LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2718, 26 December 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

808 AND I—'ARCADES AMBO.'

A Stout of London Bohemia

in TWO PARTS. Part 11. ( Concluded.) When the hour drew near I dressed myself with care, and set out. I remember that I had on the identical coat which had caused us so much grief. Indeed, my whole appearance was very stylish. I reached Mr Capen’s door exactly at four o’clock. On turning round after knocking, whom should I see, on the steps of the house, but my would-be rival! I was astonished, mortified, disgusted. He appeared no less annoyed at seeing me. What could bring him there P At last I said, concealing my anger as best I could, ' Why do you come here ?’ ' Appointment with Mr Capen,’ replied he stiffly. ‘ So have I.’ ' Humph ?’ sneered he; and, ' Eaugh !’ sniffed I. Matters might have proceeded even further ; but at that moment the door was opened. We were ushered into the nondescript room on the ground floor, _ where we occupied ourselves each in staring at the other’s picture now hanging on the wall; and if Robert Daly’s countenance showed one-tenth part of the scorn and contempt depicted on mine, as I gazed at his ■wretched daub, it must have been expressive indeed. In a few minutes the servant returned. »Would Mr Maepherson please to walk into the dining room : Mr Capen would be there presently.’ I left the room with the menial, giving a triumphant glance at my would-be rival, who vainly attempted to hide his mortification by staring contemp--tueusly at the face of my divine Helen. The dining room, into which I was_ now ushered, was next to the one I had quitted. A pair of folding doors, which were of course closed, separated the two rooms. Mr Capen came in the next minute, and we shook hands. He seemed at a loss how to begin, which, with him, was a strange occurrence. I spared him the trouble, by commencing myself: 1 You received my letter, Mr Capen ?’ ‘ Well, yes, I guess I did.’ ‘ And I have come, as I said I would do, to receive your reply.’ < Ye-es, jes’ so.’ Mr Capen was certainly embarrassed. I felt for him. Poor man! he had probably never been in a similar situation before. I resolved to assist him.

‘ I see you are a little embarrassed, Mr Capen ; but I can understand it. I will, if if you like, waive all preliminaries, and consider the matter settled. That will put us both at our ease, will it not ?’ Mr Capen stared at me, but did not speak. ‘ And now, my dear air, or rather my respected father-in-law in fv.tv.ro, I am anxious to embrace your charming daughter. Where is she ? Up-stairs in the drawing room ? Had I not better go up at once P’ I added, anxious to bring the interview to a speedy end, for the poor man’s embarrassment was painful to behold. ‘ 'I guess you’d better not,’ said. Mr Capen suddenly, finding his tongue at last.

‘Why?’ I asked, as a vague sickening fear crept over me. » Why F ’Cause she don’t want to see you. She don’t want to marry you.’ ‘ Is it possible ?’ I gasped, laying hold of the mantelshelf for support. Mr Capen continued.

‘Yes, sir. I’m sorry to have to say it, ’cause I don’t want to hurt your feelin’s, but Patience won’t have nothin’ to say to you. Besides, I don't think you’re quite the man for her, anyway.’ ‘ But—Mr Capen,’ I pleaded, catching at the only straw I could think of, ‘do you remember what I wrote to you ? My family —my descent ?’ ‘ Oh yes, I remember all that ; but, with-, out wantin’ to offend ye anyway, that don’t matter to me a dura. You don’t want my daughter to marry your grandfather, or your great grandfather, if you’ve got one. You want her to marry you, and it’s you she’s got to look at. Seems to me, young mad, we’ve got hold of different ends of the. stick. You talk a deal about your family and your clan and all that, and I don’t care a cent what your fam'ly is no more than Adam.’

‘ Really sir, these are terrible opinions,’ I Ventured to observe.

‘Mebbe, but I’m too old to change ’em now. You see, sir, in America we rate a man for what he is, not for what his forefathers were; and we’ll take off our bats to the street-sweeper that’s made his way and showed his pluck, sir, where we won’t touch ’em to a man who’s got a houseful of grandfathers, and can’t push his own road through life. Yes, sir, that’s what we think over in America. And. now I guess, young man, you’d best give up all thought of marryin’ my girl. Pact is, when she does marry she’ll marry someone else; she’s engaged to him already.’ I sank down on a chair, but could not speak. My emotions were too deep for words.

■ ‘ About that emigration scheme, now, you were takin’ such an interest in. I guess that drops through,’ eh ?' I nodded, but could not answer him in words. ‘ Well,' he said, ‘ I'm kinder vexed about that; I wanted to do you a good turn.’ And so he went away.

I remained sitting where he had left me, trying to collect my thoughts. It certainly was a fearful rebuff ; it seemed incredible that father and daughter should be insensible to the advantages which a union with a man of my family and descent presented. But as I grew calmer I was able to.make allowances for them. They were kind, well-meaning people, it is true, but ignorant, terribly ignorant, and unlearned in the ways of the world on this side of the Atlantic. I began even to feel a certain pity for them. It was a good thing, however, I reflected, that they were mere strangers—birds of passage—so that there was no chance of the story of my defeat ever being bruited about: there was a decided consolation in that. Well, it was all over, and perhaps under the circumstances it was as well that it should be so. Patience, with a little training from me, would have made a charming wife, I admitted, but Old Steeve would have become a terrible infliction. Amusing as an acquaintance, he would have been very trying as a father-in-law. Certainly on the whole I felt reason to be satisfied with things as they had turned out. All at once a fearful idea struck me. She was engaged to someone else; her father had said so. Who could it be ? Who but Eobert Daly ? Quick as lightning the events of the last few days flashed across my brain. My rival’s visits, the letter he had in his hand the day before, his presence there at that moment —it was all convincing. He was the accepted lover, I the rejected suitor. Heavens, how bitter ! It was the deepest degradation. To think that I, a Macpherson of Loonie, a descendant of the Clan Kattan, should have been refused in favor of this upstart Irishman ? I writhed in my armchair. While I was struggling with my misery I heard voices-in the next room—Mr Capen’s and the man Daly’s. I was on the alert in an instant. The sounds reached mo but indistinctly where I was sitting; but I recognised the voices. There was a sofa placed against the folding doors, and I went and seated myself there. I did not go there to listen—l am too much of a gentleman to do anything of the kind—but, as it happened, from my position I could hear distinctly all that was spoken in the next room. ‘ And is there no chance ?’ said Eobert Daly in a stifled voice. 1 No, I guess not,’ replied Old Steeve. ‘ I couldn’t speak to her, could I ?’

‘ She ain’t in fclie house. Besides, it would’nt do any good ; my girl is very well fixed up as it is. And though ye are of the old Milesian blood, I guess it wouldn’t make any difference to her.’ A groan from Daly. Balm to my ■wounded spirit! 'That emigration sc’eme ’ll have to slide, I guess,’ said Mr Oapen next. r Ye won’t go on with it now, oh ?’ A murmur of assent from poor Daly. * 'Well, sir, in that case, good day to ye.

I’m sorry I can’t say any bettor ; but ye see, another man has got her, and you’ll have to make the best of it. Good day, sir.’

Poor Daly, in a broken voice, returned his salutation, and Mr Capen went away. The next minute I heard my late rival in love, now my companion in rejection, get up and move towards the door. I rose too. We met in the passage. By a common impulse, our hands clasped. Wo said nothing ; but we felt we were friends again. It was Bob and I once more. We went down the street arm in arm as of yore, and every step I took brought comfort with it. I had nothing to complain of now. If I had been refused, so had Bob. If she were not fair to me, what did I care how fair she might be, as long as Bob was in the same fix as myself ? This might be selfish, but I could not help it. Bob did not speak a word all the way home, and I was too much absorbed in my own thoughts to wish to disturb him. We were quits again ; our rivalry was at end. I felt quite jubilant, and resolved to say nothing about the folding-doors. ' Bob, old boy,’ I said when wo reached home, ‘ I suppose she has refused you r' ' Yes, she has, indeed; or rather old Capon did for her,’ replied Bob gloomily. ‘ No chance, eh ?’ * I don’t know what you call a chance. She’s going to marry someone else.’ ' Who is it ?’

‘ Jake.’ 'What ? That horrid-pawed creature with the leviathan beetle-crushers ?’ * Just him. It’s almost past believing/ • Well, I wish her joy of him,’ I said jauntily. Bob did not answer. Poor fellow, he was certainly a good deal cut up. I felt quite grieved for him, and patted him on the back encouragingly. « I’m very sorry for you. Bob, old boy ; but really you had no chance in that quarter. You must have been blind to think she cared for you in more than a general way.’ Bob stared at me queerly. I went on quite consoled and happy myself, and enjoying the part of Mentor immensely. ‘ I really hope this will be a lesson to you. Bob, not to imagine yourself irresistible. You have not cut a yecy distinguished figure in this little affair; in fact, if you will excuse me for saying it, my dear boy, you have simply made an utter fool of yourself about that girl.’ Bob stared at me again, and burst out with a laugh. He grinned at me. “ Arcades ambo ” —shepherds both, my boy!’ I had forgotten the folding-doors.