LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2086, 30 October 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

HOW SNOOKS GOT OUT OF IT. •If you will take my advice,’ said Mr Wilding, making a last noble bnt futile effort to balance the ivory paper knife on tho top of hi first finger, ‘you won't goto the Brownrlgs’ ball.’ ‘And why not?' asked bia companion, irritably, • Well, I really wouldn’t, yon know,’ said Mr Wilding, giving up his straggle with the impossible, and laying the refractory paper knife upon the table, ‘ for a variety of reasons. Gins play the very mischief with yon, and you know what trouble it gave mo to get you out of your last scape. There are four Brownrig girls, aren’t there? And they are all pretty ?’ ‘ I don’t see what that’s got to do with it,’ said Snooks, sulkily. ‘There’s safety in a multitude. I can’t marry ’em all, can I V * Happily, no I Though, if the laws of your land did not forbid it, I am inclined to think you might try to accomplish even that. Still, be advised, Snooks, and be conspicuous by your absence at the Brownrigs’ “small and early.” Para Brownrig, when incensed, is not nice, and you know you are decidedly epris with Miss Kate ’ is'lto 1 am not, said Snooks withdecision, not a bit of it Though I allow she is a handsome girl, and has lovely eyes. Hasn’t she, now ?’

‘ I don’t know. As a rule, I never look into a woman’s eyes. I consider it a rudeness as well as a betise,’ said Wilding earnestly, telling his lie without a blush. 1 Never mind her eyes. If,’ warningly, 1 you must go to this ball, at least try to forget that she has any eyes at all. If you don’t you will propose to her, to a moral,’ ‘My dear fellow, do not let ua even hint at such a thing,’ he said, amiably ; ‘ I only meant yon were slightly—very slightly—susceptible, and that Miss Kate has a certain amount of pleasing power, and that—l positively would give up this ball if I— ’ ‘ Ar« you going?’ broke ia Snooks impatiently. • Won, yes, I dare say I shall look iuabont twelve.’

‘ Then I shall look in with yon,’ said Snooks defiantly, ‘ Pact is, the follow wants to spoon her himself, and don’t see the force of being out out,’ said be to himself complacently, as he ran down the steps of Wilding’s stairs. Beyond a*l question tho Brownrigga’ ball was a decided sncc-ss. The rooms were filled to the overflowing, the staircases were choked, the heat was Intolerable. Sir Thomas and Lady Higgins had actually put in an appearance after all, and the supper, if uneatable, was, I assure you. very expensive, No pains or money had been spared ; everything was what the mistress of tho house called ‘rug regal,’ and all the Miss Brownrigcs looked as charming as any one could deaire. There were four of them. There was Katie, the second daughter—Snooks’ friend, and the possessor of the lovely eyes. And they were lovely ; large, * and dark, and true, and tender,’ like the North, according to the Laureate ; ‘ black as sloes,’ said her fond if slightly oppressive mother, and of the languid melting order. Then there was Hetty, tho eldest girl, who, if her eyes were not dark as midnight, had at least the dearest little nose in the world. A pure Greek feature, perfect in every respect, ignorant of oolds in the head, that made one long to tell her (only she would have blushed, they were all nicely brought up) about Dndn, and her Phidian appendage. Then came Georgia— ‘ George the Third,’ as she was playfully termed in the bosom of her family—who, if she had neither nose nor eyes like her sistets, had certainly a prettier mouth than either. A sweet little kissable rosebud of a mouth, that pouted and laughed alternately, and did considerable execution.

And finally, there was Lily. A tall, palo girl, with blue eyes, a finely cut chin, and a good deal of determination all round.

Katie’s eyes were larger, darker, and (when she looked at Snooks and thought of his thousands) mote melting than ever that night. Her dress, if slightly bizarre, was intensely becoming. Snooks, for the first half hour, kept himself bravely aloof from her fascinations, declined to notice her reproachful glances and languishing csillades, and for reward was wretched. Finally, being driven into a corner during the fatal set of lancers, he met her eyes, saw, and was conquered. Sbe would dance the next with him? Yes (coldly). And the next? Tea (more gently). .And the ninth —he can see she is disengaged for it ? Yea (this time quite warmly). An hour later the deed was done. Some capital champagne, a dark avenue (I believe there were some Chinese lanterns there originally, but a kind wind had blown them out), and a soft little hand slipped into bis, did the work; and Miss Kate had promised bashfully, hut with unmistakable willing, ness, to be the future Mrs Snooks. Whether it was Snooks, or tha property pertaining to Snooks she most affected, deponent eayeth not.

When, however, her betrothed fonnd what he had done, and remembered his former words, and all the awfulness of parental wrath, his heart failed him. He went, as he usually did when in sorry case, in search of Wilding ; and having discovered him, took him into a side room, and shutting the door, confronted him with a rather pale face. * So the eyes were too many for you,’ said Mr Wilding calmly, after a deliberate examination of the disturbed face before him. ‘ I told you how it would be.’ * That’s the sort of thing any fellow might say.’ returned Pnooks pathetically. * I didn’t think you would have been so aggravating ; and just when yon see I’m down on my luck, too. Yes; I’ve been and gone and done it.’

‘ Mother will be pleased,’ quoted his friend and law adviser with a shrug. * So, by the by, will be your father. They both regard nothing so highly as birth. I suppose Miss Browurigg can lay claim to some decent breeding.’ ‘ The old chap is a comchandler, yon know that ; at least he used to be,’ said Snooks, with a heavy groan. * Oh, indeed! And a very charming business, too, I make no doubt Leada up to quite a train of ideas. Corn, wheat, staff of life, quaint old mill, and rustic bridge in the distance ; miller sitting on it. I wonder,’ dreamily, ‘lf Browurigg ever wore a white hat? And If to—why P Don’t all speak at once. Well, well, she is a very pretty girl. Such eyes you know! I really congratulate you, my dear fellow.* ‘ Wilding,’ desperately, ‘can’t you do something ? I—l don’t know how it happened. It was the champagne, I suppose, and, of oourse, you know she la pretty ; but I don’t want to marry any one, and I know the governor wouldn’t hear of it.* ‘ He will have to hear of it now, won’t he ?’ asked Wilding, unfeelingly. ‘ He would go out of his mind it such a thing was even hinted to him,’ declared Snooks wildly. * Try to help me out of it, Wilding, can’t you?’ ‘ I don’t see what there is to do, except marry her. I only hope Lady Snooks and Mies Comchandler will get on. And yon should think of her beauty, yon know ; doubtless it will console you when Sir Peter outs you off with the customary shilling.’ * I suppose I had better cut my throat and put au end to it,’ said Snooks dismally, and then—overcome, no doubt, by the melancholy of this suggestion—ho breaks down and gives way to tears. ‘I say, don’t do that, you know,’ exclaimed Wilding indignantly. ‘ Weeping all over the place won’t improve matters, and will only make you look a worse fool than nature intended, when you go out of the room. If you have put your foot la it, at least try to bear misfortune like a man. Look here,’ angrily, ‘if you are going to keep up this hideous boohooing I’ll leave the room, and you, too, to your fato. It’s downright indecent. They will hear you in tho next house if you don’t moderate your grief.’ As the nearest house was a quarter of a mile off, this was severe. ‘ I shouldn’t care if they beard me in the next town,’ said Mr Snooks, who was quite too for gone for shame. ‘There is just one chance for you, and only one,’said Wilding slowly. ‘I have an idea, and you must either follow it, or —go to the altar,’ ‘ I’ll follow anything,’ eagerly. * What is it!’ . * 'ron have proposed to Miss Katie, solemnly. ‘ Now go, and propose to the other three V

As Wilding gave vent to his idea he turned abruptly on his heel and left the room.

* I'll do it,’ said Snooks valiantly, drying his eyes and giving his breast a tragic tap, ‘ whatever oomea of it.’

Going into the hall, he saw Hetty standing near an entrance ; a little way beyond her was Katie, conversing with a tall and lanky youth. Not daring to glance in the direction of the latter, who plainly expected him to come straight to her on the winas of love, he turned and asked Hetty to dance.

They danced, and then (it was a custom with the ball-goers in that mild suburban neighbourhood) he drew her out under the gleaming stars and up the avenue that a few minutes since was the scene of her sister’s happiness. There ho proposed in due form, and was again accepted. Hetty’s conduct, indeed, was perhaps a degree more pronounced than Katie’s, because she laid her head upon his shoulder, and he feit he was by all the laws of sentiment bound to kiss her. Her noee looked lovely in the pale moonlight ; so I daresay he did not find the fulfilling of this law difficult.

After that he had some more, a good deal more, champagne ; and then he proposed to Miss Georgia, who also consented to be bis There now remained but one other step to be taken. He crossed the room, and asked the youngest Miss Browmigg to dance. He was getting rather mixed by this time, and was on the very point of asking her to marry him instead, so customary hid the question frown to him now. Miss Lily, however, cclined to dance, on the plea that she was tired „and could exert herself no more that night. With questionable taste he pressed the matter, and beggal her to give him one, just one. At this she told him frankly she did not admire his style of danoing, which, of course, ended the conversation. So he asked her to come for a stroll instead ; and having arrived at the momentous spot, delivered himself of the ornate speech that bad already done duty three times that night. I forget what it was, but 1 know it wound up with the declaration that he adored her, and wanted to marry her. (To ie continues)