LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 836, 27 February 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

ONE FARTHING DAMAGES,

Chapter 11, ( Continued.)

Mary had hidden her face in her hand, but she became aware, from the increased intensity of the all-pervading scented-soap aroma, that Slythorpe was drawing nearer to her, and in another moment his arm was round her waist. She drew herself up proudly. ‘ Sir, 1 am willing to believe you mean kindly, but your offer under such circumstances is an insult. Be good enough to leave me. ’

Slythorpe would have parleyed, but with the air of an outraged queen Mary Hope rang the bell, and, obedient to the summons, Mrs Murgatroyd appeared. ‘ Open the door for Mr Slythorpe, if you please.’ ‘ You’ll be sorry for this, you’ll find, Miss Hope,’ said Slythorpe; but Mary vouchsafed uo answer, aud the attorney retired discomfited, Mrs Murgatroyd holding the door for him with an expression of thorough enjoyment. As soon as it was closed upon him, she bounced back into Mary’s room, and flung open the windows. ‘ Let’s have a breath of fresh air, for goodness’ sake, after that nasty, slimy, scented serpent. I always feel as if the house wanted disin—what d’ye call it ? with Condy’s Sea salt or Tidmau’s Restorer, or some o’ them deidolisers, whenever he’s been in it. Why, my dear lamb, whatever is the matter ?’ Poor Mary’s overwrought nerves had at last given way, and she fell upon the sofa in a fit of violent hysterics. Mrs Murgatroyd, with motherly instinct, let her emotion have its way, and was soon so far recovered as to be able with many tears to tell the story of this new misfortune, finally crying herself to sleep on the good old woman’s sympathising bosom. Chapter 111. It was two days after the scene recorded in our last chapter, aud Mary Hope with the Times before her, was answering advertisements for a governess. Mary was not one to sit still under the pressure of calamity, however heavy, and having got over the first shock of her misfortune, ab once set about bravely to earn her own livelihood. With this view she was now seeking to procure a situation, either as governess or companion, entering upon her task with a brave heai't, though she well knew the trials to which such a position would probably expose her. She had answered three advertisements, and bad had folded and sealed her letters, and now, with her open desk before her, was counting her little store of ready money, and calculating how long she could at any rate subsist before she found employment. In replacing her purse, her hand fell upon a portrait, which she took out, and gazed at fondly. e Dear old Geoffrey, if you had lived, how different my future would have been ! I suppose I ought to say God’s will be done, but, 0, it’s very, very hard! ’ A few moments she continued gazing through her tears at the portrait, when a sharp knock at the outer door startled her, and she replaced it in the desk. She hoard Mrs Murgatroyd in conversation with some one, aud then a quick well-remembered voice said, ‘ Where ? This room ! ’ And in another moment the door was flung open, and Mary Hope was sobbing in her lover’s arms. After the blissful excitement of the first meeting had subsided, a season of mutual explanations followed. Geoffrey Howard had been dangerously wounded, and had been a prisoner for the greater part of a year in an Indian dungeon, where for many weeks his life had hung on a thread by reason of an attack of malignant fever. His worn and sallow features, Iris skin bronzed to Oriental swartness, and the scar of a deep sabre cut across bis cheek, scarce hidden by a rather ragged beard, bore eloquent witness to the perils he had passed through. He had lauded in England but twelve hours previously, and had lost not a moment in seeking the presence of his darling and her father, for he of course was ignorant of Bernard Hope’s death. Mary, too, had much to tell, and nestling by Geoffrey’s side, her little white fingers hidden in the rugged brown hands of her lover, which held them as though they would never again let them go, she told him all she had gone through—the loss of her father, the history of the will, aud lastly, the loss of her little fortune.

‘ I don’t understand it,’ said Geoffrey. ‘ The man has been playing some very deep game.’ ‘ Perhaps he really wished to get me more-what do you call it'.'—interest for my money. 1 daresay it was meant kindly enough, though it has happened so unfortunately.’ ‘I don’t believe it, darling. If he had really had your interest at heart, he would have regarded safety before all things. I strongly suspect that if all had gone well, you would simply have received your three per cent, and Mr Slythorpe would have pocketed the difference.’ ‘0 Geoffrey, Geoffrey! I’m afraid you have come home very uncharitable. Besides, what does it matter about a lot of stupid money, now I have got you back again? Unless, indeed you would have liked me bettor for having tho money.’ There was only one possible answer to such an accusation, and Major Howard made it—that is to say, he called Mary a little goose, kissed her, and dropped the subject, having taken care, however, to ascertain tho address of Mr Slythorpe and the name of the company in which Mary’s money had been lost. On leaving her, he took a hansom cab, and drove to the office of the liquidator of the company, when, on his stating that he desired to make some inquiries on behalf of one of their shareholders, Mr Slythorpe, he was informed, to Ilia acteninhinent, that there was not, and never had been, any shareholder of that name on the books of the company. Ho next inquired whether, percbaaoc, the shares were standing in Miss. Hope's own name, and again was answered in the negative. Utterly bewildered, he drove to Mr Slythexpe’s office. Mr Slythorpe was at home, and hr. speedily found himself in the attorney’s presence. Mr Slythorpe was a little nervous. He was always a little nervous with strangers till he knew their business , and Major Howard’s announcement that he had called on behalf of Miss Mary Hope did not tend to increase has confidence. (• To he continued .)