LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 184, 20 January 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

CROSS PURPOSES

L" London Society.'']

( Concluded.)

With Bertha the case was more serious ; she had neither the worldly experience nor the prudential foresight of Mina, but. was too apt, in love matters especially, to follow the dictates of her own susceptible nature and attribute perhaps an undue importance to what M. de Talleyrand appropriately characterises as ' first impressions.' Since the day of her rencontre with the supposed Baron at Appenweier and their simultaneous arrival at Grriesbach, she had allowed her imagination to indulge in certain visionary and ultraromantic fancies, of which he was of course the hero and she as inevitably the heroine ; and had ascribed to every chance word or look subsequently addressed to her by Heinrich Rosenberg a signification, which she flattered herself, not without reason, no one else could by any possibility have divined. Her conviction that ho was not what he pretended to bo was strengthened by the oracular decision of Frau Kunigunde, who, having once made up her mind that he must be a nobleman in disguise, would not have abandoned her darling theory for an empire ; more particularly as her husband was of a oontrary way of thinking. It was, indeed, mainly in a spirit of opposition to that gentleman that she had complacently encouraged her daughter's evident predilection for their former fellow-traveller, hoping thereby to put a stop to a proposed arrangement which had been frequently talked of previous to their leaving Carlsruhe. The Kanzlelrath'j saliry being, as before stated, extremely moderate, and his private fortune nil, the discovery of a suitable parti for Berths- had naturally become an object of paramount importance; and an opportunity had lately presented itsvlf, which, if not in all respects satisfactory, was too advantageous to be rejected without due consideration. Herr Schneegans, or, to give him hia full official title, Herr TJnter-Assessor-Substitut Schneegans, a promising young bachelor of eight and-thirty or thereabouts, deriving a fair income from hia poßt, and enjoying moreover a comfortable independence of his own, had for some time held a prominent position among the admirers of Fraulein Piepenhagen, and in a relent interview with her father had declared his intentions and wishes in the most unequivocal manner. Now had the offer been made in the first instance to the Kanzleirathin, it is more than probable that she would have jumped at it, and the consent of Bertha, as the principal party concerned, being taken for granted, the course of Herr Schneegan's love would have run as smoothly as he oould have desired; but her ideas on ike subject not having been consulted, she felt it her bonnden duty, if not to impose an absolute veto, at least to throw as much cold water on the project as she conveniently could. ' For,' as she shrewdly remarked to her inseparable confidante, Franlein Bilterzung, ' an assessor is no great catch after all, and the young man here may mean something. If the worst comes to the worst, we can always fall back on Herr Schneegans.' Whether the yonng man alluded to meant anything or not, it is certain that he had no objection to officiate aa cavalier in ordinary to two such attractive damsels as Bertha and Mina; and even the latter, careless and lighthearted aa she was, could not help feeling flattered by the homage which, to do him justice, he distributed to one and the other with the strictest impartiality. We may judge, then, of their feelings when one night after supper, during a pau>-e in the conversation, he quietly announced his departure for Frankfort on the ensuing afternoon. Had a thunderbolt fallen among the assembled company, they could hardly have been more startled; protests against so unexpected a desertion arose from all parts of the hall, and every argument that could be urged to induce him to prolong his stay was tried, but in vain. Business, he said, must be attended to ; he had already outstayed his time, and despite his reluctance to tear himself away from so agreeable a society, there was no help for it, and go he must. Rising as he spoke, with the pretext of necessary correspondence as a reason for his withdrawal, bat in reality anxious to escape further importunities, he left tbe room, and repaired to the private apartment of Herr Jockerst, with whom he remained closeted until the other guests had retired to lest. ' Bring him to book to-morrow before he starts,' whispered Frau Kunigunde to her daughter, a? they separated at the doors of their respective bedroomß. Poor Bertha smiled faintly, and said she would do her best.

On the following morning after breakfast, profiting by a momentary absence of her friend Mina, Fraulein Piepenhagen slipped unnoticed into the garden at the back of the house, and established herself and her embroidery-frame on a bench commanding a good view of the pension. She had not been there long when the sound of footsteps hastily approaching on the gravelled path caught her ear, and in another instant Heinrich Rosenberg was at her side. * Pardon me, Franlein,' he began, * for thus intruding on your solitude, but I could not quit Grießbach without expressing my deep regret to those in whose society I have passed so many happy hours, and to none sincerely, moire truly, than yourself. My minures are counted, but btfore Igo I must see and apeak with Herr Kanzleirath; I have a request to make, which I hope and believe he will grant, in which cai • one of the principal objects of my stay will have been attained. As I trust ere long to have an opportunity of visiting Carlsruhe, I will not say adieu, but avf Wiedersohen With these words and a lingering glance at the blushing maiden, whose emotion had prevented her from uttering a syllable in reply, he lifted his hat respectfully and hurried down the alley by which he had arrived, leaving Bertha in a state of agitation easier to imagine than to describe. How long she remained absorbed in her reflections—very pleasant onts apparently—she knew not; but after a while she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, and looking up bah'ld Fraulein Schlosser, all smiles and good humour, but seemingly more excited than usual.

• What is the matter, mein Schatz?' asked Mina. ' I have been searching for you every where, for I have a bit of news that will surprise you. He is gone to speak to papa.' • I know he is,' replied Bertha in a low voice. *He told me so himself.

' Told you!' echoed Mina, staring with astonishment ; ' what could he be thinking of?' It was now Bertha's turn to stare ' Why shouldn't he tell me that he was go'.nc to ask papa's consent V she said. ' Did he say that ?' inquired Mina, rather sharply. ' Not those very words,' answered Bertha ; ' but of conrfe that is what he meant.'

'Then, meine liebe, you must have misunderstood him. It was my papa he alluded to, not yours. I have it from hia own lips ; he called him Herr Doctor.' •To me he said Herr Kanzleirath,' retorted the other.

' I can't make it out,' said Mina, ' unless the man's a Turk, and wants to marry us both. Come with me ; my father and y> urs are playing chess in the little arbor yonder, and I can't rest till I know who is right.' So saying thei cpetuous young lady darted eff at a rapid pace, followed by Bertha, in the direction of the snug retreat where the two old gentlemen were comfortably enj >ying their game. 'ls Herr Rosenberg gone, papa?' was Mina's first question, when thay arrived quite out of breath. 'Gone!' exclaimed the doctor. Yes, a quarter of an hour ago He wouldn't wait for the omnibus, but borrowed Jockerst's gig as he wanted to catch the early train.' ' Did he ask you anything before he went? ' How curious you are this morning, pus-> !' laughingly replied Herr Schlosser. * Well, you must know, he did ask me something ' * And what answer did you give him ?' ' I told him I hsd no particular objection.' 'There, you see!' cried Mina, with a triumphant look at Bertha ' Didn't I tell you so ?' At this moment Frau Kunigunde and Fraulein Bitterzung, who had been strolling down and adjlining walk, approached the grunp. ' But surely, papa,' said Bertha to the Kanzleirath, 'he asked you something too ?' 'So he did, my dear,' answered her father. * And you told him V

' I told him I was much obliged, but that he had bettor try somebody else.' ' Yon said that, Gottleib,' interrupted his wife in her deepest and most impressive tragedy tone, 'when your child's happiness is at stake ?' 'My child's happiness!' repeated the bewildered Kanzleirath, ' What has she to do with it V ' Did he not aßk yon to consent to his marriage with Bertha?' she continued. At this question Dr Schloßser, who had be?n staring at one and the other alternately, j burst into a sudden fit of laughter, ami even the unfortunate Kanzleirath ventured on a feeble smile. ' He asked me to allow him to send me a couple of casks of JLitbfrauenmilch,' said the latter, and I thought it too dear. Schlosser had ordered one, but then he can afford it, and I can't.' ' Either you must have lost your senses, or I mine,' disdainfully remarked Frau Kunigunde. ■ Perhaps you will kindly inform me who is Herr Rosenberg ?' ' Neither more nor less than the travelling of Propf and Keller, wine merchants ai Worms,' replied the doctor, stifling hi 9 merriment as well as he was able. ' I could have told you that a week ago, if yon had asked me. And all I can say is, If what he sends me is equal to the sample we tasted the other evening, I sha'n't complain. ' ' Ris daughter will hardly be of the same opinion,' whispered Fraulein BUterzung in her friend's ear; ' unless, like Bertha, she has a Schneeganß to fall back upon !'