LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1062, 22 November 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE TWO SIBYLS.

{Continued.')

It must not be supposed that Mrs Cameron was blind to what was going on before her eyes. She was no match-maker, but she was no match marrer, and she knew ir Percy well, that he was one to whose alliance no parent was likely to object, and he had made her in a degree his confidante. Was she justified, then, it will be asked, in withholding from him Rose’s and Lily’s secret ? We say, Yes. She only guessed it, and she knew Sir Percy’s means were ample, aud that if he really loved, fortune would not inlluence his choice, and in birth the girls were equal. One of Rose’s instruments of torture was the Kev, David M‘Larty, who was head over ears in love, as her quick eyes had discovered, with hers, not her, and whose assurance was so great that she felt small compunction in preparing a little mortification for him.

On one occasion when he dined at Glenach., Bose allowed him to pay her more marked attention than usual, which drove Sir Percy, as was fully intended, nearly frantic. After the minister left, Sir Percy asked Norval, in a tone in which his jealousy was delightfully apparent to Bose, ‘ls Mr M'Lartyafair specimen of your ministers of the Church of Scotland ?’

‘ I am happy to say, not of the ministry as it is ; but I fear not an unfair one of the prospective ministry as things arc now. Unless our ministers are lucky enough to marry rich wives it is difficult to keep the roause pot boiling.’ ‘ Oh,’ said Sir Percy sueeringly, 1 1 should think it would be a delightful thiug to bestow one’s goods on such a man as Mr M‘Larty, and a charming prospect for a lady to spend her life with him.’ ‘A noble prospect,’ said Rose enthusiastically, * to be the wife of a man whose life is devoted to spreading the Gospel among the ignorant, instead of spending his whole life in shooting and fishing and trying to kill time. Surely it is nobler to spend one’s money in feeding the hungry and clothing the naked than in encouraging balls and operas and all sorts of wickedness.’ Mrs Cameron and Lily could not help laughing when they thought of Rose’s intense longing to go to a ball, and her dislike to clergymen in general and to Mr M‘Larty in particular. ' But to Sir Percy it was no laughing matter ; he felt that he had been abased by Rose’s speech, aud the Rev, David had been exalted, and even Norval felt taken aback by his ward’s proclivities. But he thought it best not to notice them ; so turning to Sir Percy, he said, ‘You are suprised to see a man like Mr M‘Larty here ; but we were absent when the living was vacant, and the village publican, who has a hold of the people, got a majority of votes for his cousin, Mr M‘Larty.’ Rose pouted a little at the publican’s cousin, but the conversation was uot continued. Chapter IV. The days slipped past so happily that their flight was hardly noticed, till .Norval drew attention to the fact that Sibyl’s birth day was close at haul, aud mentioned that he would have some papers ready for her signature that day. This announcement caused some excitement to Rose and Lily : the latter felt that she must resume her proper position ; the former that she must, as she pathetically expressed it, return to her rags. We said that the days slipped past too happily to be counted; not so the last few days to Rose. .Since her enthusiastic expression of admiration for the clergy. Sir Percy had not been at Glenach. It was only a few days, but they were very long ones.

She felt that she had won his love, but his absence showed her the price at which it had been purchased. It taught her that her own heart was no longer in her keeping - that she loved him. most dearly. This discovery, to one who desired only to be revenged by winning love to spurn it, was humiliating enough, but that was not ail she learned in her solitary nursings. As she thought of Sir Percy’s chivalrous love of truth and straightforward honesty, a new light was cast on her assumption of a false name and position. Ever impulsive and going to extremes, as she had previously looked upon her and Lily’s escapade as perfectly harmless, she now considered it a most heinous oli'ence

With the knowledge that she loved and was beloved came the crushing conviction that she ought to cast this great love from her, not scornfully and disdainfully, because it was unworthy, but humbly and contritely, because she was unworthy of it. It cost her much pain to make this resolution, but once made she was not one to fail in carrying it out. Nerval made her heart beat by announcing that he had fixed the day before her birthday to try and reach the summit of their big Ben, and that Sir Percy and Mr M‘Larty had promised to join them in an early start. The morning was clear and bright as heart could wish, and as Liiy looked at the Ben on rising he lifted his cloud cap to greet her and invite her to visit him.

After breakfast the party started, the ladies on their ponies, the gentlemen on foot, Pose, afraid of being alone with Sir Percy, kept Mr M ‘Party at her aide, much to the delight of the latter, and the chagrin of the former. They reached the cairn in safety, and were lost in admiration of the magnificence of the scene before thorn. But ere they were half satisfied their guide warned them that there wore signs of mist coming on, and that it they did not hasten down they would have difficulty iu reaching homo. jn descending they became divided into parties ; Korval took charge of Lily, and, as the minister found his hands as well as his feet fully occupied in securing his own safety, Pose was obliged to accept Sir Percy’s proffered aid. They sent their guide forward with the ponies, and it was not long before they re gretted their rashness. The summit of the mountain became enveloped iu mist, which swept down like a curtain and soon closed r >und them, and hid them even from ono another.

Nerval and Lily had made much progress, but Mr M‘Party was within hail of them; the others were considerably higher up. Korval, accustomed to the hills from childhood, at once realised the danger that menaced them. A false step might lead them over a precipice, or into a deep mountain tarn. Fortunately ho had taken thy

precaution of keeping as near as possible to the rocky, but now almost empty, bed of a •'■tream, and if they should follow that rough path, it would surely lead them to the foot of the hill. But Sir Percy and Rose were to be considered ; he could not go and leave them without assistance. He calculated that, from the place he had last seen them, they could not bo far from the same stream, aud thought that by making his way up he might reach them. What to do with Lily he did not know ; she was a ready tired, and the way was very rough, yet he dreaded leaving her with the risk of not being able to find her again He fancied there was a sheep-pen near, where some shelter could be got, aud sent Mr M'Larty to see if he could find it, warning him not to go beyond the sound of his whistle, or he might Ic-e them. Then ho explains 1 to i ily the alternative that lay before her—to remain with Mr M ‘ l.arty, who was footsore and weary, and unable to reascend, in the hope that the mist might clear away, or he rejoin them ; or undertake the great fatigue of going with him, with the chance of finding Rose and rescuing her from danger. .'•he listened with patience till he had finished ; then raised her soft eyes, softer and more beautiful than ever with their expression of perfect confidence. ‘ 1 shall go with you, Nerval.’

It was the first time she had called him by Ids name, and she tvas unconscious that she had done it.

But he was not. That and her confiding look swept away all his prudent resolutions to refrain from telling her of his love till better days should dawn for him. He pressed her slender hrind closely in his, and looking down into hers with eyes filled with, ineffable love

‘ Lily, will you let me'shield and protect you through lie with the devotion of one to whom you are the dearest thing on earth ? ’ Her eyelids drooped till the long black lashes swept her cheek, and as Norval drew her to him, she laid her head upon his breast, and whispered, * I shall go with you now and always, Norval.’

(To ho continued,)