LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1086, 21 December 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

“KRIN.” [ Temple Bar.'] ( Concluded .) The walk home is a very miserable one for Krin. All through the woods and fields she is haunted by the knowledge of what is before her, and visions of her mother’s wrath, mingled with Ehoda’s censures, uttered in a clear ladylike staccato she knows so well, rise up to torture her. When they reach the balcony that runs by the drawing-room they pause to look in and see who are the occupants of the room. The lamps are burning brightly, and at the farthest end sits Rhoda peacefully reading. Mrs Crofton also has a book before her, but her eyes do not rest upon it; her face is extremely pale, and there is an anxious terrified expression about it that speaks of unknown fears. Every now and then she glances at the door, as though expecting some one.

‘ Shall I go in first ?’ whispers Saxon as he sees his companion’s face of woe. ‘ Oh, no, no. I would far rather go in alone. It will be better,’ says Krin, who feels there is unpleasantness in store for her, and cannot bear that he should witness her disgrace. So they leave the balcony, and, reaching the hall-door, which they find open, Corinna enters the house alone.

As she opens the drawing-room door. Mrs Crofton looks up quickly, and, seeing Krin. draws a deep breath of relief. Then fear having abandoned her heart, womanlike she permits anger to enter it. ‘ Where have you been, Corinna ?’ she cries, rising. ‘ What do you mean by frightening us all to death like this 1 Ho you know it is nearly ten o’clock ? With whom have you been ?’ ‘ With Saxon, ’ returns Corinna fearfully. ‘ W hat ?’ says Rhoda, with flashing eyes, her voice a little shrill. ‘With Saxon. We did not mean it—we did not know. We went into the old tower, only for a moment, but the door closed behind us, and we could not get out until Saxon flung himself from the window.’ She piauses breathless. ‘Very nice, upon my word,’says Rhoda, her tone a little shriller ; ‘a charming story indeed. Locked up with Lord Rowden in an old ruin until ten o’clock. I wonder what the county will say 1’ ‘We could not help it,’ says Krin,looking at her mother with imploring eyes ; ‘it was nobody’s fault; we would have been there now but for Saxon.’

‘ Ami pray, if it was so easy to leap from the window, why was it not done sooner V ‘ But it was not easy. He might have killed himself; and we hoped until the last that some one would come to release us. Mamma, why don’t you speak to me ?’ ‘ It is most unfortunate,’ says Mrs Crofton fretfully, ‘ I don’t know, I am sure, what is to be done. All the servants of course know of it, and Thompson has been out looking for you for the last two hours. It will be known far and near.

‘lt is more than unfortunate, it is disgraceful!’ declares Ehoda. ‘From the beginning I have noticed your artful endeavours to entrap Saxon, but this is indeed the climax. You will not win your game, however, let me tell you that. No gentleman was ever yet gained by immodest and forward behaviour.’

‘ Immodest V Mamma, do you hear that ? —do you hear what she says ?’ cries poor Krin, paling, and trembling beneath the chandelier. * I tell you it was a mistake—it could not be helped. Mamma, speak to me.’

‘ You had better go to your room, Corinna, while I try and think calmly of this unhappy business,’ says her mother coldly, though in her beirt of hearts she does not condemn her.

Krin, with quivering lips, and one small shaking hand laid upon her bosom, turns, and makes her way, not to her room, but

into the still night air. What has she done ? What horrible things have been said to her. Can Saxon think as they do ? Has she been immodest—forward ? How unjust, how unbearable it all is ! Oh ! what shall she do ? For the second time this evening she breaks into a storm of tears.

Somebody lays his hand upon her arm. * Darling, have they been so very bad to you ?’ says Saxon’s low carressing voice. Krin’s effort to reply is lost amid her sobs. ‘ You should have let me face them first. What did they say to you ?’ ‘ Oh, nothing—that is, nothing in particular. Of course mamma was very angry ; she was frightened to, and she said so. That is all. ’

* I am sure something more than that must have been said to make you cry so bitterly. Toll me, Corinna; I have the right to know. What did your mother say f *lt wasn’t mamma. It was Ehoda.’

‘Oh 1’ says Saxon angrily, and then he mentions Rhoda’s name, and puts a word before it that is not complimentary to Rhoda. ‘ Don’t cry like that/ he goes on presently in a very tender tone, putting his arm round her, and pressing her head down upon his breast; ‘ don’t, my pet, you are making me awfully unhappy. Corinna, be sensible, darling, and listen to what I am going to say. I want to ask you a question.’ • What question ?’ very drearily. ‘ I could not ask it if you speak in that tone. Oh, Krin, can you not guess what it is I want to say ? I love you, darling, with all my heart; I want to hear that you love me too. '

Krin raises her head, and makes a desperate effort to escape : but he holds her fast, and continues rapidly ; * Listen to me, Krin. It maddens me to see you made miserable, as you are now—l cannot bear it. Give me the right to look upon you as my promised wife, and I will protect you against the world. No one shall dare to say a cruel word to you. Sometimes—l don’t know why—but sometimes I have thought of late that you—care for me. Oh, love, do not tell me lam presumptuous.’

There is no answer to this tender appeal, but he fancies (is it fancy ?) that she nestles a little closer to him. He tightens his arms round her, and whispers softly—- * Say one word, Corinna—only one, to make me happy.’ But Corinna is a woman, and finds it impossible to express herself in so compact a form.

‘ Are you quite sure that you love me V she asks with anxious emphasis, lifting her eyes to his for a moment. ‘ Quite sure. Must you ask that darling ? Don’t you know it. There is nothing in this wide world I would compare with you,’ * That is just how I feel towards you,’ says Krin innocently, with a little contented sigh.

It is needless to relate what follows. Every one possessed of even a grain of sentiment will understand for themselves. Of course they were perfectly happy, and of course Corinna shed a few more tears. They were the last she wept for many many months.

‘ Come,’ says Saxon, with a laugh, * if you cry any more I shall think you are regretting your decision. You must stop now or I won’t answer for the consequences. It is very hard lines, both for me and my coat. I might as well bs under a shower-bath, and if it continues I shall certainly catch cold, and be laid up with severe influenza.’ Krin laughs too, though rather hysterically, and Saxon putting his hand under her chin, turns her face up to his. * You are better now,’ he says, c so we will go in together, and make our peace with your mother.’ Hand in hand they enter the drawingroom, and find the atmosphere decidedly cloudy. For the first time in her life Mrs Crofton regards her kinsman with unsmiling eyes.

‘ Oh, Saxon, you have returned,’ she says coldly.

‘Yes, I have returned to ask a great favor of you. The greatest favor you can bestow. ‘ A favor of me ?’ with considerable dignity, while Rhoda in the background comprehends fully, and whitens with rage and disappointment. ‘ Yes, indeed, so'great that I hardly know how to ask it.’ He quits Krin’s side, and, going to her mother, takes her unresisting hand eagerly. ‘ Mrs Crofton, will you make me a present of Corinna ?’ There is a short pause, during which Mrs Crofton draws breath, and reviews the position. How utterly mistaken she has been all along. Well, if not Rhoda, it is at least Corinna, If blind to the charms of one daughter, it is because he is so infatuated by the graces of the other. The fact that he will be her son-in-law remains undisturbed, and if Mrs Crofton bears a deeper affection for one of her children, it is undoubtedly for Corinna. ‘You amaze me? I had no idea of this.” she says at length with perfect truthfulness. ‘ I hardly know what to say, Saxon, but I hope with all my heart you will both be happy.’ Her voice falters a little, and she holds out her disengaged hand to Krin. The girl, coming quickly to her side, throws her arms round her neck, and kisses her warmly. ‘ You are not a bit angry now, mamma, arc you ?’ she asks with a bright sunny smile.

‘ I suppose I must forgive you now,’ returns her mother, tapping her cheek; ‘ but you are a pair of naughty children, and succeeded in terrifying me more than I care to remember. Saxon, may I beg you will avoid that tower for the future~at all events until this wild girl belongs to you entirely V ‘ I will get a new lock put on to-morrow,’ says Saxon, and then he turns to Ehoda. * Now you must wish us joy,’ he exclaims cheerfully.’ ‘ f do, mus t sincerely, I wish you joy—of each other, ’ replies Ehoda, with the faintest possible pause. ‘Of course I saw from the lirst how it would end, so I cannot imitate mamma’s surprise.’

There is a certain flavor about this speech that to say the least of it is unpleasant. Everyone seems to think it will be wisdom to refrain from addressing her again. ‘ Corinna, you are looking very pale,’ says her mother hastily ; ‘ all the excitement and fatigue has been too much for you. Bid us good-night, dear, and go to bed.’ ‘ Good night,’ says Krin obediently ; and as Saxon follows her into the hall, under pretence of getting her a candle, he whispers fondly ‘ Are you perfectly happy now, Corinna ?’ But Corinna did not get time to answer that question—in words. Pearl.