced a little, and the colour mounted to her temples. ' Thank you very much for your hint,' she managed to articulate quietly; ' and now I will go and find out how my aunt is, and whether she can see you.'

' Do not think of persuading her to get up on purpose to sec nic,' said this affectionate son in a whisper; ' I don't want any society but yours; besides, I am good at least for a month. Indeed I believe I shall never be able to leave this again, everything is so charming;' and he fixed his deep blue eyes meaningly on her—the deep blue eyes that had worked such havoc in her heart, and that no other eyes would ever fill the place of on this side of the grave.

' I am glad you tind it charming ; but our monotonous life will soon grow wearisome to you, I know; if you support it philosophically for a week, I shall bo astonished.' * That is because you do not know me, or yourself.' ' And Miss Gascoigne for a third ! ' • Pshaw !' and a great frown gathered over his forehead. Already his * future's' name sounded unpleasantly to him. Then he spoke with the old, old seductive accent that poor Agnes knew so well. ' I shall wait for you on the terrace. Come to me soon.'

' 1 cannot promise,' she answered nervously, the flush on her cheek growing more intense ; ' I may hare writing aud other things to do.'

' 1 shall look for you and wait for you,' he went on in the bygone imperious fashion which she had been wont to obey without demur.

But now he looked and waited in vain, for she never came. She paid her customary visit to her invalid aunt, and went mechanically through her routine of occupation. Then once in her own room, with the door locked, she fought a battle with herself, thai! Oswald, sauntering lazily among the flowers, never dreamed of. The hardest part of the ordeal she had to go through seemed to her to be OBwald'B perfect ignorance of the harm lie had worked -, tho bister, knowledge of having given up her to 'bija unasked, rushed over her like a flood, tphe cauid only salve down her wounded love and pride by teua-

ciously recalling each word and look that he had entirely forgotten. Her struggle against herself was difficult indeed during the days that intervened before Miss Gascoigne's arrival. Oswald was thoroughly of the the genus homo, who make a point of making love to the lips that are near, without any regard to or even recollection of the ties that bind them to lips further off. His suddenly renewed fancy for his cousin, his constant recurrence to the old days, and his sublime unconsciousness of the fact that her sole desire—a hot feverish desire—was to avoid him and herself, all conspired to make the girl's cup brim over with anxiety and dread and pain. When Miss Gascoigne came it was a positive relief. Part U. She was a beauty, and an acknowledged one, this Adelaide Gascoigne; and being wealthy as well, she was used to creating an eclat and interest where she went. She was an orphan, and for companion she had a fragile elderly woman, on whose stock of patience she drew largely, and over whom she tyrannised grossly. Deerswood scarcely resembled itself on the evening of the new arrivals. Besides the heiress and her companion, there was Oswald's paragon—Howard Leighton. 'lt certainly required to be told, to find out anything remarkable about that man,' Agnes remarked in a low voice to Bert. But Bert the astute differed on the point. ' You might fancy so on the first glance, but a further inspection gives one the idea that he is far more sensible and pleasant than Oswald's friends usually a r e,' he said contemptuously.

' Remarkably plain, anyhow,' Agnes observed determinedly, with a seme ui disappointment ; for, like all her sex, she had a weakness for personal attractions. It was true Howard Leighton was plain, if beauty consists in straightness of feature. His only good features were his eyes; they were very handsome eyes of violet, fringed by long black lashes, and they were singularly expressive. He was a slight man, with a well knit figure and perfect hands and feet; but besides these there was nothing to attract. He managed however to discern something attractive in Agnes, for he crossed the room deliberately to make a first effort in furthering his acquaintance with her. 'lt is lovely out, Miss Clive. Miss Gascoigne is going to take a turn; will you not be tempted ?' ' Miss Gascoigne is a stranger, and is going out to admire the beauties of Deerswood,' Agnes said, with a smile ; ' a"d you know that would not have the merit of novelty with me.' * Yes, but I am a strauger, and like to see everything I can. Perhaps however it would be too much trouble to you to act as cicerone ?'

' No, indeed. lam too fond of my home not to desire it to fully admired. Will you come, Bert ?'

But Bert was disinclined to move from his comfortable couch, so the two went off alone.

The soft and fragrant evening seemed to be holding the world in a spell of loveliness as they got outside. The west was still glowing, and one tiny star alone was visible, holding all the clear heavens to itself, above the golden fringe of sun3et clouds. ' What a glorious old place this is!' Leighton remarked warmly. ' Ivy and roses everywhere; and here is a nest of white lilies. Lilies, Miss Clive, are some of the few things that retain the aroma of youth for me —I mean the aroma that all beauty has for us in youth. May I pluck one of these ? '

'As many as you like,' said Agnes, and she broke off one of the tall flowers and held it towards him, wondering whether he was going to adorn his coat with it. Leighton almost caught his breath as he looked at her. At the moment he could liken her to nothing save the Angel of the Annunciation. The slender stately figure, robed in pure white, stood outlined against the golden sky; the hair, which seemed to make a nimbus of glory round her head ; the stainless blossom in her hand—stamped their image on his memory, and were often afterwards summoned before him by the mere fragrance of the flower that he had said retained for him the aroma of youth.

'lt is exquisite ! But now that I have it I hardly know what to do with it. It is rather large for a buttonhole, Miss Clive,' he said quaintly. ' I fear I must say yes. Give it back to me ;it will do for my hair.' And she took it and fastened it against her gleaming tresses.

' I may claim it after you have worn it ? ' Agnes felt the blood mount to her face. Here was another man amusing himself by making specious speeches to her. ' You shall have a fresh lily, if you choose, or none at all,' she answered with a laugh, but with a certain dignity that Howard Leighton, who was not a foolish butterily, understood at once. 'This is our best view,' she told him, pausing ; ' but I fear it is rather late to see it now.'

*ln daylight it must be lovely. We will come out to morrow, and enjoy it. Then we can—l beg pardon' (as a fan tapped his arm). ' Is it you, Miss Gascoigne '!' ' Pray do not apologise for not seeing me !' said a thin metallic voice that made Agnes start. ' When two people are well entertained, they do not, as a rule, have eyes for anyone else. Did 1 really hear you professing admiration for scenery ?' • Yes ; why not!' ' Only that you are comiug out in a new light. People who are habituated to Bond street seldom go in for " views." I frankly confess I prefer animate to inanimate creation—men and women to trees and stones. I am shocking Miss Clive by my avowal; but if we are to get on together, it ia a 3 well to warn her that 1 am a very frivolous being, caring for ballr, aud flirtation above all other things. Don't I, Mr Barclay ? Don't I, Mr Leighton ?' And sho lifted up her face coquettishly to both men as she questioned them. ' When a lady depreciates herself, it is a part of my creed never to interfere,' said Leighton coldly. But Oswald murmured, in a soft low voice that stabbed Agnes as she listened, 4 You care f»r something better than for balls and flirtations surely, Adelaide ?' 'Yourself, I suppose you mean,' shs exclaimed, laughing. 'Do not be too sure ; too much confidence is unwise. But your cousin says nothing ; I have shocked her by my candour.' ' Can candour shock one ? When it is go rare in the world, one ought to admire it, said Agnes. (To be continued.)