LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1034, 18 October 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

CROSS PURPOSES. ( Continued) Cissy, examining her card, finds she is not engaged f or the next dance, Very ran h to her disgust ; and is pondering whether she shall tell the lie direct and declare she is, when Halkett, as though he divines her thoughts, says abmptly: ‘Not engaged for the .;ext? 'J hen I suppose I may have it?’ ‘ f suppose so,’ returns Miss Cissy reluctantly ; and inst.anily turning from him, addresses h r partner, as th ugh such a pers n as Halkett were no longer in cxi tence Indt-ed, when after a quarter of an hour, he finds her in the conservatory aM claims the fulfilment of her promise, it is with the utmost bad grace she places the v>ry tips of her fingers upon his arm, and looks impatiently towards the ball-room. ‘I don’t mean dancing just yet ; I have something particular to say to you first,’ says Halkett hastily, ami almost comma’d iugly, standing quite still. ‘lt is hardl private here. Would you find it too cold to come with me into the garden ? ’ g ancing a: the open door of the conservatory. Cissy hesitates ; then fe >rful of seeming reluc'ant, says : ‘ No If you will go to thlibrary for my shawl (you will find it on the sofa), I will go with you.’ ‘ You will stay here until I return ! ’ says Halkett, regarding her intently Cissy scares in turn. ‘ < ’f course I will,’ she an--wers rather haughtily ; and heg-es. ‘Did ho imagine I would run away when his back was turned?’ eho soliloquises

a- grily. * Does he suppose lam afraid ? One would think it was I was in the wrong, not he His conduct altogether is downright mysterious. I cannot understand him and for the first time it dawns upon her mind that there may possibly be some flaw in the interpretation she has put upon his conduct. Returning with the shawl, Halkctt places it gently round her shouldars, and they pass into the quiet night. ‘What a beautiful moon!’ exclaims Cissy presently, hardly knowing what to say. ‘ Yes ; ’ absently. ‘ And for this time of year, how wonderfully mild it is—not in the least cold—as one might expect.' ‘ Yes—no is it not ?’ ‘ I really don’t know what you think about it,’says Miss Mordaunt impatiently. ‘lfor my part find it almost warm ; but of course 1 cannot answer for 3on Probably all this time you are feeling desperately cold,’ This little petulant outburst rouses Halket. ‘ So !’ he fays with sudden energy and waimth ‘I am not. It is not in my nature to he cold in any way. I feel most things keenly ; more especially slights from those I love. All ill-concealed disdain, unkind speeches, fickleness, touch me closely.’ ‘I can sympathise with you,’ says Cissy calmly. ‘I think nothing can be so bad as inconstancy except perhaps deceit.’ This re : ort being as unexpected as it is evidently meant, puzzles Halbett to such a degree that he becomes absolutely silent. Miss Mordaunt, with her white shawl drawn closely round her slight black-robed figure, walks quietly beside him with the air of an offended queen, a pretty look of scorn upon her lips. After a while Halkett pulls up abruptly and faces her in the narrow pathway. ‘ What is the reason of your changed behaviour towards me to-day and yesterday V he says shortly. ‘ I think I have a right to ask that.’ ‘ Have I changed ?’ ‘ Have you ? Must you ask the question ? The whole world can see it You treat me with the most studied coldness.’ ‘ I thought I was treating you with as much courtesy as I give to all my uncle’s guests.’

‘I don’t care for courtesy,’ says Halkett passionately ; ‘your hatred wmld be better than your indifference. Yesterday morning I believed we were friends—nay, more than that; yesterday evening you ignored me altogether. It is either heartless coquetry on your (tart, or else you have a reason for your conduct. Let me hear it.’ ‘You aie forgetting yourself,’says Miss Mordauut coldly. ‘You are the first pers n who has ever accused me of corjuetry ; you shall not do it again. I was f tolish to c une here with you, but I trusted you. I wish to return to the house.’ • Nay. hear me!’ cries Halkett remorsefully, following as she makes a movement to leave him, and catching her hand to detain her. ‘ Your avoidance has so perplexed and maddened me, that I said more than I meant or intended. Forgive me, and at lea-t let me know how I have offended. Cissy, answer me ! ’ For a moment Miss Mordaunt hesitates, then endeavouring to speak lightly : ‘ I did not intend to perplex you,’ she says; ‘one cannot speok to every one at the same time. I am sorry if I appeared rude or neglectful; but you did not lo k very miserable, and surely Mrs Leyton was an excellent substitute or me.’ iShe smiles as she says this, hut pales a little too beneath the brilliant moon that is betraying her, * Mrs Leyton is my very oldest and dearest friend,’ replies Halkett ; ‘but no one on earth could console me for—your loss. Why will you not confess the truth, Cissy, and ’

‘ Yet you once loved her, if report speaks truly,’ interrupts Miss Mordaunt, still speaking carelessly, though her heart-throbs can almost be counted. ‘ln India we hear, there was a time when you would gladly have called her your wife Is it not so ? ’ Halkett drops her hand. ‘ Has that miserable bit of gossip taken root even here ?’ he says with a faint sneer. ‘ Has B ! ake been making his cause good by such rubbishing tales? Frances Leyton and I grew up t gether. I would as so n think of making love to my nearest of km as to her. The idea of any romantic attachment existing between us is more than absurd ! Besides, she is to be manied to Geoffrey Hyd«> early in the c uning spring ’ Miss Mordaunt severs a little twig from one of the shrubs, and takes it to pieces slowly. ‘ Then she did not give you your favourite mare?’ she says quietly, detesting herself as she asks the que tion, yet feeling compelled to solve all her doubts at once. ‘No; she did not.’ A pause. ‘Shall I tell you who gave her to me? It was my only sister, Lady Harley. J'he loved the Baby dearly, and on her death-bed, told me to take good care of the creature, for her sake.’ The twig falls from Cissy’s lingers. Surely, it cannot be true! Uh, how he must hate and despise her for all she has said and done ! it is too late now to make reparation She f els she would rather die a thousand deaths than give in. and confess to all the wretched suspicions ami jealousies she has been carefully harbouring in her heart during these past two days. ‘However, all this is beside the question,’ goes on Halkett; ‘you have not yet told me what Iso much want to know. Has Blake anything to do with your coldness to me? Tell me, Cissy, are you engaged to him?’ Cissy has not evpected this, and growing suddenly crimson, lets her head droop some what suspiciously. Halkett’a eyes are ou her face. ‘No; of course not-I am not. indeed.’ There is a faint stammer in her speech as she says this, and Halkett’s ftars become certainties. * But you care for him ! ’ he exclaims vehemently. ‘i he very mention of his name has brought a flush into you* cheeks. You hesitate, and turn your head aside. This then a-counts for your sudden change of behaviour towards me Having gained your point, you found your tir. t ■ ictim :u the o.iy, and hardly knowing how to get rid of o troublesome an appendage, had recourse Co Had you told me point blank my attentions were unwelcome, it would have been more womanly, m re just’ ‘Pray, do not say another word,’ says Miss Mordaunt with dignity, though tears ire in her voice and eves ; ‘ this is the second time to night you have spoken words difficult to forget. Do not trouble yourself to return with me. I prefer goinr in alone.’ (To to continued.)