LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2130, 21 December 1880, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE MYSTEUT OF LORD BRACKENJSTJRY: A NOVEL. BY AMELIA B. EDWABDS, Author of "Barbara's History," ''Debenbarn's Vow," &c. ( Continued. CHAPTER XXII. MB MARRAJ3I,ES ON TJMBBBrLA.S. «My dear Miss Winifred, said Mr Marrables, pulling np sharply in the middle of the road, 'you are the very yonng lady to whom I had promised myself the pleasure of paying a visit. Pray forgive me for not taking off my hat to you. 'lt's all I can do, 'pon my honor, to hold him in with both hands. He is very fresh, you see— So—soho, Bory —good Bory! Charming morning—bright, eold, seasonable. Ten degrees of frost last night, my gardener tells me. And Miss Langtrey—l hope Miss Langtrey is well. For yourself I need not ask so unnecessary a question. You look all health and brightness —Aurora herself come down for a morning walk along the king's highway. You are going from home, I see. May I have the honor of taking you anywhere V ' You shall take me back to the Grange, Mr Marrables,' replied Winifred, setting down her basket somewhat carefully in the grass by the roadside, and producing a little rosy apple from the depths of her pocket. * I was on'y going to Mrs Pennefesther's, and that will do by-and-by. Good Bory ! see how gently he takes it. He will stand quite still now.' Mr Marrables shook his head, and protested that Miss Savage must not turn back for him.

'My business,' be (aid, 'is an affair of two minutes. If yon will allow me to drive yon to The Hermitage, we can despatch it by the way—"solvitur ambnlando," as we ■ay in the Classics. Or we can talk it over on this vary spot, if yon prefer it. Nay, my dear young lady, yon pamper Bory. He's open to any amount of petting and any number of apples—a most nnconscionsble beast I assure you.' It need scarcely be said that Mr Marrabies was not Mies Langtrey'a lawyer. Although that lady, after her brother's death, withdrew her business from the hands of Fawcett and Clarke, whom she profoundly distrusted, she never dreamed of transferring it to a firm which had not only been for two generations identified with the Brackenbury interests, but had borne a leading part in the ever-memorable lawsuit. Yet, notwithstanding that Mr Marrables had lived his life in the enemy's camp, Miss Langtrey did not personally dislike him. He was, on the contrary, one of the very few people with whom she might be said to • get on' quite pleasantly whenever they chanced to meet. An for Winifred and Mr Marrables. they were the best possible friends. Hers was a dull life, and the little , man amused her with his cheery laugh and inexhaustible flow of chatter. He was, besides, very courteous in his intercourse with ladies, and piqued himself on an antiquated gallantry that never failed to please _ them. Of conrse, he was a professed admirer of beauty, and being not only a professed admirer of beauty, but keenly appreciative of womanly grace and goodness, he was, equally of course, the devoted servant of Miss Savage. 'These apples were for the children,' said Winifred, remorsefully, ' and now I have but four left I No, Bory—that was positively the last. Well, if really and truly yon don't care about going to The Grange, Mr Marrables. ..." • Really and truly, Miss Winifred, I am glad not to make the little "detour "!' 'And if The Hermitage is not out of your way. . . .' ' I must, in any case, pass the end of the lane.'

' Then, as far as the end of the lane, I will gladly take advartage of your kindness. Stay ! I must first give you my masket. Take care! It is full of eggs." 'Eggs?' said Mr Marrables, plaoing it under the seat, and helping Miss Savage into the carriage ; 'it looks like flowers.' * Flowers above : eggs below—a combination of poetry and prose. And now, Mr Marrables, please tell me why yon were coming to see me this morning ?' ' More, In truth, for the pleasure of paying my respects to yon, Miss Savage, than from actual necessity. I could as well have sent over the same clerk who went to yon the other day for your signature ; but I preferred to wait upon you myself—merely, however, to inform yon that we have opened an account for yon at the Old Bank, and that the sum of £12,000 is duly paid In to yonr credit. Also, I have brought yon a cheque book and a pass book—two very useful little volumes.'

Winnifred took them, half shyly. * A cheque book ?' she said. * Fancy my having a cheque book—l who never had any money in my life!' * Everything mnst have a beginning ; and twelve thousand pounds is not a bad beginning for one so young and bo fair a capitalist '

•Ahl bat when the mortgage Is paid off—*

Having for the moment forgotten how this matter of the mortgage had been kept private, she checked herself confusedly. ' Perhaps yon did not know there was a mortgage,' she said. ' Why, yes, I knew there was something of the kind. We lawyers hear most of those things, yon know. But, bless me I mortgages are as common as blackberries. Show me the old property nowadays that is not mortgaged.' ' I am glad you know it,' said Winifred, simply. 'I am glad to be able to talk to yon about it. May I ask yon one or two questions, Mr Marrables.' ' Miss Winifred, yon may ask me a thousand. What do you want to know V 'Well—l have always wanted to know why we ever went to law at all with old Lord Brackenbury's father. To me it has never seemed reasonable. The piece of land on whioh they found the land was sold and done with, like any other that people sell. If we sold our family portraits, and one of them turned out to be a Vandyke or_ a Holbein, we should not go to law about it.' ' My dear young lady,' said Mr Marrbles, 'if yon ask me many such questions, we shall have to take a driving tour together, in order to give me time enough to answer them. But I will do my best to explain the position—though, indeed, it is a matter not only diffionlt to explain, but difficult to understand when explained. Yon may, perhaps, have heard of such a thing as 'an attendant term.' • Never.'

' Ah, well—an attendant term used to be one of the standing mysteries of English law. It was a—a kind of contrivance, whereby jointures and the portions of yonnger children were secured by the creation of what were called " terms " of years —terms of two, three, or even five hundred years. When these terms had seived their purpose, instead of being merged in the freehold, they were assigned to separate trustees 'to attend the inheritance ;' and every time the estate changed hands, whether by devolntion or sale, these terms were re-asßigned to new trustees, in order to protect the new possessor from any possible flaw in his title. Do yon follow me?'

'N—no ; not exactly.' ' I should be surprised if you did,' Baid Mr Marrables drily. 'To put it differently then —an " attendant term " was a kind of legal umbrella which the lawyer held over his client's head ; not because it waß ever likely to rain ; but in case it could, would, should, or might rain.' ' What an absurd thing.' ' Not only absurd, but clumsy—whioh :'» worse. However, this ridiculous contrivance was abolished by Act of Parliament seme twenty years ago—a most sensible measure; the effect of which 'was as if an Act had been passed providing that umbrellas should be abolished, and that what had hitherto been called umbrellas should oease to be deemed umbrellas, and should not need to be specially held up ; bnt should henceforward be held to have the same effect as If they were held up. Well, my dear Miss Winifred, that unlnoky bit of land, you see, was sold under the old law, and yonr great-uncle's solicitor (a most worthy man—l knew him from a boy) neglected to put up the umbrella.'

1 And then it rained ?" * Precisely—l see yon take me this time. Well, now, if that bit of land had been a 3 worthless as it looked, no one would ever have thought; of inquiring whether the umbrella had been put up or not. It turned np, however, to be immensely valuable The late Squire put himself into the hands ; of Fawcstt and Clarke ; Kawcett and Clarke, like sharp men of business, found out the omission—and thereby hung the lawsuit. No—no—no .... no thanks. I am only delighted if I have really made it olear to you.' * I certainly seem to know more about it than I ever knew before,' said Winifred, hesitatingly, ' Thanka to my story of the umbrella ; not my joke, however—oh, dear, no I—l never said anything half bo witty.' ' But—but I am afraid I find the joke more difficult than the legal formula.' Eh ?—you don't n:eau that ! No —no ; you don't mean that, my dear Miss Winifred.' * I know I am very stupid,' said Winifred. ' I would not hear your enemy say so Hamlet, you know ; Hamlet. But, in truth, an "attendant term" would be a tough morsel for Minerva herself. There was something else you wished to ask me." ' Only abont paying off the mortgage. Must I write a cheque for the money ?' ' You will have to write a cheque in the first instance, undoubtedly ; but yonr proper course will be to lodge the amount with Miss Langtrey's solicitor, and depute him to settle the matter. ' My aunt wishes to pay Mr Fawcett herself, * said Winifred. * Herself! How do you mean ? Not personally— ** argent comptant " V 'Yes, just that—"argent comptant,"' replied Winifred, laughing. ' I believe she means to take that opportunity of giving Mr Fawcett what she calls a "piece of her mind.'" Mr Marrables looked aghast. 'A piece of her mind ? Gracious heavens 1 My dear young lady, you must, at all costs, prevent your excellent aunt from doing anything of the kind. To give a lawyer a piece of one's mind is like shaving a tiger or_ putting a pinch of salt on an alligator's tail. She would be sure to say something that was objectionable. Besides, it is out of the regular course. These things are always done by lawyers. Yon must positively persuade Miss Langtrey to give np the idea.' 'I will try,' said Winifred, 'but I don't think it will be of much use. No, please, Mr Marrables, don't turn down the lane. I would rather walk to the house.' They had reached the top of a lane complete overarched by trees, many of which were yet in russet leaf. A little way down this lane a hobbled donkey was browsing by the roadside, and, farther on, a thatched roof peeped above a clump of evergreen bashes. Mr Marrables pulled up; held Kory tightly in hand while Miss Savage alighted; and gave down her basket. * You are sure there is nothing else you wished to ask me ?' he said, noting a wistful look in her face. She hesitated. * I—l suppose I can never get any money unleas Igo the bank for it— ?' she asked. (To be continued.') The " Graphic " says : —" Dolls modelled after Sara Earnhardt are being imported. They can also be used for crochet needles." Prof. Tyndall has a theory regarding hay fever. He thinks it is brought on by drinking liquor out of a jug kept in a barn.