LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2437, 27 January 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

JACK’S WlFifl,

[From "London Secioty,”]

( Concluded .)

* I’m afraid it was only the gratification of having a chat with you, Lird Pinkerville, and of receiving those lovely flowers,’ and burying her pert little nose in the bouquet, Georgie smiled mischievously at her interrogator. * Upon my word, Mias Sandhurst, you are too overwhelming—too complimentary, you know, I mean. It is unspeakably delightful to find oneself so flatteringly appreciated—above all, by your too charming self! Well, good-bye, aw revoir,’ ' How can you say such things, Mias Georgia?’ cried Jack, as they glided onward ; ‘ and to a man whom you pretend you don’c like,’ ‘That’s just exactly why,’ she retorted recklessly. *if 1 catvd for him the least bit, of course I should behave as if I didn’t.’

‘ But why, in heaven’s name ?’ ‘ Because all girls do, ’ said Georgie, with conviction. ‘ It’s a way we have.’ Upon which Jack mused awhile in alienee. Presently he said : ‘There’s only one more station, I think ?’

‘And two more deputations,’ answered she. ‘ I was obliged to give them both the same place of rendezvous. They are Fred Forrester and his cousin Harry Fielding.’ * And they have both of them "applied,” as you call it, to Mr Sandhurst ?’ ‘Not at all. They both "applied ”to me personally, hut at different times. And I told both of them the same thing —that I couldn’t make up my mind just then ; and they both said they’d wait till I did.’ ‘ How nice of them ! And do you know why yon have asked them to meet yon this evening V

‘ I said T had a parcel to leave on my way for Lolly Forrester ; and If they would walk down to the station to meet this train I would give it to them. Here’s the parcel; it’s a silver looket for Dolly.’ And she opened a small travelling bag, and produced thence a little packet tied up with a blue ribbon, and inscribed, ‘ with best Christmas wishes for dear Dolly.’ * For Invention of detail, if not for boldness of design, Miss Georgie, you beat every diplomatic artist it has ever been my fortune to hear of. ’

‘That is a far more handsome cimpliment than you have paid me .yet, Mr Jack. But now, pray observe, and lend me your “most considered counsels,” for these are the two likeliest applicants for tha vacancy. Why, there’s Fred alone; where’s Harry ? I don’t see Harry, ’ * May there not have been "pistols for two and coffee for one ” ordexed on receipt of

!your don bio .barrelled Invitation ? People who play such dangerous games aa yours must expect tragic denouement* now and then, yon know.’ ‘v\ hat a nuisance 1* she exclaimed peevishly. ‘ Now that puts me all out of my reckoning. And it’e jast Harry I like beat of all!’ ‘ " Ye a’ould ha’e told him that before 1” ’ snug Jack aggravatingly. * “ ’lwaa ever thus from childhood's hour. I” ’ ‘ Do bo quiet !’ cried Qeorgle, quite fierce. And putting her head out of the coupe window ns the (rain entered the station, ‘Why, Fred!’ she exclaimed, with but scant ceremony, * where’s Harry ?’ ‘ Merry Christmas, Georgia? It’s getting quite dark. I should never have found you out if yon hadn’t hailed me.’ ‘ Merry Christmas to you Fred, Here’s Jack Burton going home with me. And here’s my Ctriitmas present for Dolly. I know she wanted a big silver locket, so I got her one. My love and best wishes with It. But I thought Harry would hive been here too.’ ‘Ah, Qeorgie, I see you don't pet the latest telegrams from this populous locality. That silver locket of yours will conta’n somebody’s photograph before it bath been twenty-four hours in my fair sister’s possession, else I am content “to be put down an ass.” ’ ‘ What! Dolly—your conaln Harry 1’ ‘ Precisely. The state of the case could not have been more correctly or more succinctly put. My sister Dorothy has pledged herself to become the property of my cousin Harry on the shortest notice consistent with the convenience of certain dressmaking and confectionery establishments. And be charged me to say all that was amiable {to you on his behalf, and to tell you that Dolly particularly wished him to stay with her this evening to help in the decoration of the rooms, and he had to obey orders. ’ For a moment Georgie’a self-possession seemed hardly equal to the emergency. Jack’s eye was on her, and she knew it, and Hashed crimson from throat to brow. Then with a visible eff.rt, and Ups whose trembling betrayed her emotion, or perhaps her annoyance only. ‘ Why, this,’ cried she, *is Indeed a snr prise 1 Unless you are joking, Fred V ‘ Not a particle of joke in the matter, Georgie; it’s a real genuine sale of bona fide articles. But as you sapiently observe, it is a surprise, and one of very recent date. The engagement was only announced to me yesterday, and the world—that is to say, the county—will probably not be informed of it until after Christmas week. Bo don’t go and let it out prema--1 turely; for Dolly and her young man are deuced shy, and they want to get all the snap-draton and plum-pudding over before stating the case in public. Well, you’re off, I see ; shall I meet you to-night ?—carpetdance at your place. Button, and Tom’s asked me. Dolly and Harry will come too ; but mind, Georgie, and you too, old 1 fellow, mum’s the word. Ta-ta till nine o’clock.’ And again the train sped on, and the last 1 of Georgie’a ‘candidates’ was loit in the fast-gathering gloom of the winter twilight. She leaned back in her seat, silent, and 1 doubtless piqued. Was it only pique. Jack wondered, or had she really cared for the ' recal itrant Harry f She was candid; it wonld not, he thought, be difficult to get at the truth. Better to break the pause [ bravely. 1 ‘ It’s very remiss of me, Miss Georgie, but 1 I have actually quite forgotten to ask the question Fred put to you just now, and | which, by the way, you did not answer. Are you coming to our dance to-night ?’ * Certainly. Didn’t I te : l Lord Pinkorville 1 that this very evening I should make use of 1 his nosegay V | * Come/ thought Jack, ‘if she can danee ‘ she’s not so very hard hit.’ * And,’,'continued Georgie, with cons'der--1 able warmth. ‘ I wouldn’t miss going now on 1 any account, just to let Harry know that I have heard of his engagement, and that I don’t care a pin I’ , ‘ Of oonne, that’s the proper and amiable spirit to show,’ returned Jack approvingly. 1 But you see the trampled worm will turn occasionally.’ * You are odious, with your quotations and proverbs and morals!’ cried she, with vehemence. ‘lt’s not more than a month since Harry spoke to me last, and begged for an answer. And I said—well, I don’t ’ quite remember what, but it was much the same as I had said before, and he ought i at least to have waited till I set him free.’ ‘ 1 ut he was never bound,’ expostulated Jack, with some reason. ‘ Well, I don’t care. I daresay I should have refused him after all; and I hope Dolly and he will be happy. But he was i certainly the nicest in the catalogue. Fred’s no good, and I hate all the rest; and I get s out at the next station. How dark it is ! and so awfully cold too,’ Jack leaned forward and closed the i window, which had remained lowered since they left the last station. As he reseated himself a gleam of light from a roadside i lamp flashed upon Georgie’s face, and he , saw her brown eyes weie fixed steadfastly on i him.

‘ Georgie, do yon remember building sand* houses down by the brook at Longdorne with me when we were children ? Yon were a flirt even then, and I used to suffer terrible pangs of jealousy in consequence of the way in which you would carry on with young Hawthorne. ’ * Yes, Jack ; and you and he had a fight about it in the long meadow, and I looked on; and we all had cake and damson wine together aftewards under the elm. O, I remember it perfectly, and lots of things besides. Are you ever jealous of me now, Jack ?’ * Little brazsn jade!’ thought Jack. * What girl in the world save Georgie would dare ask a man such a question as that under the circumstances ?’ Bat he answered aloud, ‘ I have no right to be jealous now ; and besides, are you not about to dismiss all your admirers ?’ * Yes. I shall live and die an old maid. Old maids are often much happier than wives. I shall build a model hospital for poor women, and appoint woman physicians to attend them, and institute an Order of Mercy for the bettar prelection of animals, and do lots of things 1 am always thinking about, and longing to do and to seo done. And it would be better far to make the world happier and more human than to marry some stupid man, and do and be what every ordinaiy house-keeping, stockingdarning, married woman does and is a'l the world over. ’ *lf you married the right man, Georgie, he would take an interest in such things as those you name, and woull help yon. A man’s help is not to ba despised in schemes which concern public benefit. Man and wife may do more good works together than a woman could do alone. And she might have both good works and husband’s love to brighten her womanhood.’ ‘ Yes ; but I know no man who would interest himself in these things. Certainly none of those we have seen to-day, except, perhaps, the old General—for my sake, yon know. Bat we thonght him too old. And there are no more candidates.* ‘Georgie, there is another candidate.’ * Another ? No, Jack ; there were six, and Harry didn’t come, and the next station is home.’ * The sixth candidate has come, Georgie, and is travelling with you. It is your old chum, Jack Barton. Are yon going to break my heart now as yon did in the old days ? Are you determined to wear the white flower all your life V Lights multitudinous gleamed from the windows and poured through the open halldoor of Longdorne Grange. Carriages followed one another in quick succession up the avenue leading to the house, and group after group of youthful figures flitted through the entrance, and clustered about it with laughter and jest and merry greeting ‘Bat Jack’s not home yet,’cried a voice. * Where’s Jack V 1 Ho should have been here an hour ago,’ said his brother Tom, * Can’t think what’s become of him I’ * Here’s Mr Sandhurst’s brougham coming up the drive,’ exclaimed another voice. * it’s Georgie !’ I’m glad she’s homo in time for this evening.’ ‘ Yea, it’s Georgie. And look, that’s Jack’s head out of the window I He’s with [berj only fancy 1’ The carriage rolled to the door and stopped. Then, pausing only to bestow a nod of familiar recognition on the garrulous spectators, Jack handed Georgie forth, resplendent in white silk and Christmas rests.

•So glad to Bee yon, Georgia J What a lovely bouquet! How did you come to meet Jack 7 Picked him up on the way ? Come Into the tea-room. Lovely moonlight night, isn’t ( it ?’ cried all the voices. In Dutch chorus.

‘ Jack, ’ said Mrs Burton, appearing at the tea-room door, * how late you are 1 We feared you had missed the train. You’ll have no time to drees before snap-dragon. Why, you are dressed!’ she cried, as hereon uncoated himself and appeared in orthodox evening g rb. ‘ It was my fault, |dear Mrs Burton,’ exclaimed Georgie, passing through the group at the doorway, and embracing the old lady. *He stopped to take care of mo. I came down by the same train. In the same carriage ; and so we went home together and raw uncle, and Jack changed his things while I dressed, and we cimo here in the brougham together.’ Something in Georgia’s eyes—a light unaccustomed, deeper and softer perhaps than hitherto—arrests the mother’s attention.

4 Together !’ she repeats doubtfully ; ‘ you came together? Jack,’ turning to her son, ‘Jack, my dear boy—’ But she stops abruptly, and asks no more; for she sees written on her son’s face the announcement for which she has so long waited in vain.

‘ Mother,’ he says, taking the girl’s hand in his, * I see yon have guessed the news already—Georgie has promised to be my wife.’

And Mrs Barton, pleased and proud because Jack la happy, takes the little flirt at once to her heart, and kieses her cordially, without a regretful thought for sober Kate Harries. What matter ?

Jack’s face says he is more than content, and Georgie’s eyes say she is serious ; and on Christmas eve, with the ohnroh bells swinging and the mistletoe on the wall, and the laughter of boys and girls echoing so gaily through the house, can she have a hard word or a oold look for the girl who is to be Jack’s wife ?