LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2037, 3 September 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

A JUNE LOVE - STORY. [From "London Society."] '.'Bo you expect that boy up here this morning, Nina ?' 'He said he should come at about eleven.' 'For lawn tennis, I suppose,' said Mrs Hilton, with a little sarcasm in the tone of her voice. Nina Carlyle lifted her pretty head, which had been bent over her work, and looked at her married sister with that innocent calmness which is the peculiar gift granted to clear blue eyes with thick brown lashes. ' Of course,' she answered ; 'lreaily want practice, Cicely." 'You have had plenty during the last week,' answered Mrs Hilton. ' Gerald will find you wonderfully improved.' 'I hope so,' said Nina demurely ; ' but he doesn't care much for tennis himself.' Cicely made a little movement of impatience, and then burst out laughing. Nina did not laugh, but a smile crept to the corners of her lips. ' It's ridiculous talking in this way,' said Cicely. ' Yon know very well what I'm hinting at, so I may as well say it straight out. Why can't you leave poor Sidney Ansdell alone ?'

I My dear Oicely, I'm not hurting him. If he likes to come up to your house and play lawn tennis with your sister, why should you be so inhospitable as to object ? Considering I've come to stay with you for the first time after your marriage, you might as well try to make my visit pleasant ' * It is only, how will Gerald like it ?'

' I don't care. I'm not going to deny myself every amusement that falls in my way because Gerald mayn't happen io like it. Besides, why on earth should Gerald object to my playing lawn tennis V 'lt isn't that,' said Mrs Hilton, with some spirit. ' But why on earth should not Gerald, seeing you are engaged to him, object to your flirting with Sidney Ansdell V

There was a slight flush on Nina's cheek. ' " Come, come, elder sister," she quoted ; "yon are too young in this." Yon only came out of Egypt, as Scud East says, you know, yourself last night, Cis. Don't look vexed, dear. I will be a good girl when Gerald comes down here; but I like Mr Ansdell, and I don't see why I shouldn't be nice to him. *

' And very nice it will be for him, poor boy, wheni G erald arrives and monopolises you.' 'He will get over it,' said Miss Carlyle placidly. ' I fancy the poor boy, as you call him, is quite equal to take care of himself.'

• Here he is,' said Cicely, as a tall figure in a suit of gray dittos, with a racket in hand, appeared at thg further end of the distant field, vaulted over the haha fence into the orchard, and so proceeded to where the sisters were sitting in the ga; den under the shadow of a tulip tree. 'So you have come at last,' said Mies Carlyle, holding out her hand, and glancing up at young Ansdell's pleasant frank fare, with its good grey eyes and well cat mouth. 'I mem to beat you this morning ; for when Mr Calthorp comes down here we sha'n't be able to have so many games.'

What was it made her mention her future Husband's name—her sister's lecture, or a sudden impulse of loyalty towards him, born from the knowledge which had just dashed upon her that it was pleasant to her to look at Sidney Ansdell's winning face I Whatever had prompted her speech, she felt sorry for it as she saw Sidney's pained look of bitter remembrance.

If Nina were a flirt, as some peopla said, she was a very tender hearted one; she hated to see people unhappy ; she could not baar to see Sidney's troubled facs without trying to bring baok its sunshine.

'Now you have come,' she sa'd, 'we will have a really good game, and w»-1» no more time. I'll go and fetch my raVsot.' With a bright smile she ran indoors, leaving Cicely and Sidney under the taliu t 63.

_ The little matron of four months' marriage was rather vexed by her sitte ! a conduct; from her dignity of d woman Cicely lookfd on at the comedietta in which Nina was_ playing the leading pait, anl saw much which worried her.

Gerald Calthorp, the man to whom Nina waa engaged, was an individual who would by no means be satisfied by a divided allegiance, and a quarrel between him and Nina would be most nnfortun.ite, th- ught Mrs Hilton. Mr Calthorp, in th„ o; iaiou of mosT people, was quite the ideal husband for a girl like Miss Carlyle. He w.a well b re, handsome, cultured, rather gravely courteous in manner, with a very good f , r tum and a Beautiful place in Hants ; the v;-ry man to contrast picturesquely in m.iri-i-.^ e with Nina's quaint fitful grace, her sudden pretty changes of mood, ahvavs sweet. a;d hebright girlish beauty, as fresh and charming as the sunlit may-bloom.

It would b 3 4 florrH, meditited Cicely, 'if, after Nina's actually wiariig a man like that, she were to lose him, jost because she can't reEist bewitching poor Sidney. And how the mother would ;c.ci me, and declare I wasn't fit to be trusted wits A'ina! She can't manage the girl herself ; but uho would blame me dreadfully if the engagement were broken off down h're Perhaps Gerald will be able to keep Nina ia order. I fancy she is a little afraid of him. I'm sure I am.'

All this passed through Cicely's tn : nd as she Eat working on the lawn lot i-ing very dainty and girlish in her whiti dr.ss, wita its ribbons of clive and pale pi~k, anl qiite ignoring the sis feet of human'ty who fctcod by her, troubled in mind as a moth might be who learns that the flame he is atneted by is about to be screened from his approach for the benefit of a man wishing t j engross its light.

Cicely had almost forgotten his presence when suddenly he ssked, 'Mrs Hilton, is Mr Calthorp comine to stay with you ?'

' Yes, he comes next week.' She was really sorry for Sidoey ; he was tee of a family who we e very old friends of her husband's, and she waa vexed that pain and sorrow should cotne to him through her sister. She liked hitn vary much. If she had never seen or h*ard of Mr Calthorp, might have wished no better amusement or employment to throw him and Nina together ; but as it was— Yet there was a sombre look in his eyes that troubled her ; it was so unhappy. She murmured something about 'hiving some more work to get from indoors; if Sidney waited, Nina would be out in a moment;' and then left him standing moodily by the tree in a very gloomy state of mind. ( Entering the house Mrs Hilton sought her sister, whom she found in tho hall, fittening the ribbons of her tennis shoes, and humming a tune she had caught up from Sidney. Cicely plucked up heart, and said abruptly—- ' Nina, that poor bay is very auch in love with you.' No answer. Nina's faee was bent over her shoe, but Cicely saw that the girl'a white neck grew rosy, and hor severity increased.

_' It ien't kind or fair to him to encourage him as you do. He will only be unhappy afterwards.'

Nina raised her head and looked full at her sister.

'Cicely,' she said, 'I won't ba bullied, because I don't like to.see a person dnll or wretched when I can make them otherwise.'

'Very well, I can't eay any more. If Gerald—'

•Gerald !' said Nina rather angrily. 'I won't have Gerald continually thrown at me. I really think that you t and mother will make me quite hate the thought of him by always saying "Gerald tnia," and "Gerald that." as if I were his bond slave, and not the girl he is engaged to. I won't be tutored and lectured. I pant to enjoy myeelf in my own way, and Gerald himself knows it and trusts me, whica is more than you seem inclined to do.'

_ Mrs Hilton was so far provr.ked by her sister's mutinous speech as to u ;e a weapon she had meant to keep in reserve. 'You say Gerald Calthorp trust} you ; i; all events he seems to think you nycd looking after.'

Nina started and qnivered ever so slightly, and there was a restive sparkle in her eyes as Cicely drew a letter from her picket, saying—'l heard from him this morning. I didn't tell yon because there was a part o' the letter I didn't like to show you, but I suppose I had better do so now.' ' You had much better have done aa at first,' muttered Nina rebellionsly, as she took the letter from Cicely's hand and read the page to which the latter pointed. Mrs Hilton was a little frightened at the effect of her proceeding. The girl read her lover's epistle without comment; but her cheeks grew a deep rose cjlonr, her blue eyes flashed, and her pretty lips were compressed. When she had finished the letter she folded it slowly and returned it to Cicsly, saying, ' Indeed 1 That is what he thinks, is it?' Then she took up her racket, and, without another word, went out into tha garden, leaviDg Cicely very doubtful whether she had not done more harm than gcod. After a few moments' consideration Mrs Hilton turned her steps towards her husband's study. Arthur Hilton was an s.nthc7; he had been at the bar; but, ou inheriting a small estate from an elder brother, he had thrown up the Bar and settled himself in the pretty old-fashioned house to which, fonr months ago, he had brought home Cicely as its mistress.

' Are you busy, Arthui ; or caa 1 ec:r:e in?'

■ All right, old child, what is it ?' Cicely assumed the penitential attitudewhich is rather a favorite one with youn« wives : she knelt down by her husbind's side, and, looking up at him with big seriong brown eyes, she said,

* I think I have done rather a foolish thing. I showed Nina Gerald Calthonre letter.'

'Phew! Did you want them to quarrel V

'No ; bet I fancy Nina is flirting with Sidney Anadell, and so—' ' And so you did the very thing to make her more bent on holding the sweet jest np. Are ycu quite certain you understand Nina ?'

' I am very fond of her, and I want her to be happy.' 'And that means yon want her to marry Calthorp V ' Don't you, Arthur ?' 'lt is hsrdly my busint£E ; bat I don't feel quite so sure as you do that Nina is in lore with him.'

' Oh, she must be !' said Cicely, horroistricken, * Why did she engage herself ': She was nat forced to do so.'

'No ; but one heard Calihorp's praises from every one, especially from your mother, and it was easy enough for her to fanny she was in love with such a paragon.' ' Why, don't you like Get aid ?' 'I think him a confounded prig,' was the reply that rose to Mr Hilton's lips ; but be suppressed it, and merely answered, * Oh, he's a good fellow enough ; bnt noi the kind of man I should have tuonght Nita would have cared f r. He is formal, and lifteen years older than she is. and with a, mighty good opinion of himself. Of cocrße Nina may cherish a wild devotion for him : you ought to know her better than I do." Cicely looked very neatly ready to cry, seeing which her husband drc-.r hsr c'oser tc him.

'Don't you worry, childie. If there is tt. be a break between them it had better be before marriage tnan after; and if they really care for each oth'.r you needn't be afraid of their falling out se.iously.' ' But Sidney— ' 'O, he won't come to any harm ; young men's hearts are not so easily broken as yon fancy. Look : there he and Nina are, crossing the garden to the strawberry beds. They do make a pretty picture, as Lad} Anne Newcombe Eaid of Clive aad Ethel,'

He turned to look at Cicely. 'Confess now,' he said, 'if Sidney had £SOOO a-year you would prefer him for Nina's husband to Calthorp.' ' Yes, perhaps I might; but I don't think,' said Cicely dutifuliy, 'that mother would.' 'After all,' returned her husband, 'Nina ia the person most interested in the point.' (2V Ve continued.