LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 898, 11 May 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE JILT. [BY CHARLES READE.] Charter I. (Continued.) The ship lay eight days at Madeira, and on the seventh day he recused another letter, begging him to come home as soon as possible ; for she wa« subject to downright per- < ecution from Captain Laxton; and her father was m eh 100 easy. For the tirst time in her life she really felt the need of a protector. This letter set Greaves almost wild. She wanted him b ick to protect her now, and he bound for the Hast, and could not hope t > see her for two years. Nothing for it but to pace th > deck, and rage internally. He couldn't sleep, and this operated curiously ; he passed for a super natarally vigilant lieutenant. There was a commander on board, a sprig of nobility, a charming fellow, but rather an easy-going ; ghe used to wonder at Greaves, and, having the admiral's ear, praised him for a model. ' The beggar never sleeps at all,' said he. ' I think he will kill himself.' ' He will be the only one of ye,' growled the admiral. But he took notice ot Greaves all the more, that the Lord of the Adtni ralty, who was his personal friend, had said a word for him in one of meek postscripts, which mean so much, when written by the hand of Power. At last, they reached the Cape, and dropped anchor. The mail boat came out, with letters. There was none for Greaves. No letter at all! The deck seemed to rise under him ; and he had to hold on by the fore-braces ; and even that was as much as he could do, being somewhat weakened by sleepless nights. Several officers came round him, and the sh.p's surgeon applied salts and brandy, and he recovered, but looked very wild. Then the surgeon advised him to go ashore for a change. Leave was granted immediately, aod the second lieutenant went with him, good naturedly enough. They made enquiries, and found another mail was due in two days. They t' ok up their quarters ac a hotel, and there Greaves was so wretched, and his companion so sympathetic, that at last the tormented lover made a confidant of him. ' Oh, it will be all right,' said the other. ' Why should she want you home, if she liked that lubber?' ' I don't know,' said poor Greaves. ' The last letter was not like her; such a highspirited girl; and it looked as if he was getting her into his power. If he has, all the worse for both of us ; for the day I catch him. I shall kill him.' Next day, the mail came in, and, as Greaves had left his address at the postoffice, a letter was brought him all wetted and swollen with rain, the boy having carried it without the least attempt to protect it from a thick drizzle that enveloped the town that day. Greaves tore it open. It was fatally .short. This is every syllable of it: — ' Forget one unworthy of you. T can resist no longer. I am fascinated. I am his slave, and must follow him round the world. Perhaps he will revenge you.' ' Dear Arthur, I did not mean to deceive. I am but young ; I thought I loved you, as yon deserve. Pray, pray, forgive me. 'E.' * # * * Suspense, the worst of all our tortures, was over; the blow was over. Arthur Greave i was a mau ag in. 'Yes, I forgive you, my poor girl,' he groaned. ' But' (with sudden fury) ' I'll kill him.' He told his friend it was all over, and even gave him the letter. ' It is not her fault.' he *obbed. 'The fellow has east a spell over her. No more about it; or I should soon go mad.' And, from that hour, he endured in silencp, and cheeked all return to the subject very sternly. But his friend talked, and told the other officers how Greaves had been jilted, and was breaking his heart; and he looked so ghastly paie, tnat altogether he met with much honest sympathy. The very admiral was sorry, in his wav lie had met him in ihe street, looking lika a gho->t, and his uoiform hanging loose on him, his stalwart form was ,' Confound the women \' growled j the o'.j. fo hjg f avor it e) the commander ;

: there's the best officer in the ship, a Mratclass mathematician, an able navigator, a good seaman, and a practical gunner, 1.-. id low by pome young bitch not worth his little finger, I'll be u ound.' .Next day he sent for the young man ' Letteoent Ghxavrs !' ' Sir.' ' Here's a transport going home, a d nobody to command her. The/ have C'no to ni<\ I thought of senoing the tecond leltenanc; it would have been more convenient ; for, by Jove, sir, when you are ijone, I may have to sail the hip myself. However, 1 have altered my mind —you will take the troops to Plymouth.' ' Yes, admi ah* ' Then you'd better take a fortnight ashore, for your health. You are very ill, sir.' ' Thank you, admiral.' 1 Come out to H ong Kong how you can. You can apply to the Admiralty for your expenses, if you think it is any use.' Greaves's eye Hashed, and his pale cheek coloured. 'Ay, ay, said the admiral, 'I see these instructions are not so disagreeable as they ought to be. A steam-tug and a cargo of lobsters ! But you must listen to me : an honest sailor like you is no match for these girls ; it is not worth your while to be sick or sorry for one of them. There - there - send your traps aboard the tub, and clear the harbour of her as soon as you can. She is under you- orders, sir.' 'God bless you, admiral,' sobbed Greaves, and retired all in a hu-ry, partly to hide his emotions, auo partly because it is not usual, in the service, to bless one's superiors to their face*. It is more the etiquette to curse hem behind their backs. Now was Greaves a new man ; light shone ih his eye : vigour returned to hia limbs ; this mo.-t unexpected stroke of good fortune put another face on thine a He had the steam ooat coa'ed and victualled with unheard of expedition ; got his troops on board, and steamed away for Plymouth. They had fair weather, and his hopes rose. After all. Ellen cmid hardly have taken any irretrievable &top ; she had never denied his claim on her ; a £o <d licking bestowed on Laxton might break the spell, and cool his ardour into the bargain. He felt sure he could win her back somehow. He had been out of sight, when this fellow succeeded in deluding her. But now he should get fair play. He lauded the troops at Plymouth, and made his report; then off to Tenby a*: ouce. He went straight to the Mayor's house. A girl opened the door. * Miss Ap Rice ?' ' She don't live here, sir, now. Lawk !it is Captain Greaves. Come in, sir, and I'll send Mr Dewar.' Greaves went in, full of misgivings; and sat down in the dining- room. Presently, Dewar came; a white-haired old fellow, who had been at sea hi early life, but was now the Mayor's faototum, and ■illowed himself great liberties He came iu, open-mouthed. ' Ah, Captaiu Greaves; it is a b d business. I'm a'most sorry to see you here. Gone, sir, gone, nd we shall never see her again, I'm afraid.' * Gone 1 —What, run away—with that scoundrel ?' * Well, sir, it did look like running away, bein-jr so sudden. But it was a magnificent wtdding, for that matter, and they lift in a special steamer with a gilt starn, and the flags of all nations a Hying.' 'Married!?' To be continued.!