LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1436, 23 September 1878, Page 3

LITERATURE.

MY THREE WEEKS’ HOLIDAY, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. “ London Society.” Chapter 11. TOE MEETING. A bright sun streaming in at my window and a call from Jack awoke me, and at my bedside I found a cup of coffee, excellent in itself, which did more towards quieting the perpetual motion which seemed to have seized everything bplonging to mo than I could have believed possible' ‘Como in,’ cried Jack, in answer to a rap at the door. A waiter entered with an important-looking volume, in which ho politely requested us to inscribe our names.

‘Here,’ said Jack, to mo; ‘the police want to know all about you. Jump up, old fellow. ’

‘ Rut is that usual, Jack ?’ inquired I. ‘ Quito ;so here goes. I shall enter myself as ninety-four (fiatt’r myself I don J t look it) and profession “ able seaman for I am sure I proved myself so, last night, being the only pprson who kept his sea legs the whole time. 5 '

‘Oh, 5 said I, ‘Jack, don’t do anything bo silly ; suppose we get into a row.’ ‘ Oh, bother!’ he exclaimed, his usual terse expression when he intended to have his own way. I took the book and was most particular and corre t in all I put down concerning myself, much to Jack’s amusement; but the day would come v-hon he would have reason to bless my prudence, as Gbo sequel will show We diessed quickly and sallied forth into the streets, which were alive with people returning from the different churches, as it was already past noon. All the shops were open, and in the ‘ Place ’ a baud was playing, and it Avas thronged with promenatlers and children dancing about. I do not think that anything I saw afterwards made so much impression upon me as thia scene. 'I he people all seemed ao gay and free ; nowhere did T see drunken man led home frrm a gin palace by his AVeary looking Avife ; and I fo’.t that perhaps after all avc did not understand better than our gay neighbors the meaning of the Avords, ‘ The Sabbath was made for man, ’ Moralising, you see ; but you may be sure I kept my thoughts to myself. '1 ho rest of the day till five o’clock we spent in about the rather quaint old town, in Avhich there was little to admire save the glorious sea Avalk, Avhich alone Avorth the discomforts of the voyage to see. Jack picked up several friends, Avdpi" he

declared he would make useful in getting him partners for the ball at night. We then returned to our hotel to prepare to join the table d'hote. I felt somewhat nervous on entering a long room, and finding myself seated at a table with about fifty other people, who appeared, from the variety of languages spoken, to have been coliected from all pans of the world. Exactly opposite to ourselves sat three persons evidently of one party, one a pompous looking man, unmistakably English, but with sufficient foreign air and manner about him to show he had been some time abroad. Ho was habited in a frock coat and white waistcoat, across which was festooned a massive looking chain, from which hung various charms and lockets ; a somewhat flashy blue silk scarf was fastened by a large coral pin. Eather bald and with a high forehead and large sensual mouth, his appearance was not prepossessing; but it was made singularly objectionable by the peculiarly cold steel blue eyes, which, without looking straight at you, seemed to be always calculating the depth of your mental capacity. Duplicity and low cunning were the prevailing characteristics of his countenance.

By his side sat a girl of perhaps nineteen O' twenty, a blonde in complexion, with bright golden hair drawn back from her face and simply confined with a band and rosette of crimson velvet; her dress of white muslin (which, though plainly made and high to the throat, showed through the transparent folds the delicate whiteness and rounded contour of the neck and shoulders) had no other ornament than a band of crimson and a narrow velvet of the same colour round the neck, from which hung a locket containing one magnificent diamond. Her face, per • haps, could not be called strictly beautiful—the nose too retrovssee and the mouth rather large, but displaying white and regular teeth ; her eyes of a de p gray shaded with lashes long and of a darker shade than her hair, and which gave a look of repose to her face. Unconsciously one’s gaze rested longer on her than on the dashing furbelowcd damsels round the table, with the same feeling that coming suddenly upon a tranquil bit of landscape while the train is whirling one from city to city you look with a lingering longing gaze from the window of your carriage, and feel as if there at least you might rest for a few moments in peace.g By her side, and pressing npm her attentions evidently most unwelcome, sat a tall dark-whiskered man with a heavy drooping moustache; there was a rove air about him, savouring much of cafes and billiard-rooms, and looking as if his entree to respectable society would not be easy to obtain. An animated conversation was kept up by the two gentlemen, but as it was entirely in French, I was in ignorance of the subjects they discussed. Occasionally they refer to the young lady, but her replies were always given with a weary and pre-occupiel air. Once I noticed that in passing something the dark man touched her hand. A‘crimson flush spread over her face, and she passed her handkerchief quickly over the spot, as if to wipe off some stain. Jack, generally so talkative and merry, seemed, much to my surprise, to be suddenly struck dumb and entirely occupied with watching the party opposite. At last, when the dinner was nearly over, he whispered to me, ‘ For heaven’s sake, Tom, let us get out of this !’

Leaving the table and returning to our room he threw himself into a chair, and exclaimed,

‘ She is lovely, positively lovely; but a victim to those two men !’

I stared at him with the greatest surprise, A particle of romance about Jack was the last quality 1 expected to find displayed, and 1 suppose my look of utter bewilderment struck him as ludicrous ; for he burst into a somewhat forced laugh, and proposed our going to the Fursaal to take our coffee and smoke our cigars.

The strains of the band fell on our ears as we threaded our way through a brilliantlydressed crowd who were silting in groups about the building ; the sea was as calm as a lake, and the sun was setting gloriously. Having secured a table, we proceeded to sip our coffee, and I throughly to enjoy the novel and to me exciting scene. Not very far from us I noticed a group of men engaged in what seemed a very absorbing game of dominoes. In two of them I recognised our friends of the dinner-table, but nowhere could I see the young lady. Not, indeed, that I took much trouble to find her : but Jack made repeated excursions about the building, and as each time he returned with a gloomier face than before, I concluded he had been unsuccessful in his search. About ten o’clock we mounted a handsome staircase and found ourselves iu the ballrooms, which were already crowded. Much as I enjoyed hearing the band aud watching the gay scene, I could not quite get over my early prejudices and consent to join the dancers, though pressed to do so by some of the friends Jack had made in the morning. He, of course, was soon in the thickest of it; and finding myself alone, aud the crowd and heat increasing every moment, I walked out into a long room devoted to tho promcnaders, and stepping through an open window upon a balcony I enjoyed the cool night air, and at the same time commanded a view of the animated scene within. I had stood there but a short time when I heard Jack’s voice iu earnest conversation with some one who was seated with him on one of the benches just inside the window, A mirror on the opposite side enabled me to see that his companion was the same young lady who had excited sio much interest a few hours before ; her colour was heightened by dancing, she was speaking eagerly, and tears stood in her lovely eyes, into which Jack was gazing with an immense show of devotion.

‘ Yes, indeed it is so,’ she was saying; * I am now here without a friend to help me.’ ‘Do not say that,* ho exclaimed ; ‘ 1 would do anything to serve you if you would put confidence in my desire to be of use.’

A slight smile curled her lip. ‘ I am speaking ol a friend of my own sex,’she replied, ‘one to whom I could go for protection from—l can hardly say it my own father and the man who has in a manner bought me. Horrible as it may seem, I am convinced that my father has become so much and so deeply involved with Count L. that he dare not thwart his wishes, which unfortunately are to make me his wife, llolatives I have none except one, my father’s aunt, at present travelling for her health, and whose address I do not even know; she has a large property, to which my father looks to redeem his fortune. If I could only interest her in my favour I ohould be safe, for he would not dare to act against her wishes, and she has always urged on me her desire that I should make no foreign alliance.’ ‘Take courage,’ said Jack, ‘and command my services in any way. Did you not see how gallantly I Hew to the rescue, and carried you off for the waltz for which your tormentor was crossing ijhe room to claim you ?’ • Ah, and did you not see the expression op his face as he turned away—another

slight to be returned with interest when he has me in his power ? See, he has already sought my father, and they are coming to me. I dare not remain longer here ; take me at once to my place.’ They rose, and Jack escorted her to the other room, and placed her beside a sleepy withered-1 oking old lady who was nodding away the two hours’ duty of chaperon, and evidently feeling no interest whatever in the unhappy girl placed under her charge. , I came in from the balcony and was presently joined by Jack, looking very disconsolate, He complained of being tired, and suggested our going back to the hotel ; but on reaching the door he said, * Ho to bed, old fellow ; I feel restless,[and am going to take a turn by the sea.’ At another time I should have proposed accompanying him ; but knowing what I did I felt sure that my presence would be unwelcome, so I bade him good-night and entered the hotel.

(To be continued.)