LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2564, 27 June 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

OUR DERBY SWEEPSTAKES. ‘ Bob I’ I shouted. No answer. 4 Boh !’ A rapid crescendo of snores ending In a prolonged gasp, ‘ Wake up, Bob !’ ‘What tho deace is the row?’ said a sleepy voice. ‘ It’s nearly breakfast-time !’ I explained •Bother breakfast-time!’ said the rebellious spirit in tho bed. ‘ And hero’s a letter, Bob,’ said I.

‘Why on earth couldn’t you say so at once ? Come on with iton which cordial Invitation I marched into my brother’s room, and perched myself upon the side of hts bod.

* Here you are,’ said I ; ‘lndian stamp Brindisi postmark. Who is it from ?’ ‘Mind your own business. Stumpy,’said my brother, as ho pushed back his curly tangled locks, and after rubbing his eyes, proceeded t.< break the seal. Now if there is one appelaoion for which above all others I have a p ofcur.d contoxpt, it is this one of ‘ Stumpy.’ Some miserable nurse, impressed by the r dative proportions of my round grave face and little mottled legs, had dubbed ma with tho odious nickname in the days of my childhood. I am not really a bit more stumpy than any other girl of seventeen. On tho present occasion I rose in all tho dignity of wrath, and was about to dump my I rothor on tho head with the pillow by way of remonstrance, when a look sf interest in his face stopped me. ‘ Who do you think is coming, Nelly?’ he said. ‘An old friend years.’ ‘Whot! from India? Not Jack Hawthorne ?’

‘Even so ’ said Bob ‘Jack Is coming back and going to stay with us. He says he will be here almost as soon as his letter. Now don’t dance about like that. You’ll knock down the guns, or do some damage. Eeep quiet, like a good girl, and sit down here again. ’ Bob spoke with all the weight of the two-ftad-and-twonty summers which had passed over his towsy head, so I calmed down and settled into my former position. ‘Won’t It be jolly ?’ I cried. ‘But, Bob, the Jait time ho was here be was a boy, and now he is a man. He won’t be the same J aok at all. ’

‘ Well, fo? that matter,’ said Bob,’ you were only a girl then—a nasty little girl with ringlets, while now— ’ ‘ What now 7’ I asked. Bob seemed actually on the eve of paying me a compliment. ‘ We!), you haven’t got tho ringlets, and you are ever so much bigger, you see, and nastier.’

Brothers aro a blessing for one thing There Is no possibility of any young getting unreasonably conceited if she be endowed with them.

I thick they were all glad at breakfast time to hoar of Jaok Hawthorne’s promised advent. By “all "I mean my mother and Elsie and Bob. Our oonslu Solomon Barker looked anything but over joyed when Imade the announcement in breathless triumph. I never theught of it before, bat perhaps that yenng man Is getting fond of Elsie, and la afraid of a rival; otherwise 1 don't see why snob a simple thing should have caused him to push away his egg, and declare that bo had done famously, in an aggressive manner

which at onoe thraw doubt upon his proposition, Q-raoa Maberly, Elsie’s friend, seemed quietly contented, as is her wont. As for me, I was In a riotous state of delight. Jack and I had been child ron together. He was lik ) an elder brother to me until he became a cadet and left ua. How often Bob aid he had edmbed oil Brown’s apple trees, while i sto >d benea' h and collected the spoil lu my little white pinafore. There war hardly a scrape or adventure which I could remomb r in which Jack did not figure ns a prominent character. But ho was Lieutenant Hawthorne now, had boon through the Afghan wa-, and wjs aa Bob said, ‘quite the warrior.’ Whatever would ho look like T Somehow the 1 warrior ’ had conjured up an idea of J«ck in full armor, with plumes on his head, thirsting for blood and hewing at somebody with an enormous sword. After doing that sort of thing I was afraid that ho would never descend to romps and charades and tho ether stock amusements of Hatherley House, Cousin Bel was ceitainly out of spirits during tho next few days. He could hardly be persuaded to make a fourth at lawntennis, but showed an extraordinary love of solitude Jand strong tobacco. Wo used to come across him in the most unexpected places, in the shrubbery and down by the river, on which occasions, if there was aiy possibility of avoiding ns, he would gsza rigidly Into the distance, and utterly ignore feminine shouts and the waving of parasols. It was certainly very rude of him. I got hold of him one evening before dinner and drawing myself up to my full height of five feet four Inches, I proceeded to give him a piece of my mind, a process which Bob characterises as the height of charity, since It consists in my giving away what I am most in need of myself. Cousin Sol was lounging In a rooking chair with the * Times ” before him, gazing moodily over the top of It into the fire. I ranged myself up alongside and poured in my broadside, * We seem to have given yon some offence. Mr Barker,’ I remarked, with lofty courtesy. ‘What do you moan, Nell?’ asked my consin, looking up at me in surprise. He had a very curious way of looking at me, had cousin Sol.

‘ Ton appear to have dropped our acquaintance,’ I remarked; and then suddenly descending from my heroics, 3 You are stupid, Sol! What’s been the matter with you ?’ t Nothing, Neil At least, nothing of any consequence, Xou know iuy meuical examinaion is in two months, and I am reading for It.’ 'O,’ said I, in a bristle of indignation, *if that's it, there’s no more to be said. Of course it you prefer bones to your female relations it’s all right. There are young men who would rather make themselves agreeable than mope _in corners and learn how to prod people with knives.’ With which epitome of the noble science o r surgery I proceeded to straighten some refractory antimacassars with unnecessary violence. I could see Sol looking with an amused smile at the angry little blue-eyed figure in front of him. ‘Don’t blow me up, Nell,’ ho said ; • I have been plncked once, you know. Besides,’ locking grave, ‘ yon’ll_have amusement enough when this—what is hla name? —Lieutenant Hawfchore comes.’

* Jack won't go and associate with mummies and skeletons, at any rate,’ I re marked. ‘Do you call him Jack?’ asked the student, ‘Of course I do. John sounds so stiff.

« O. it does, does it ?’ said my companion doubtfully, I still had my theory about Elsie running ?n my head. I thought I might try and set the matter in a more cheerful light. Sol had got up and was staring ont of the open window. I went over to him and glanced up timidly into hia usually good-humored face, which was now looking very dark and discontented. He was a shy man as a rule, but I thought that with a little leading he might be brought to cocfe'S. • Vonhe a jealous old thing,’ I remarked. The young man colored and looked down at me.

‘ I know yr.nr secret,’ said I boldly. • What secret ? ’ said he, coloring even more.

1 Never you mind. I know it. Let mo tell you this,’ I added, getting bolder : * that Jack and Elsie never pot on very well. There is [far more chance of Jack’s falling in love with me. We were always friends.’ If I had stuck the knitting needle which I held in my hand Into cousin Sol, he could not have given a greater jump. ‘ Coqd heavens !’ ho said, and I could soe his dark eyes staring at me ilyongh the twilight ; 4 do you really think that it la your sister that I care for ?’

‘Certainly,’ said I stoutly, with a feeling that I was nailing my colors to the mast. Never did a single word produce snch an effect Consin Sol wheeled round with a gasp of astonishment, and sprang right out of the window. He always had curious ways of expressing his feelings, but this one struck me aa being so entirely original that I was utterly bereft of any idea save that of wonder I stood staring out into the gathering darkness. Then there appeared looking in at me from the lawn a very much abashed and still rather astonished face.

‘ It’s you I oaro for Nell ’ said the face, and at once vanished, while I heard the noise of somebody running at the top of his speed down the avenue. He certainly was a most extraordinary young man.

Things went on very much the same at Hatherley House in spite of cousin Sol’s characteristic declaration of affection. He never sounded me as to my sentiments in regard to him, nor did he allude to the matter for several days. He evidently thought that be had dene all which was needed in such cases. He used to diccom pose me dreadfully at times, however, by-o-'ming and planting himself opposite me, and staring at me with a stony rigidity which was absolutely appalling. ‘Don’t do that Sol,’ I said to him one day ; ‘ you give me the creeps all over.’ 4 Why do I give you the creeps, Nelly ?’ said he. ‘ Don’t you like me ?’ ‘ O yea, I like you well enough,’ said I. * I like Lord Nelson, for that matter; but I shouldn’t like his monument to come and stare at me by the hoar. It makes me feel quite all-overish.’ 4 What on earth put Lord Nelson into your head ?’ said my cousin, ‘ I’m sure I don’t know ’ *Do you like me the same way yon like Lord Nelson, Well?’ ‘Yes,’ I sa'd, ‘only more.’ With which small ray of encouragement poor Sol had to be content, as Klsie and Miss Maberley came rustling into the room and put an end to oar tste-atete.

I certainly did like my cousin. I know what a simple, true nature lay beneath his quiet exterior. The idea of having Hoi Barker for a lover, however—Sol, whose very name was synonymous with bashfulness—was too Incredible, Why couldn’t he fall in love with Grace or with Elsie 7 r i hey might have known what to do with him ; they were older thau I, and coaid encourage him, or snub him, as they thought best. Grade, however, was carrying on a mild flirtation with my brother Bob, and Ebio seemed utterly unconscious of the whole matter. I have one characteristic recollection of my cousin which I cannot help introducing here, though it has nothing to do with the thretd of the narrative. It was on the occasion of his first visit to Hatherley House. The wife of the Hector called one day, and the responsibility of entertaining her rested with Sol and myself. We got on very well at first. Sol was unusually lively and talkative. Unfortunately a hospitable Impulse came upon him; ami in spite of many warning node and winks, he asked the visitor if ho might offbr her a glass of wine Now. as ill Inok would have it, our supply had just been finished, and though we kad written to London, a fresh consignment bad not yet arrived. I listened breathlessly for the answer, trusting she would refuse; but to my horror she accepted with alacrity. ‘Never mind ringing, Kell,’ said Sol, ‘l’ll act as butler and with a confident smile he marched into the little cupboard In which the decanters were usually kept. It was not until ho was well in that he suddenly recollected having heard us mention in the morning that there was none in the house. Hia mental anguish was so great that he spent the remainder of Mrs Salter’s visit in the cupboard, utterly refusing to come out until after her departure. Had there been any possibility of the winoproig having another egress, or leading anywhere, matters would not have been so bad ; but 1 knew that old Mis Salter was as well np in the geography of the house as I was myself. She staged for three-quarters of an hour waiting for Sol’s reappearance, and then

went away In high dudgeon. ‘My dear,’ she said, recounting the incident to her husband, and breaking into neml-scrlptural language in the violence of her Indignation, ‘ the cupboard seemed to opon and swallow him !’

‘ Jack is coming down by the two o'clock train.’ said Bob one morning, coming in to breakfast with a telegram in his hand. I could sec Sol looking at me reproachfully; but that did not preve.it me from showing my delight at the intelligence. ‘ Wo’ll hava awful fun when ha comos,’ said Bob. ‘ We’ll drug the fib-pond, and have no end of a lark. Won’t it be jolly, Sol T’ Sol's opinion of its jollity was evidently too great to be expressed in words j for he gave an Inarticulate grunt as answer. I had a long cogitation on the subject of Jack in the garden that morning. Afacr all, I was becoming a big girl, as Bob had forcibly reminded me. 1 must be circumspect In my conduct now. A real live man had actually looked upon me with the eyes of love. It was all very well when I was a child to |have Jack following me about and kissing mo ; but 1 must keep him at a distance now, I remember how he presented me with a dead fish once which he had taken out of the Hatherley Brook, and how I treasured it up among my most precious possessions, until an insidious odour in the house had caused the mother to send an abusive letter to Mr Burton, who had pro nonneed our drainage to be all that could be desired. I must learn to be formal and distant. I pictured our meeting to myself, and went through a rehearsal of It. The holly-bush represented Jack, and I approached it solemnly, made it a stately curtsey, and held out hand with, 1 So glad to see you. Lieutenant Hawthorne!’ Elsie came out while I was doing it, but made no remark. I heard her ask Sol at luncheon, however, whether idiotcy generally ran in fatnllies, or was simply confined to individuals; at which poor Sol blushed furiously, and became utterly incoherent in his attempts at an explanation. (To be continued.)