LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1029, 12 October 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

CROSS PURPOSES. In Two Chapters—Chapter I. ‘ls it very bad? Do y u think it will mark her? : ow unf ruinate I am.’ ‘ (*h, it W'tn t signify much.” says the major, ra iking a feeble attempt at comola tiou The groom is on his knees washing down the mare’s leg. As he washes the red raw patch shews out with ominous distin -tness from the glossy dark brown skin that surrounds it; and Cissy, standing in her riding habit, whip in’hand, regarding the < peratiou, begins to look the very p.cture of rll-con-misery. * How dreadfully bad it looks now,’ she says fearfully. ‘ Not at all,’ replies the major. ‘ 1 cannot imagine how it hanpened ; she is usually such a clean jumper.’ goes on I'issy, diligently search me for excuses. ‘ I nev-r in my life injured a m >unt before, and I ‘■J’ould not h ve harmed this one f r all the world. Captain Halkett will be so awfully angry.’

• Nonsense ! You don’t suppose he will bite you, do you ? 1 hink of his angelic temper and y<mr privileges as a W'lnan. He daren’t blow you up, you know.’

‘ It is not so much that ’—with hesitation. ‘Of course 1 know he «ill say nothing, but lie will think the m >re ; and’

‘Like the parrot.,’ interrupts the major

‘And hew 11 look so annoyed,’ goes on Cissy, torturing herself with immense success ‘I would not for anything it had occurred. Ido think I am the uuluckieat giil on earth,’ ‘Are you in love with him?’ suddenly asks the major sharply, ‘ln love with him ? What an absurd quest on! Of c urse I am not,’ says Cissy angrily, whim blushing in the most furious and. uncalled for manner.’ ‘ WPat could have put such a ridiculous idea into your head.’ ‘Well’ (suki'y?, ‘you are so afraid of vexing him, for one thing.’ ‘Not a bit more afraid of him than I would be of you or any other man, under the circumstances,’ declares Cissy with exemplary candour. ‘ But it is not a pleasant hmg at any time to injure a favorite hunter; and the mare, for some reason or other, is a special darling with Captain Halkett. Indeed, it was only yesterday 1 heard him saying he valued her moe than any ammal he had ever had.’ * Given him by one of the fair sex, most likely,’ says the major with vicious intent. ‘ Very probably,’ returns Cissy quietly, who carries a very g .me little heart beneath her pretty Iri«h skin. a”d would have died rather than betray any undue emotion Nevertheless, it must be confessed her c lor fa ntly wavers aod fades away a little, only to return with tenfold brilliance as she sees Captain Halkett pass the stable window, * Here he is ! ’ she cries hurriedly. * Now, what shall I do ? ’ ‘ Nothing, if my advice is worth anything,’ says the major sententiously. Captain Halkett coming slowly up the yard, cigar in mouth as usual, and hands thrust deep in the pockets of his shooiingcoat, sees Cissy, Maj r Blake—and the gro m on his knees beside the mare. He takes in the whole situation at a glance. Throwing away his cigar, he turns to issy, and says pleasantly ; ‘ Good morning. Miss Mordaunt. Had a good day, I hope?’ ‘ Yes ; thanks very that is, no. not at all,’ says Cissy nervously. *I am afraid you will be horribly angry. But the fact is, as Major Blake and I were coming quietly home cantering through the Park fields, at the last gap some sharp stone caught the Baby’s leg, and has hurt her, as you see. I —I am so very sorry about it,’ concludes Miss Mordaunt, genuinely vexed for the mishap. * lion t say that,’ entreats Halkett gently ; • and don’t vex yourse f. I would rather the mare was dead, than that you tormented yourself about her. Besides’ stooping to examine the injury—‘from what I can se 1 it is only skin deep, and won’t matter ia a day or two ; eh, Connor ? ’ ‘Yessir; only a scratch, sir. Eight as ever in a week, sir,’ These words carry balm to Miss Mordauut’s breast ; and presently the bandages being finally adjusted, and the Baby consoled by an additional feed, they leave the stables ; and Blake considerately diverging to the right. Mi s Mordaunt and Halkett go leisurely towards the house As they reach the stone steps leading to the Hall door, Ciss> pauses. ‘You are sure you forgive me ?' she *>sks swee'lv. * How can you speak to me like that,’ says Halkett, almost angry. ‘ Did you think I should cut up rough with you ? What an ill tempeted brute you must consider me; you ought to know me much better by this time. . ‘ I have not known you for so very long.’ says ( issy smiling ; then impulsively, while h r color once m re deepens ; ‘ Why is that bor-e such a favor te with you? -beyond ail others, 1 mea". W a s it a present?’ * Yes,’ says Halkett in a low voice. ‘ From a very dear f.ieud?’ ‘ Very dear ; more than a Iriend.’ * From a gentleman ?’ 4 No. From a lady,’ says Halkett shortly, and turns away his head. On tlie nstant, the words the major had uttered iti the stables come, back to Miss Mcv daunt’s min i, and without further comin®ut she sweeps past Halkett into the house, and he sees her no more until dinnertime When ha'f-past seven chimes out, and the solemn retainer of the House of Mordant; t announces dinner as being served, both Major Blake and Captam Halkett make a hard fight of it to take Mias | .'issy down; but Fate, iu the person of Sir Thomas Lobin, iute feres, and baulks them of their prey. Halkett, however, may be said io have the best of it, as ho succeeds in re ding himself directly p osite his Irish divinity, and so can watch the changes of her belo cd face, and perhaps edge iu a word or two, addressed particularly to her, during the repist. All this can be the more ’eaddy accomplished, as he has been told oft to a y >ung la ly who, if not actually insane, is at all er -nts three parts silly, and so does not feel it incumbent upon him to supply her with the orthodox amount of small-talk. (To ie continued .)