LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 907, 22 May 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE OH ABM,

( Continvcd)

That twelve outh had now nearly expired and i o. i-eand Tlc-rese were looking out ot

another Inane. i hey had gladly taken at vantage of the offer (though many gir s would oot, under the circumstances), and stayed in the house, discharging all the servants but one, and living in the most simple manner. But to live ever so simply takes money in these expensive days, and very little was left in hand of what Mrs Freer had been able to bequeath them. It was necessary that they should do something for a living, and th y were already looking out privately for situations as governesses. Louise accepted the position without a murmur ; Therese wept in the solitude of her chamber. They had ah eady passed from the luxury of a costly household to one of strict economy and restraint; now they were to pass to servitude ; what the next change would be, neither of them could foresee. ‘lt is oar destiny, I suppose,’ grumbled Tlicrese, when the negotiations for their going out (Were finally completed. ‘ I wonder, Louise, whether we shall quite die of it ?’ ‘ Don’t he silly, child,’ reproved Miss Van Best. Chapter 11. * And what comes next? The Deluge V This question was from Mr Jermyn. He sat before Louise, pulling angrily and fiercely at his moustwhe. She had been telling him of their plans—that she and Therese were both going out as governnesses. ‘ We have no other resource, William.’ ‘ But you are gentlewomen !’ * Beouced,’ add d Louise. ‘ What else is there for reduced gentlewomen to turn to ? Would you live ns keep ash p?’ ‘ But you are so uu tted for it.’ * Excellently well litied for it, I think, she returned, correcting nim ‘We have both enjoyed a lirst rave education ’ ‘ Louise,’ he said after a pause, the mostache being pulled more fiercely than ever i i utte- unconsciousness, ‘ woM Teredla let me stand between her and this alternative, do you think? You know what my income is.’ ‘ William J ermyn 1’ ‘ Yes, I love her, Louise; and I want her.’ Louise shook her head. ‘I must speak plainly, William ; it would be the sheerest folly to begin on such an income. It is barely enough for yourself, and the end might be worse than the beginning.’ ‘ But, Louise, I shall soonhemaking money, and so adding to it.’ ‘ How do you know that? It is what all young barristers think. Becoilect the risk. ‘ Yes, yes, 1 know, Louise ; but it is hard to see you both going away to this servi vitude,’

‘ Does she love you, Mr Jermyn ?’ A pang struck him at this question, for his instinct had not served him to discover the state of Teresita’s heart. He h ared she did not. Louise felt sure she did not,

‘ I fear you have been nourishing a chimera. William, if you have nourished the idea that she cares for you. My impression is that it is just the contrary. She is no better than a wayward child, either ; only nineteen a month ago. ’ ‘ Don you mind my asking her ?’ f I have no right to mind it,! said Louise : ‘ better for you, perhaps, that you should set the matter at rest. But there must be no question of marriage yet, in any case, you understand. Upon your small income ’ ‘ But if Teresita should consider it large enough ?’ ‘ She could not. She is very silly; but she is not silly enough for that. Here she is !’

Teresita came in, singing unconsciously, breaking off her song to drop a curtsey of mock ceremony to Mr Jermyn. Louise left the room, and Teresita sat down and took up her work. He waited to see if she would speak of the new plan; but she talked of twenty other things in twenty minut' s, and never alluded to it. He got out of patience at this.

‘ Teresita, why don’t you tell me you are going out as governess ?’ he broke out at last.

‘Because Louise has already told you,’ and she laughed at him gaily over her strip of hemming. * How did you know that ?’ ‘ How ?’ I can’t tell; I felt it in the atmosphere, I suppose; and you looked so savage, too,’ His eyes lighted. ‘You knew I should feel it deeply, Teresita.’ ‘ Yes, T knew it would be a sword thrust into the Van Best pride.’ A streak of colour Hashed across his brow. ‘ And you didn’t think I might have other thoughts - that I might feel a man’s pity for women thus situated ?’ he exclaimed, impatiently. .‘•he looked up at him quickly. Louise had not returned, and the twilight was falling. The hour, the circumstances, were tempting him to full confession; but over it all rose Louise’s words, her warning, and more than all, her embargo, concerning the smallness of his present means. Teresita’s eyes had dropped after that one quick glance. There was a waiting hush for a few minutes ; in it you could have heard every movement of leaf and bird and insect outside the open window. Something in the girl’s expression of face warned him not to speak— told him that his suit would be rejected. Suddenly she rose from her seat, went to the other end of the room and sat down to the piano. A loud crash of chords broke the silence, -which had perhaps become embarrassing to her, combined with Jermyn’s steadfast looks. She was playing a gay, light, spirited fantasia. Louise, hearing it, came back, bringing a lighted taper. The flame, Haring brilliantly in the spring wind, fell on the player. It showed to Louise a sweet, cold face, unlit by any look of emotion. The face of Jermyn she could not seeit was turned toward the dark, rainy night. Without a word, Louise knew that Jermyn had not spoken, and her heart uttered a thanksgiving. ‘ And where is it that you think of going ? he asked of Louise, as the fantasia came to an end, and Teresita turned round on thimusic stool ‘ I am going to Holly Hill, to Sir George Meredith’s,’ she answered. ‘Therese is going to the Anthonys. A family ’ ‘To the Anthonys. How odd.’ ‘ Why odd ?’ He laughed : evidently a forced laughed. ‘Well, because—because I know them, I suppose.’

lie was 1 oking iu an entirely different direction, but he knew that Teresita’a eyes were turned towa. d him.

* What do yen know of them, Mr Jermyn?’ asked Louise. ‘ You must tell me.’

' Nothing very terrible, Louise; only that they are not of you' kind. I don’t think Tcresita will like being there.’ ‘ but why not ?’ ‘ As societ> goes now, and wealth is the one thing considered, the Anthonys would call themselves geutlepeop'e, I suppose. But they have never been so yet, aad were not reared so. They are purse proud; and Mrs and Miss Anthony have not, I should judge, much regard for the feelings of others, espefor a governess. Wilfully unkind, they may not be; but they will lack thought and consideration.’

‘ Well, we must not look for perfection: we work for hire, not for consideration,’ answered Louise, with grim resolution. And theu again in a moment she resumed: 1 1 daresay we were not easy taskmistresses either. I remember I used to give a vast deal of trouble to my governesses.’

r To hr continued .l