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•WITH WHICH IS IfJCot^pori^T^n ^ '^0 JSEHOLD'WOHDS '^^ " ""• •' ••' '•• ^^ No. 393. NEW SERIES. SATURDAT, JUNE 10, 1876. r • •„, -... -jm to Mr. Pringle, whom he fonnd iu the PH(EBE: GIRL AND WIFE. most desponding state, and with whom he DY PERCY FITZGERALD, condoled. " I confess," he said, artfully, " I did not expect that yon would behave in this CHAPTER XXX. PHffiBE FINDS A FEIEXD. way to our Phosbe — a charming little 1 TOWARDS evening, as Tom Dawson was creature that might be a duke's wife. sauntering towards his hotel, he camo upon Tou were pledged to her in the most that pleasant nobleman. Lord Garterley, solemn way, and If she withers and pines, who often " ran over," at a day's notice, to and perhaps dies, you will feel—well—more have a week's enjoyment. Here, again, than uncomfortable. It seems like a moral he waa pressed to join a " little dinner," murder." ' which, however, he declined, as he honestly " But what am I to do ?" said the other, declared later to a friend that " it was piteously. " Every ono wants to force me absurd -going abroad to dine with people into this business; my own people—and whom you could dine with at home any this—this *' day." He, however, gave Lord Garterley "' This tremendous family,' you would say, his arm " for half a boulevard or so," who are not to be trifled with physically ? during which time, in answer to the I mnst say people rather wonder at yonr friendly question of " How is our little bit taste. This woman—for she is no girl— of Chelsea at home getting on?" he was who has been offered to halt a hundred able to tell him how matters stood. men, would throw you over to-morrow if " It can't be, and shan't be," said Tom, something better offered. In fact, I believe " and there's an end of it. If it's not at this moment they would bo glad to put given up I'll pnt it into Yiscount Galons' you aside for another person, whom I know hands, and make it a small-sword business. pretty well." Men can't shirk out of theso things here Mr. Pringle listened eagerly, and with the way they do in England." somo wonder, at these promptings. Again Lord Garterley listened with much in­ he asked what was he to do ? how was terest, and declared that fie would do his a man to act, worried and persecuted in best to co-operate. " I am staying at the this way on all sides? Bristol also," he said, " and can pnt in my " Do ? " said Lord Garterley; "why, are word." you not pledged to this young girl ? Tou On parting, however, with his friend. must do the right thing, ot course. I will Lord Garterley grew thoughtful, and a be glad to help you if I can." smile came upon his large month. He was The good-natured old lord had taken a rather a humorous old nobleman, and loved prodigious fancy to Phcobe, and had ac­ what he called a bit of comedy for its own tually formed a hazy notion of putting her sake. He had nothing to do at that time, down in his will for a small legacy—a and he could not resist carrying ont a little plan he was always forming with respect scheme that had come into his head. to his temporary favourites, and which That very evening Lord Garterley talked amused him; so, after walkmg about

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tlie gay streets for some time with a time he might have been gla-d to .see apy smile, he came to a certain resolution. In young folks made happy. his early days he had been an attache When the lover arrived on his " parade" in this very city, and had acquired «, visit he was astonished to find the results taste for treating ordinary social matters of this call exhibited a little rairiously. with a diplomatic finesse; and now The family were rather silent. The efEect he was not disinclined to see if his old of his own diificultiea had been to make talent had rusted. " I'll try it," he said him moody and "put him out." Hewas to himself as he entered the Bristol, and, in fact, all the time casting about in his to the amazement of the Baddeleys, with mind for some opportunity of expressing whom he had been on the coldest terms, discontent with things in general. Lideed, paid them a visit. There was a twinkle as we have seen, the family, once the in his eye that might have been taken to matter had been finally arranged, began to mean mischief. treat him with a friendly brusqueness and He was received with genuine welcome, lack of ceremony which he did not relish. for he was associated with a cherished Lady Baddeley had at once proceeded, with pursuit. Without much preface, he entered the slang phrase of her own son, " to come on the subject of the marriage, in a gay, the mother-in-law," which she did with good-humoured way that hovered between a power that there was no resisting. She jest and earnest. He was fall of com­ quite put him aside, and outside of her pliments to the bride. arrangements. "Ah!" he said suddenly, "what an On this occasion the floor of the saloon at inconstant yonng lady. My poor nephew the Bristol was covered with open trunks, —no one thinks what is become of him. from which materials of dresses overflowed. But I suppose that is an old story now." One of Mr. Worth's agents had just gone The future bride cast down her eyes away, and indeed the family were embarked and tried to look embarrassed. on the anxieties and troubles of ordering The mother shook her head; then added, a complete trousseau from that artist. in a mysterious half-whisper, " The poor The cost of this luxury the Baddeley child," she said; "it was a great, a terrible family would be quite unequal to dis­ struggle." charging ; but the lady had required that Lady Baddeley here worked the port­ a large sum in hand, under the denomina­ able signal-post with which she communi­ tion of outfit, should be handed over to cated with her daughters in presence of the young people. After they were once company, and the young ladies retired. raarried, as Lady Baddeley remarked, it " Poor Jack will take it to heart, I am did not much matter, as of conrse the sure," he said. " You know I always op­ young man must pay for them, if the ac­ posed the matter for reasons of my own. count was not discharged before. But now that the thing is settled I may "Now, my good friend," said her lady­ say I admired his constancy, and I declare ship, " what do you want ? Don't yoni I don't know but that in time he might see we are up to our eyes in work ? Yon- have softened me." are only in the way here." '^ Lady Baddeley started, and felt a sort In his present mood he did not relish of pang at her heart. She then began to this tone, and answered, "When these be very confidential with her visitor—there things will have to be paid for, you willte was a time when she used to call him perhaps glad that I should be in the way." "my dear creature"—and with an over­ The answer was an amused stare. powering confidence began to pour out " Why, of course. I suppose you wonld all her difiiculties and distresses, saying wish your wife to be properly dressed? that poor Florence was distracted and By the way," and Lady Baddeley only scarcely got any sleep of nights, that she thonght of the idea that instant, "we was being sacrificed, that poor girls must may have to put off the wedding. be married, and were not entitled to have Nothing is ready, and it will take weeks any feelings. Then she went off into to get things into order." some artful inquiries as to the lover: Here was a reprieve. But he was ui where was he ? what was he doing ? &c. ill-humoiir. This was a cavalier mode of But the old peer could not be got to say doing things without consulting him, a3 more than that it was a pity that young though he were a mere cipher. people could not be happy in their own way; and that he didn't know but that in "You seem to settle all these thinga any way you Uke," he said. "All my f ^h OharlflS Dlakeiia.) PHCEBE: GIRL AND WIPE. [Jimo 10, 1876.] 291 arrangements are made; I cannot be run­ do, by declaring that she would break off, ning abont the Continent this way, back­ or wished to break off, with the Pringles. wards and forwards. It's realjy most— " Tho whole was certainly a rather cynical " It can't be helped," said the lady, specimen of tho principles that directed shortly. " Tou mustn't lose your temper this family. abont trifles, or you will make Florence's Meanwhile matters were to be very much life unhappy. But, at any rate, that's complicated by the sudden arrival of tho settled, and you mnst not worry us now." old lover, a Mr. Melville, who, to the When Mr. Pringle was alone, and in the great embarrassment of the family, flew street, the sense of his Indignities worked to the Bristol Hotel, and was there dis­ on him; and in the evening he made his covered by the regular fiance on one of appearance again, having prepared somo his parade visits. It wonld require some­ speeches of the most cutting description, thing approaching to genius to keep two this contemptuous setting him aside salmon in play withont breaking one line rankling very deep in his breast. Bnt at at least; and this was akin to the feat the same time it suddenly dawned on him that Lady Baddeley was called on to per­ that here was a prospect of release from form. 'The poor, devoted Phcebe, far all his embarrassments. Thus the subject away in her lonely London rooms, little of his wrongs might be fairly developed imagined of what a tangled intrigue sho into a coolness or quarrel; and he might was tho centre. be so much hurt and offended, as to find When the new-comer had gone, Mr. sufficient ground for withdrawing alto­ Pringle testily asked who he was, and, gether. Flushed with thia idea, he re­ with some infatuation, the too crafty lady, turned. taken by surprise, declared " that it " I have come," he said, " to say that I w.as only an old friend." He was some­ don't understand all this chopping and what pertinacious, when ho was answered, changing abont. It's really not respectful " Really, you are very curious. One of the to me. It wonld really be better, if you girls' partners—there." Unfortunately he are not satisfied -with the affair, to " met Lord Garterley within an hour or two, " To what ? " said Lady Baddeley, turn­ to whom he mentioned that he had left ing the full grenadier front upon him, and Mr. Melville with them. feing him with her eye of battle. " What! " cried tho peer. In genuine as­ Mr. Pringle did not relish the challenge, tonishment, " they have got him over, have so he shaped his phrjise, " Oh, to settle it they ? Well, I declare, after that! " one way or the other." He then asked the young man, " Was it The lady looked at him as though he possible he did not know of the trans­ were a child, and then said, soothingly, action ? " and with much enjoyment pro­ " Now don't talk nonsense, but go aud ceeded to put him in possession of all the take Florence for a walk." facts of tbe curious incident. That lady had a very disagreeable pro­ Mr. Pringle bu-rrled back, burning with menade. 'The fact waa, at that moment, eagerness to test or catch the family in a a letter was being written to a confidential trap, for his, as will have been long since agent in town, who was to seek out, and seen, was a mind of a very petty des­ sound the former pretendant; and thus cription. There was something malicious something tangible might be arranged. In his eyes that might have warned the But the lady who was conducting the party that mischief was coming. He intrigue knew too well the comparative brought the subject about again in a rather value of lovers in the hand, as com­ clumsy fashion that might have warned pared with those in the bush; and from them of the danger. previous skirmishes, in which she had had " Tour friend," he asked, " what has the worst, she also knew that Lord Gar­ become of him ? " terley could be as diplomatic as herself. It was seen that he was suspicious, and She was determined that there should be the junior ladies fell eagerly to soothing tio rupture of the present arrangement him. until the new one was perfected. Nothing, "I see," he said, artfully smiling, "a however, conld be done with Lord Gar­ partner at the balls." terley, and nothing more decisive extracted " Exactly," said the youngest, who had from him than what he had said on the latterly grown alarmed at certain symptoms first visit. Tet nothing could induce her of instability she had obserrcd, " only a to commit herself, as ho wished her to ball-room acquaintance—there." ^

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" I see," he said ; " so that's the story, is than sympathy in this adventure. Maa^ it? I'm to bo humbugged and hoodwinked thonght it "uncommon good," and reallj .in this stylo. But I know more than you enjoyed tho fact that the family shonlt think I do." have met with snch a repulse. Notbinp "Oh!" said the eldest, desperately trying indeed more awkward conld be imagined to repair the situation, " ho means Mr. or more damaging to the prospects of the Melville—yonr old beau, Florence." girls, whose remaining chances, like thf " That won't do," he said, scornfully, Sibyls' books, became more precious in ao " though very clever, as you think. I increasing ratio EIS the preceding ones were have no confidence in what you say. It's destroyed, and as the time for action grew most disrespectful to treat me in that shorter. style." Now the rescued Mr. Pringle was back At this juncture arrived Lady Baddeley, in London—free, emancipated. Tet snch as it were charging to restore the day so was his fitf ulness and uncertainty, that he hopelessly compromised by her girls. almost at once began to doubt whether he " Oh ! what nonsense you go on with! " had not been too hasty. The advantages she cried; " we are not going back into all began to present themselves in a very that. What If he were an old lover ? " tempting way. There was the connection " What! Tou suppressed all that from —an earl's son-in-law. The good society me?" and the dignity of the wife—Mr. and Lady "Florence, darling, he is jealous already! Florence Pringlesounded very melodiously. Ton ought to be flattered, darling." In fact he was the most purposeless, irre­ "Oh! that is very clever, but it won't solute, nndisoiplined of beings; a perfect do. Tou are now trying to catch him, and creature of impulse, a miracle of helpless keep me on at the same time." indecision. Nearly everyone, however, "Keep you on? Sir, are you not the after balancing between two courses, always affianced husband of my daughter ? " reverts with regret to the one rejected as "But I give It np. I break it all off being, after all, the most advantageous. now. After being deceived in this way, I In the same degree, too, as he thonght of wonld not wish to be connected with you. the flattering intimacy with the Baddeleys Mind, it is all at an end now, I give you thus rudely terminated, Phcebe and her notice." surroundings seemed to become invested Lady Baddeley actually laughed. '' This with a certain homeliness and even squalor. is very droll," she said, " bnt in very bad In short he was wretched again, and did taste. It won't succeed. Though you not know what to do. may not know your own mind with other Bnt when he arrived at the Berkeley- people, that won't do with our family." square mansion, and had to confront his But he had his back to the wall, as it family, the scene was of the most stormy were, and could be defiant. description. All the worst passions were "But it must do !" he said. "I have roused, and Sam Pringle's rage was beyond made np my mind. Tou deceived me, and bounds. "Cur, hound, low puppy," were the did not tell the truth when I asked you ; epithets launched at the head of his son; and now you are trying to keep me and this for Sam hsid grown insolent with the pos­ other man on together. I know the game." session of money and estate, and tyrannised Lady Baddeley tumed pale—the first over all about him, save, perhaps, the butler time for many years. (from Lord Mount St. Michael's) and the " Leave our room, sir !" she said. " This housekeeper. Their presence, economy of is now become a matter for my lord to words, and, perhaps, contemptuous in­ deal with." difference, awed him. Mr. Pringle had thus burned his boats ; The sou bore these attacks sulkily, with and, packing up his things, fled, rather such answers as that he " was old enough ignominiously, it must be said, from Paris. to do as he liked." CHAPTER XXXI. "HE COMETH HOT," SHE SAID. " Then you may get as old as you like, and do as you like, you low whelp, yonl' WITHIN a week the fashionable newspapers But you shan't have my money or estates had the story—mysteriously veiled, as is to do as yon like with. Tou like to grovel their wont, though everyone could under­ in the mud. Tou were always low. I'll stand. Everyone agreed that the Baddeleys be respected. I'll have my wishes carried had been " infamously treated," though out. Breeding up paupers, indeed ! " Then everyone seemed to find more amusement in a low, soft voice, " What ia it, Batts ? " 1S= .^ OturlM Dtokeui.] PHCEBE: GIRL AND WIPE. [Juno 10,1876.] 293

The butler from Lord Mount St. Michael's out and purchase those papers of fashion was standing at the door, not apparently to which her mother had purposely dis­ listening, though, as it were, accidentally continued subscribing, and began to search present at this unbecoming scene. those abundantly-communicative chroni­ " About the dinner to-day, sir," said cles for what would be interesting to her. Batts, respectfully. Her mother was lying down in the room " Tes, Batts, by-and-by. There, I dare­ next the drawing-room, taking her fore- say Batts, who has lived with tho beat dinner nap, when she waa aroused by a families, has never heard of such a thing cry, and, rushing in, found her daughter in all his experience—eh, Batts ? " with the fatal newspaper in her hand which " Oh, I say, I don't want the opinion ot announced tho arrival of the Baddeley a fellow like that," said the young man, family at the Bristol for the purpose ot cele­ angrily. brating the marriage of the Lady Florence The bntlerfromLordMonntSt. Michael's Croope with Alfred Pringle, Esq., &c. For was in an awkward position between the the next week or two broughams dark and compliment on one side and the insult on shining were drawn np In front of the the other. But he disposed of the matter house, Mrs. Dawson, when her child was with dignity: concerned, always turning on the medical " I ain't in yonr service, sir," he replied, relief In gushing streams, as it were. "so take no notice of tho remark. By- The illness was not of a serious kind; and-by you will leam to be less free with it was the shock that affected the slight your 'fellers.' Ten or twelve to dinner, and tender Phoebe. It was as though she sir ? " He then retired. had received some knock-down blow; and, "Now look here, sir,"said Sam Pringle, when she began to recover, she felt liko " if there be any of the old game with that one stunned. Her anxious mother, who woman Dawson and her chit of a girl, I'll was as impulsive as one ot the lower make an example of yon. Tou may both Celts iu the great cities, did not think so go begging, or sing ballads abont the much of the child's Illness as of vengeance streets, before you get a farthing from me. against the cause of It, and filled the air Tou shall do as I like, or " with angry denunciations. In vain she The young man dutifully said that he despatched telegrams and letters to Paris, wonld do as he liked. And thus the edify­ imploring for some information. The ing controversy went on, old Sam Pringle letters were unopened, for Tom, knowing being one of those weak bnt noisy persons the " governess's " handwriting, as usual, who think that to have the last word, or to putting off perusal. The telegrams, too, cause their guns to make more noise than which he expected were on racing those of the enemy, amounts to victory. matters; when the name of Phcebe met his eye, he assumed them to be "more AU this time Mr. Pringle kept putting of the governess's bothering; " and they off that visit to Phcebe, which he felt met the same treatment. When Tom, that he ought to make. It was cer­ therefore, returned at his own time, he tainly awkward, as he hardly knew what waa met with a tearful and reproachful to say. That little heroine had now become greeting. associated with all that was disagreeable and annoying. He vowed to himself that, " Why didn't you come ? Why didn't if he ever were extricated from his amatory you -write ? Poor, dariing Phrobe has been difficulties, he would keep clear of flirtation at death's door." for the future. " How was I to know ? " waa Tom's During these days Phosbe had been plain answer. " Bnt it's all right. The hoping, wondering, and, it must be said, match is off." beginning to pine, for the conviction was "What!" cried the delighted parent. coming home to her that she had been " Do you mean with the Baddeleys ? " deserted and forgotten. Her mother's She knew enough of Tom's rather in­ collection of artifices and excuses had coherent way of mixing np sporting been exhausted day by day, as no news matters with other subjects to put thia came from Tom, who never wrote to his queation. relations; and the poor child was now so " Tea," aaid her son; " I told you I'd agitated and flurried, that she determined do it. So out with yonr fiver." for once to act independently, and discover " God bless you, Tom ! What news ! for herself the true state of things. It Bat we must be cautious In telling her. was with thia view that she began to send And how did you manage It ? " =r cS 29-1. [Jimc 10, 1876.] ALL THE TEAR ROUND. [Conduoted 1);

"But hasn't the fellow been here?" Tom put his arm in his, and called said Tom. " I hope he's not still shii-king. hansom cab. No matter, I'll send him up." " Tou have not been to see Phoebe," 1 Then Tom proceeded to unfold what said, " and you here so long I Why, wh had occurred—very modestly, too—as a weathercock you are." though it were merely the result of natural " Oh ! I am no child or schoolboy to 1 causes ; and he wound up with the de­ lectured and bullied in this way," he sai claration ; " Do you suppose I can put up with thia p " I declare, I wouldn't have him at any " The poor child has been near dying, price; for of all the poor, pitiful curs I said Tom, gravely, " owing to yoi ever met witb, he's one. He don't know behaviour. That's not like a child < his own mind for two minutes together. schoolboy. Come, I don't want to bnll Tou can tnrn and drive him like a spaniel." yon, as you call It. But yon shall com '" That's no matter," said the delighted off and see her." mother; "you're the cleverest fellow in "I can't now," said the other, doggedlj the world, Tom, and I'm proud of yon." " Now look here," said Tom, slowly, "d The matron, later on, proceeded to the yon see those two men there, Hodgkinao] delicate task of breaking tbe news to and Pratt-Hawkins ?—if yon don't conu Phoebe, which she did with much skill— they'll have a story to tell that will be a] throwing a sort of haziness over the Bad- over the clubs before two hours." Ther defey engagement, as though it had been was a pause. " Come, my dear felloii all the time something unfinished and in­ Get in, there's a good lad. It's only a visi complete ; bursting into praises of the of charity." young man whose constancy had been Thus pressed, Mr. Pringle did get in invincible, and who had, at last, when and the hansom cab drove off. driven to the wall, as it were, burst loose Tom was an invaluable brother, and i and set father, mother, and all the Bad­ was a pity that the Baddeley girls had no deleys at defiance. Here he was now, auch a relative to protect and forwart returned, and ready to cast himself at her their interests; but, unfortunately, witl feet. What loving girl could resist this all his sagacity, he did not stop to refleci picture ! The colour came back to Phrobe's that a man thus " driven" was noi cheeks even as her mother talked. In the likely to prove the most amiable of com­ famih'ar phrase, all was forgotten and for­ panions to the person who was forced U given. accept him. He made no acconnt of thi The lover, to nee a title of pure courtesy, humiliation and mortification which thii was, as we have seen, not exactly in a compulsion would inflict on the victim oi mood that corresponded with these senti­ it, and on the danger to which it hereaftei ments. Ho waa being goaded to distrac­ exposed the poor and helpless Phcebe. A tion by the reproaches of his parents and it was, Mr. Pringle could only look foi the coarse vituperation of old Sam. His satisfaction to the future time, and mighl mother, however, who had prudence, had have used an expression of Mohere's now reached the stage when she begun to "Tou would have it, George Dandin,' think whether the mischief conld not be though he was not familiar with thf repaired to some extent. After all, the writings of the great humorist. With a Baddeleys were sensible people, and would person of resolute will able to do battle do anything to repair a scandal, and for herself, this wonld have made little patch up the damage which the family's difference, but with one like Phcebe the social repntation had sustained. She prospect was of the most diaheartenlng therefore began to think whether nego­ kind. Luckily that gay and carete tiations could not be opened with this nature did not forecast any auch trouble. view—even a rush to Paris by that night's express was in her mind. But in the midst of the debate the distracted FOUR CHAPTERS ON LACE. young man found the infiexible Tom be­ CHAPTER III. side him, whom he had now begun to regard with tho feeling which Franken­ HISTORIANS and bibliographera — the stein entertained towards the monster he romancists and Dry-as-Duats of Laceland had created—It really approached hatred. —have had many a hard fight over the " What do yon want with mo now ? " he comparative antiquity of needle-point and cried impatiently; " I can't see you." pillow-lace. The slender texture of actual fact haa been filled in with flowers of con- Oharlea XHokene.] FOUR CHAPTERS ON LACE. [Jimo II], 1870.] 295

jeoture, until the seeker for truth stands Engliah lace manufacture, passed an Act aghast at the mass of conflicting testimony. prohibiting its importation. In thoso So far as can be ascertained, the origin of daya tho science of poUtioal economy did the two ma,nufactures—destined to become not exist, and politiciana groaned over closely united — was quite independent. money "going out of the country." Thia Point sprang from the " lacis," and was appeared an unmixed evil to Colbert, who simply a development of early needlework, eatablished prohibitive duties and created while piUow-lace grew from the old art of a new industry to prevent it; and we find " passementerie "—the art and mystery of comparatively recent writers complaining making edgings and trimmings of woollen that, in 1768, England received from and silk, gold and silver, linen and cotton Flanders lace-work to the value of a —surviving to our own day in the form quarter of a million sterling, to her of gold and silver lace, and the curious " great disadvantage." Now the court worsted trimming which adoma the coat of the Merry Monarch required fine lace, of " Jeames " and the hammer-cloth of his mnch finer than that produced in Eng­ master's carriage. In Italy and Prance one land, aud a difficulty arose as to the supply. of the principal ingredients of trimming, To meet it the English lace-mcrchants liko the haberdashery or curtain laces invited Flemish lace-makers to settle in of the present day, was the "guipure," this country, and there establish their or gimp, defined as a cord, or thread, of manufactures. Not being " nursed " by gold, silver, or woollen, strengthened and royal hands, like the Alen^on venture, stiffened by another thread wound tightly the English scheme proved unsuccessful. over it. From this manuf.ioture arose England did not produce tbe necessary that of the pillow or bobbin-lace, carried flax, and the lace made was of an in­ to high perfection in Flanders and Italy, ferior quality. This was unfortunate ; for and imitated in other countries with Rochester and Buckingham, Killigrew and greater or less success. The enormous handsome Jack Churchill, not to mention cost of needle-point lace has, in all times, my Lady Castlemalne, absolutely required restricted its nse to the very rich; while lace. When people like Lady Castlemaine the pillow-lace, from its more rapid manu­ want anything their wants are generally facture, has been spread over a far wider supplied, and so it fell out in the case area. The method of making bobbin, or under consideration. Lace must be had; pillow-lace, is so well known that it hardly but how ? The mercantile mind was equal needs description. On a revolving cylinder, to the emergency. English gold pur­ forming part of a cushion, the pattern is chased the choicest laces in the Brussels pricked out with innumerable pins, around market, which were then smuggled over which the workwomen twist the threads to England, sold nnder the name of " point rolled npon the bobbins. These bobbins d'Angleterre,"andre-smnggled into France. were originally sometimes of bone, whence That the business was pretty extensive may the absurd term "bone-point," applied to be gathered from the acty :unt of the seizure raised Venetian and Spanish lace; bnt made by the Marquis de Nesmond of a latterly they have been almost invariably vessel laden with Flandera lace, bound made of wood. for England, in 1678. Tbe cargo com­ prised three-quarters of a million ells of Wherever the art of making bobbin- lace, without enumerating handkerchiefs, lace was invented, Flanders is unquestion­ collars, fichus, aprons, petticoats, fans, ably the country where it haa reached gloves, &c., all of the same material. At the highest perfection. The old Flemish a later period mnch lace was smuggled pillow-laces aro of great beauty. One Into France directly from Belgium by description, with a ground-work like the means of dogs trained for the purpose. famons " reaeau rosace " ot Alen9on, is A dog was caressed and petted at home; called TroUo Kant, a name rendered in fed on the fat of the land ; and then, after our lace counties as Trolly. It has already a season, sent across the frontier, where been mentioned that in French works the he was tied np, half-starved, and ill-treated. term "Angleterre," aa applied to lace, The skin of a bigger dog was then fitted signifiea the beautiful products of Brabant. to his body, the Intervening space being Its application came about in this wise: filled with lace. The dog was then allowed In 1662 the English Parliament — like to escape and make his way home, where Colbert at a later date in France—became he was kindly welcomed with his contra­ alarmed at the sums of money spent on band charge. These journeys were re- foreign lace, and, desirous to protect the

^ 2 JC [June 10, 1876.] ALL THE TEAR ROUND. [Conducted by

peated till the Prench custom - house ground are produced by hand. The flower officers, getting scent of the traffic, are done in plain clothing and Brnsseli brought it to an end. Between 1820-36 atitches, one part of the leaves being exe­ no fewer than forty thousand two hun­ cuted in close, and the other part in more dred and seventy-eight dogs were de­ open, tisane. By thus nicely graduating the stroyed, a reward of three francs being density of the fabric the pattern is broughl given for each. Theae dogs were of large into relief, and by skilfularrangementofairj size—great poodles, for inatance—and able tiaaues, effects of singular boldness may be to carry from twenty to twenty-alx pounds. produced. The sections of work are now They also conveyed tobacco, as the Swiss joined together by a skilful hand. Three dogs are said to smuggle watches. lace-makers are required to make " point •The finest Brussels lace Is made in the gaze"—the "gazeuse" to make the flowers town itself. The productions of Antwerp, and the groundwork, simultaneous opera­ Ghent, and other localities are very inferior, tions ; the "brodeuse" to fix tho "cordonnet" excepting only the little town of Binche. for the relief-work; and the " founense " to Within the last quarter of a century the make the stitches for the open-work. These manufacturers of Bimssels have set them­ workwomen earn from a shilling to half-a- aelvea seriously to work to Imitate " point crown a day, and it takes a squad of three d'Alen^on," and their efforts have been nearly a month to make a yard of " point crowned with such succeaa as to threaten gaze" two inches in width. the parent Industry with extinction. '' Point A superb example of this choice work gaze," nearly but not quite identical in gained the first prize at the Vienna appearance with its French progenitor, Exhibition. It is a complete " garniture," can he produced at about two-fifths of oonsiating of a large half-shawl, seven the price. For example, the finest Brussels yarda of flouncing eighteen inches wide, point, made entirely by hand, and there­ a berthe, lappets, parasol cover, fan, and fore by no means a cheap production, handkerchief. The " garniture " occupied may be worth six pounds per yard, while a dozen skilled lace-makers for three entire Alen^on of the samo width aud workman­ years, and cost forty thousand francs. The ship would cost fifteen. Brussels point has design and execution are of extraordinary attained extraordinary perfection in raised beauty. Bold groupings of flowers are flowers with looae petals, and in butterfliea, executed with marvellous delicacy of whose wings, being almost detached, add shading; but perhaps the most remarkable greatly to the beauty and curiosity of the feature of thia fine work is the raised or work. No horsehair is used in " point double work shown in the roses. The gaze"—an advantage ao far as wear and petals are partially detached from the tear is concerned, as it often shrinks in body of the work, and give a startling washing; bnt for all this the same effect is verisimilitude to the hand-made flower. produced as hy the Alen^on method—that ia to say, the same effect at a distance of Other Brussels lacea are of mixed manu­ three feet from the eye; but very close facture—that is to aay, the flowers are inspection fails not to reveal the greater made on the pillow, and then incorporated in fineness and more minute finish of Alen^on a groundwork made by the needle. Of thia work. Something might—not long since mixture of "point" and "plat," the "pomt —havo alao been said as to the superior de Medici" ia a very successful example. elegance of the French designs, but this The laces called " point de Flandre," advantage is now hotly contested by the ad­ "point ducheaae," and "point de Paria" venturous Belgians, who employ designers are really not " point" at all, being made without regard to coat. on tho pillow. Another interior kind of lace is that known aa " point applique," The workers are women and children, whioh ia purely and simply a cheap from the age of seven upwards. A large imitation of a superior class of work. number ot nuns follow this delicate in­ Tbe thread used in Brussels lace is of dustry, the " output" of fine lace from extraordinary fineness. It is made of flax tho Belgian convents being very large. It grown in Brabant, at Hal and Rebecq- may be imagined that—as it would take Rognon. Flax ia also cultivated solely for one person between thirty or forty years, lace aud cambric thread at St. Nicholas, or about an average working lifetime, to Toumay, and Cambral. The process of make a complete " garniture "—this costly steeping principally takea place at Contrai, lace is made in amall pieces divided among the clearness of the water of tho Lya a number of workers. Both flowers and rendering it peculiarly fit for that purpose.

•=«= =fc. Ohulei DlQkeiu.3 FOUR CHAPTERS ON LACE. [June 10,1876.] 297

The fineat quality is apnn in dark under­ embroidery on a transparent ground. Un­ ground rooma, for contact with tho dry air fortunately for the prosperity of its native causes the thread to break. It is so place, Mechlin is of all laces the easiest to fine as almost to escape tho sight, and the copy In machine-made lace, and, since the feel of it aa it passes throngh the fingers introduction of bobbin-net, has almost dis­ is the snreat guide. The apinner closely appeared. A alight revival, however, in examines every inch of the thread, and favour of " right Mechlin," haa taken place when any inequality occurs, stops her qnito recently. Its great merit is ita light­ wheel to repair the mischief. Every arti­ ness and adaptability to the requirement of ficial help is given to tho eye. A back­ the dressmaker. It was never at any period ground of dark paper ia placed to throw accepted as a "serious" lace, as a "dentelle out the thread, and the room so arranged de grande toilette," bnt its delicacy was aa to admit one single ray of light upon excellently suited for ruffles, cravat, and the work. The life of a Flemish thread- jabot, and the thousand-and-one appli­ spinner is unhealthy, and her work requires cations of " quilling," now known aa M;he greatest skill; her wages are therefore "phases," to the feminine toilette. In proportionably high. 1699, when the prohibitive law of 1662 Aa in the case of other laces, two sorts was removed, Mechlin lace became tbe ot ground are found in old Brussels lace, rage in England. Qneen Mary had worn the " bride " and tho " reseau; " but the it for years before, and Qneen Anne " bride" was discontinued as mnch as a followed her example by laying in a century ago, and was then only made to tremendous stock. George the First wore order. Sometimes the two grounds were a Mechlin cravat, and the Regent Orleans mixed, as were needle-work and bobbin- and his roues indulged in a profusion work, on the same piece of lace. Tbe of the airy fabric. Lady Mary Wortley " reseau " was made either by hand or on Montague wrote : the pillow. The needle-ground is superior With eager beat Lis Mechlin cravat moves— to that made on the pillow; it is worked He loves, I whisper to myself, he lovea! in small strips of an inch in width, joined together by the " assemblage " stitch, long Somewhat akin in style to Mechlin is known only to the workers of Alen90n and that very beautiful and singularly durable Brussels. Since machiue-mado net has pillow-lace, known as Valenciennes, tho come into uae, the needle-ground is rarely manufacture of 'which has curiously made except for royal trousseaux. The enough been, during the present century, tulle or Brussels net is made of Scotch transferred from Franc© to Belgium—the cotton thread, as are now all bnt the very former country being the largest purchaser finest lacea. The needle-ground is three of the imitations of her own ancient times aa expensive as the pillow, bnt it is manufacture. The peculiarity of tho flue stronger and less apt to unravel when old Valenciennes ia the startling solidity broken, becauae the needle is passed four with which the pattern of flowers and times into each mesh, whereas in the scrolls, in the style of the Renaissance, piUow-gronnd it is not. passed at all. The comes ont from the clear ground. In the needle-ground is easily repaired—the pillow flrst three-quarters of the last century, is difficult, and always shows the join. the lace trade of Valenciennes employed There are two kinds of flowers—those made many thousands of people, but when lace with the needle and those made on the ruffles and monarchy went ont of fashion pillow. The beat flowers are made In together, the ancient city of French Brnssels itself, where they have attained Flanders declined until, in 1861, only two a perfection in the relief (point brode) members were extant of the old lace- unequalled by those made in the surround­ making population. Like Malines, Valen­ ing villages and in Hainault. ciennes is entirely made upon the pillow, but differs from it in being composed of Second only to Brussels as a city of one kind ot thread for tbe pattern and the Laceland, is, or rather was, Malinea or ground. The city-made Valenciennes was Mechlin. The lace made nnder the shadow remarkable for its solidity. Beautiful aud of the great cathedral with the musical everlasting pieces of Valenciennes became carillon is not grand, it is not ambitious heirlooms in great families, and repre­ in design, but it is the " prettiest" of all sented very considerable sums. Arthur laces, delicionsly delicate, transparent, and Toung tells us that, in 1788, "Laoe of effective. The flower is formeid by a flat thirty or forty lines breadth, for gentle- thread, whioh gives it the character of J^

298 [June 10.1876.] ALL THE TEAR ROUND. [Conducted by

men's ruffles, is nine guineas an ell." Tho be the derivation of tawdry. Southey quantity required for a lady's head-dress wrote, " It was formerly the custom in might cost auy price, from a hundred to a England for women to wear a necklace thousand guineas. The lace-makers were ot fine silk, called tawdry laoe, from St. mostly young girls, for the very simple Audrey (Btheldreda). She had in her reason that their sight began to fail at youth been used to wear carcanets of about thirty, and they were perforce com­ jewels, and being afterwards tormented pelled to give up an industry which with violent pains in the neck, was wont brought them the magnificent remunera­ to say that Heaven In its mercy had thus tion of twenty or thirty sous a day. The punished her for her love of vanity. She labour of making " vraie Valenciennes " died of a swelhng In her neck. Audrey was so great, that while the Lille lace- was daughter of King Anna, who founded makera could produce from three to five the Abbey of Ely." ells a day, those of Valenciennes could not Either this is fanciful, or Spenser did complete more than an inch and a halfin not know what he was talking abont, a the same time. Some lace-worker.^ only point which may be left to the decision of made half an ell in a year; and it took ten the reader. Queen Elizabeth owned far months, working fifteen hours a day, to more cut work than lace, properly so finish a pair of men's ruffles—hence the called, which only came into fashion costliness of the lace. The old Valenciennes towards the end of her reign. The por­ of 1780 was of a quality far superior to tentous rnff worn by that great queen was any made in the present century. Not a development of the amall plain SjMinish only the rich, but the comparatively poor, ruff introduced into England in the reign were great customers for Valenciennes. of Philip and Mary. The art of atarching, The peasants of the surrounding districts, though known in Flandera, did not reach and of distant Normandy, laid by their England till 1564, when the queen firstset earnings for years to purchase a real up a coach. Her coachman, one Gwyllam Valenciennes cap, which, of course, would Boenen, a Dutchman, had a vrife, a price­ last for life. less creature, who understood the art ot The laces of Lille and Arras, pretty as starching, of which the queen availed her­ they are, found little favour among the self, until the arrival some time after of great ladiea of olden times, who classed Madame Dinghen van der Plasae, who, them contemptuously as mock Valen­ with her husband, came from Flandera ciennes, and the fabric of Ballleul came "for their better safeties," and set np nnder the same category. Formerly a as a clear starcher in London. " The great deal of black lace was made at Lille, most curious wives," continues Stowe, bnt in recent times the productions of " now made themselves ruffs of cambric Chantilly and Bayeux have taken the lead and sent them to Madame Dinghen to he in this important industry. starched, who charged high prices. -After Of the early lace manufacture of Eng­ a time they made themselves mffis ot lawn, land but little is known. Shakespeare, and thereupon ai'ose a general scoff or bye- In Twelfth Night, alludes to bobbin-lace word that shortly they wonld make their thus: ruffa of spiders' webs." Mrs. Dinghen took pupils, charging them four or five pounds Tho spinsters and tho knitters iu the sun, for teaching them to starch, and one pound And the free maids that weave their threads with bone. for the art of seething starch. The nobility patronised the Dutchwoman, bnt the com­ Again, Mopsa, in tho Winter's Tale, moners looked askant at her, and called says: her famoua liquid "devil's broth." The Yon promised me a tawdry lace ; explanation of the eagerness with which Queen Elizabeth adopted the mff, and in­ and Spenser, in the Shepherd's Calendar, creased its size, is not far to seek. Her has: Bind yonr fillets faste, majesty, alack! had a " yellow throat," and And girde in yonr waste, was determined that the white throats of For more fluencss with a tawdry lace. fairer dames should be carefully concealed. Although she wore a three-piled ruff her­ The last quotation seems to indicate that self, and compelled the ladies of her court the word lace, in connection with tawdry, to do the same, she by no means extended signifies a string to lace up the bodice, the privilege to her meaner subjects. On which had been blessed at tho ahrine of the contrary, ahe selected grave citizens, Saint Ethcldreda, whose name is said to =s Oh&rlai Dlokeiu.] FOUR CHAPTERS ON LACE. [Juno 10,1876.] 299

and placed them at every gate of the city, plaister-faced Jezebels ! If ye will not leave to out down all ruffa which exceeded a your dauba and your washea. Heaven will, certain prescribed width. Her own ruffa one day, wash them off witb fire and brim- were made ot cut work, gold, silver, and atone." These rnffs must havo been very precious stonea. The author ot the costly, for twenty-five yards ot "fine bone- Anatomie of Abuaes was furioua againat lace " were required to edge a ruff, with­ ruffs. "They aro either clogged with out counting the ground, composed either gold, silver, or silk laces of stately price, of lace squares or cut-work. The yellow wrought all over with needleworke, starch, introduced by Mrs. Turner, to speckeled and aparkeled here and there give—liko the coffee-grounda of a later with the aunne, the moone, tho starroa, period—a rich hue to the lace and cut- and many other antiques atrango to be- work of which ruffs were built, scandalised holde. Somo aro wrought with open the clergy terribly. The Dean of West­ worke donne to the midat of the ruffe, minster went so far as to order that no and, further, some with close worke, aome lady or gentleman, wearing a yellow ruff, with purled lace ao cloaed and other gew- should be admitted into any pew in bis gawa so pestered, as the ruffe is the leest church; but, finding this "ill-taken" and parte of itself." He points out the dangers tho king "moved in it," he backed out to which the wearera were subjected : "If of an awkward position, and ate his own Eolns with his blasts, or Neptune with his words handsomely. The satirists fired storms, chance to hit npon the crazie barke their shots at the yellow ruffe, both in of their brnsed ruffs, then they go flip-flap England and in France. Here it was in the wind like ragges that flie abroade, objected that the price of eggs wonld be lying upon their shoulders like the dish- raised, as " ten or twenty eggs will hardly clout of a slut. But wot ye what ? The suffice to starch one of those yellow devill, Eis he, in the fnlnesse of his malice, bandes; " and in Franco, that the new first invented these greate ruffes," and so English fashion would make saffron so on. A more gentle satirist—Taylor, the dear that the Bretons and the Poitevlns water poet—says: would be obliged to eat their butter white instead of yellow, according to custom. Now nil aloft I mount unto the ruffe. The idea that the Overbury murder and Which into foolish mortals pride doth puffe. tho hanging of Mrs. Turner at Tyburn, put an end to the fashion of yellow And Dekker protests against "Tour treble- ruffs is erroneous. It depends solely on quadruple Dsedallan ruffs, or your atiffe- a passage in Howell's Letters, whioh is a necked Reb.atoes, that have more arches mere " shot " at random. In actual fact, for pride to row under than can stand yellow rnffs and bands were worn aud under five London Bridges." During the preached against for at least ten years reign of James the First bishops thun­ after Mra. 'Turner was executed. This ia dered against the ruff, but in vain; for we demonstrated by the frequent allusions to see them ot the fineat Gothic-patterned the yellow bands worn by English folk np lace in every picture and on every monu­ to 1625—the falling band Itself not having ment. " Fashion," preached John King, come into wear till 1623, whereas Mrs. Bishop of London, " has brought In deep Turner was hanged in 1615. The ruff ruffs and shallow ruffa, thick ruffs and went quite out soon after the death of thin ruffs, double ruffs and no ruffs. James the First in 1625. His son is When tho Jndge of quick and dead shall represented on tho coins of the first two appear, He will not know those who havo years of his reign In a stiff-starched ruff, so defaced tho fashion He hath created." bnt In the fourth aud fifth, the ruff is It ia not quite clear what the blahop meant unstarched, falling loosely on his shoulder, by thia; but there is no mistake about the aud was soon replaced by the falling band. aermon of the Bishop of Exeter, Joseph Probably the ruff was retained by the Hall, who, little thinking that lace-making king on state occaaiona for aome years would find employment for the women of after the gallants had deserted it—for the hia dioceae, thundered against the now judges wore it aa a mark of dignity, until abomination in thia style : " But, if none it was superseded by the wig. The noblest of our persuasions can prevail, hear thia, ye kind of lace was worn duriug the reign of garish popinjays of our time! If ye will not Charles the First, but suffered an eclipse be Etahamed to clothe yourselves after this during tho Puritan period, so far as the shameless fashion. Heaven shall clothe you male sex waa concerned. The sour-visaged with shame and confusion. Hear this, ye =r N. 300 [.Tunc 10, 1E76.] ALL THE TEAR ROUND. [Conducted tij

saiuts wore only a " plain band," but their What though we missed lore's golden summer timi His autumn fruits were ripe when wo had leave eponses were not quite so simple in their To enter joy's wide vineyard in our prime, tastes, and scrupled not to wear "lace Good guerdon for our waiting to receive. to their smocks." Ladies wore, in place Love gave UB no frail pledge of aommer flowers. But side by side we reaped tbe harvest-field; of the ruff, a "whisk" or gorget of Now side by side we pass tbe winter hours, the richest lace. Gentlemen soon forsook And day by day new blessings are revealed. the falling band—entirely too graceful The heyday of our youth, its roseate glow, Its high desires and cravings manifold, and rational to last long in fashion. The raptures and delights of long ago, As tho great perukes of Charles the Have passed; but we have truer joys to holi. i Second's time fell over the shoulders, Sing me the dear, old song about the nest, the collar was first hidden and then trans­ Our blessed home, our littie ark of rest. muted into a cravat, the long ends of which could be seen hanging down in SOLDIERING IN INDIA. front. Aa in France, so in England lace was profusely worn. Queen Mary favoured SOLDIERING in India and soldiering ii the introduction of the high Fontanges England are very different matters. It ii head-dress, with its piled tiers of lace and true that the objects of keeping np ai ribbon, and the long hanging " pinners " army are the same in Asia as they are ii celebrated by Prior in hia Tale of tho Enrope. To repress foes, internal as well Widow and her Cat. as external, and to preserve peace by bemj He scratcb'd tbe maiJ, he stole tbo cream, prepared for war, are the reasons whj He tore lier best laced pmner. armies exist in every part of the world, The bead-dress of the next reign is But it is the inner life of the soldier himself excellently described by Farquhar. Parley which is so very different in the East to says: "Oh, sir, there is the prettiest fashion what we are accustomed to in the West. lately come over ! so airy, so French and Of late years Immense care has been he- all that! The Pinners aro double ruffled stowed upon the health of the soldier, and with twelve plaits of a side, and open all the authorities study the best way of keep­ from the face; the hair is frizzled np all ing him ont of mischief. There was a tune round the head, and stands as stifE as a —not so very distant: we speak of some bodkin. Then the Favourites hang loose ten or fifteen years ago—when both the upon the temple with a languishing lock in soldier's going to India, his first sojourn the middle. Then the Caule is extremely there, his subsequent march np-conntiy, wide, and over all ia a Cornet raised very and his after residence with his regiment, high, and all the lappets behind." were, one and all, left almost to chance. The Flandera lace-heads the "engaging" He was usually embarked at Gravesend or sleeves or ruffles, and a dresa frilled and Qneenstown; the ship in which he went to flounced all over, caused a lady, in the India was a sailing-vessel, and took from language of tbe Spectator, to " resemble a ninety to a hundred and twenty days to Friesland hen." Lace was then, as alwaya, reach Bombay, Madras, or Calcutta. When costly. Queen Mary's lace bill for the the troops reached the port of destination year 1694, signed by Lady Derby, Mistress and were disembarked, little or no control of the Robes, amounted to nineteen hundred was put npon them. They were left to and eighteen pounds. In the following roam in tbe native bazaars as mnch aa year her husband's account was even they liked; their heads were no more pro­ larger, exceeding two thousand four hun­ tected from the sun than they wonld be dred pounds. m England ; and, what between the heat, tho arrack they drank, and the nnwhole- some fruit they ate, a detachment waa considered lucky if, after a fortnight's LtyvE, give me one of thy dear bands to bold, sojourn in one of the Presidency towns, it Take thou my tired bead upon tby breast ; did not leave, at least, ten per cent, of its Then sing me that sweet song we loved of old, Tbe dear, soft song about our little nest. number in the hospital, and three or fonr We knew the song before the nest waa ours; per cent, in the graveyard. The march Wo sang tbe song when first the nest we found; up-country was conducted on very much Wo loved tbe song in happy after-hours, When peace came to ua, and content profound. the same principle. The men had to toil Then sing tbat olden song to me to-night, on foot some ten or fifteen miles a day; While I, reclining on tbj; faithful breast, had to take their chance of healthy or See happy visions in tbe fair firelight, And my whole soul is satisfied with rest. unhealthy country; were always able to Better than all our bygone dreams of bHsa, procure unhealthy fruit, and still more nn- Are deep content and rest secure aa thia. ^ Oharlea DlokenB.') SOLDIERING IN INDIA. [Juno 1'], 1876.] 301 healthy spirits; and the consequence was all has tho white pith helmet—now uni­ that the great main routes in India, over versally worn by every English soldier in which European troops marched, were India, no matter to what arm of the marked at every halting-place by a very service he may belong, or no matter what large collection of soldiers' tombs. his rank—worked for good in the sanitary All this is now changed, and changed condition of the troops. In fact, so great immensely for the better. Troops going has been the change, so few the cases of to India now, all embark at Portsmouth. sunstroke, since this head-dress has been The five or six troopships destined for adopted, that we almost wonder why it was the service are some of the finest vessels that the change from the shako did not in the Royal Navy. They are manned, take place many years ago. Experiments officered, and commanded iu the same have been tried by exposing one of the way as any ship of war. They are lofty white helmets, now worn by the troops in between decks, very roomy as to accom­ India, as well as one of the shakos which modation, and nothing that can pos­ were formerly the regulation, to the full sibly conduce to the comfort and health glare of a midday sun, and placiug a of the troops on board is omitted In their thermometer under each; and the difference construction and management. Instead between the two has been, that the ther­ of proceeding by sail round the Capo mometer under the helmet was nearly ten of Good Hope, they go direct by steam degrees lower than that nnder the shako. through the Suez Canal to Bombay. No It follows, then, that for upwards of a matter for what part of India tbey are hundred years, in India, we were actually destined, the troopships never go to exposing our men to ten more degrees of Madras or Calcutta. At the former place heat on the brain than we need do. After the landing is dangerous, and the latter this, let ns not langh at the blunders com­ is considered unhealthy for now arrivals mitted in clothing by any other nation in from Enrope. The troopships proceed np the world. the harbour of Bombay, bnt the troops But dress has not been the only canse are not allowed to land in that town. of the immensely improved state of health They are landed close to the railway now prevalent among our troops In India. station, and taken at once np the Ghauts, The better style of barrack which they by rail, to a'place called Deodally, which is now inhabit has also had a great deal to do some six hours distant from the capital of with it. Pormerly, barracks in India were the western presidency. At Deodally the hot-beds of sickness. They had no upper climate is as healthy as in England, the story, were badly drained, and so low in site being some five or six thousand feet the roof that, after thirty or forty men above the level of the sea. The new had slept in one of the rooms all night, the barracks bnUt there are spacious and lofty, air became simply pestilential. Add to this and here the men lately arrived from Eng­ the effect of bad drains, or, rather, of no land are left to repose themselves for a drainage at all; of an ntter want of time, after the fatigues of the voyage. amusement or occupation dui'ing the long They are then sent on to their several hot hours of the day, when the men were regiments; or, if a new regiment has nnable to go out; and a free access, for landed in the country, it is sent up to the such as had money, to the deleterious north-west, where the climate is less severe native liquors sold In the bazaars; and it than in other parts of India. It is only is not to be wondered at if our European after two or three years' residence in the garrisons in the East were as If instituted East that they are quartered in the more solely for the purpose of filling the nnhealthy stations ; and, even inclnding burial-ground. At many of the stations, these, the deaths among our English troops where European troops havo been, it is in India are fifty per cent, less than they pitiable to count the gravestones indi­ were some twelve years ago. A very great cating tho number of some regiment deal of this has been cansed by beneficial that lies buried there. Thus at Kaira, not changes—common-sense alterations, suit­ far from Baroda, the Seventeenth Light able to the country—in the clothing of our Dragoons, now tho Seventeenth Lancers, troops in India. Flannel shirts; flannel buried, in the course of abont twenty years, girths ; warm clothing for the cool of the upwards of a thousand men, the number morning, and the damps of the evening; and of men in the regiment at no time being white jackets for tho heat of the day, have more than twelve hundred. At Meemt, done mnch to effect this good. Bat most of in the north-west provinces, if the dead \~ „ ^ ij 302 [Jimo 10,1870.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [Oondootedbr

of the Thu-d Buffs and the Eleventh heat of the day, he was pretty sure to be Dragoons conld rise from their graves, struck down by tho sun, and pass a month there would be an increase of some eight or more in hospital, with a tolerable chance or nine hundred to the strength of the of either being sent home to England as an army. And yet neither of these regiments invalid, orof havIngtheDeadMarchin Saul were quartered more than ten years iu the played before him as he was carried a corpse place; nor shonld it be forgotten that this to the graveyard. Like the solving of the has ever been one of the most healthy problem of how eggs are made to stand stations in India. AtKnmanl, too, a station on end, the solution of this difficulty was some hundred and twenty miles to the excessively simple. For nearly a century north-west of Meemt, the Third Dragoons Anglo-Indians wondered why it was that and the Thirteenth Light Infantry lie In the European officer or civilian, who was their graves by hundreds; and at Surat, out all day in the sun, and who passed the during the first two decades of the present hottest months of the year in tiger-shoot­ century, the Fifty-fifth Regiment must ing or hog-hunting, always enjoyed the have buried itself nearly twice over. In best of health ; whereas, English soldiersi short, go where we will among the old If detained half an hour longer than usual stations of India, we find the same tes­ on morning parade, or called out an hour timony borne to the immense number earlier in the afternoon, were certain to send of men we lost, until we were sensible a large percentage of their number into hos­ enough to discover that prevention was pital. At last, some official who waa cleverer better than cure, and to act upon the dis­ than hia fellows, bethought himself of the covery. head-dress. An officer, it was urged, who would go Into the jungle with a black or Amusement, edncation, and occupation dark-coloured cap, or whose covering for have also had a vast deal to do with this Im­ the head was not made 'so as to protect provement. In every station there are rooms the forehead, the temples, and the nape of where the soldiers can assemble to read the the neck from the sun, wonld have been papers and books, play chess, draughts, or looked upon as a maniac, and probably dominoes, and amuse themselves like ra­ restrained as such, if he had not previously tional beings. Gymnastics are greatly en­ fallen ill from brain-fever or sunstroke. couraged. Prizes are given for the best Some still wiser man then came to the con­ runners, the best jumpers, and those who clusion that what was good for gentlemen can throw the heaviest weights. Edn­ who hnnted or shot, could not be bad for cation, so far as reading and writing their more humble fellow-countrymen. are concerned, is compulsory; and every Thus it was that the white helmet was recruit who joins ignoi-ant of this pre­ adopted, and that, since then, European liminary teaching has to go to school. soldiers may be employed in India at all The men are also very mnch more hours with almost as great impunity as temperate than they used to be; and in England. when they do partake of any stimulants. It Is wholesome, sound liquor, furnished by It is, however, a strange fact that in the canteen contractors at a reasonable England, or iu onr English dependencies, price, and not the abominable, nnwhole- we seldom improve in ono respect without somo rubbish commonly called native deteriorating in another. As we have liquor. The white helmets, of which we already shown, from the time an English have spoken before, protect the soldiers' soldier leaves Portsmouth until he arrives heads greatly from the sun, and there­ at his station in the far-off north-west of fore admit of the men taking exercise, India, nothing can be better or more judi­ and being out under the sun at hours cious than his treatment in every way. when it would not have been possible But with all this the English army in India, to do so a few years ago. As an almost and, for that matter, the native troops universal rnle, the man who takes exercise also, are less efficient than they used to be in India has good health, while he who some years ago. The reason is simple remains at home becomes, by degrees, enough. We have increased the number sickly in mind and in body. Hitherto, or of regiments in the Bast, and we pay far at least until this new head-dress was in­ more attention than we did to the health vented, the soldier serving In India was, and well-being of the men; but we have from soon after sunrise to near the time of so diminished the numerical strength of sunset, a prisoner in his barrack-room. If each corps, both as to officers and men, he went outside and faced the glare and that it would almost seem as if our army Obarles Dickens.] SOLDIERING IN INDIA. -• 10. 1S76.] 303 in the East were intended for show, and each. At the battle of Balaklava there was not for nee. Formerly, an English cavalry not a regiment present that mustered more regiment in India consisted of two lieu­ than a squadron of a French or Prussian tenant-colonels, two major's, eight captains corps would have done; and before the (besides one captain of the depot in following winter was over, more than one England), sixteen lieutenants, eight cor­ of these regiments could not have mustered nets, besides paymaster, quartermaster, and a properly mounted sergeant's guard. In medical of&cers, with seven hundred non­ fact, in one hussar regiment, it is said commissioned officers and privates. At that there were more officers than soldiers the present day the officers of a cavalry fit to take the field. But this ever has, regiment serving in that country are one and we suspect it ever will be, our crying lieutenant-colonel, one major, six captains, military sin. "We are very wise as to our ten lieutenants, and two or three sub-lieu- pennies, but more than foolish as to our tenante. In other worda, a dragoon corps pounds. It would seem as if we—or at least in India, when mustered on parade a few those who rule over us—never can see the years ago, turned out eight strong troops, truth of that wise saying which tells us or four strong squadrons, fully officered; that to preserve peace we ought always but it can now only muster six weak to be prepared for war. Anyone who troops, or three very feeble squadrons, has been recently in India, and who and has rarely three officers per squadron. knows the numerical shortcomings of our Of the great blunder committed by troops in that country, must stare at the this change, there is but one opinion panegyrics of our Indian army, which from Calcutta to Peshawur. Formerly, appear from time to time in the English no matter what casualties occurred, press. But it would appear that English whether there was sickness or not in the journalists, as a rule, have a distaste for corps, or whether it had gone through a figures. Were it otherwise, the real facts couple of years' campaigning, there was concerning the parade before the Prince of always a large margin from which to Wales at Delhi, in January last, ought to supply officers, men, and horses. At have opened their eyes. To bring men to present it is not so, or rather it would not this display of our army, the greater part be so if ever we took the field. Nor is it of the Punjaub and the whole of the anything but the plain truth to assert that north-west provinces were denuded of thisweai:ening of the numbers in each corps troops. Nominally, the numbers present has caused an immense deal of discontent were very large; but in reality, as the throughout our Engli&h troops in India. official returns of the day showed, we Officers cannot get leave of absence as mustered not more than seventeen they did formerly, and the men have at thousand five hundred men; and thia least two days' guard, or other duties to per­ in spite of the fact that there were form every week more than they had under present four regiments of hussars, eight the old regime. In the infantry it is m.uch or ten batteries of artillery, some fifteen the same; nay, in some instances, as or sixteen regiments of European infantry, regards garrison guards and so forth, they and two score corps of native cavalry and have nearly double the work of former days. infantry. In short, the parade at Delhi, Thus much for the men; for the credit of which was looked upon as the parade of our arms it would be much different the whole English army, actually mustered and far more injurious should we ever fewer men in the ranks than an individual take the field. It is all very well in French or German corps d'armee would healthy quarters — and, comparatively have done! speaking, all quarters in India are now pretty healthy—but what of an unhealthy Nor should it be forgotten that, in India, campaign, or of a period when there were war and rumours of war are by no means many casualties ? The Crimean war taught unknown, more especially at the present us a lesson which it would seem we day. Small campaigns with native chiefs are now beginning to forget—namely, and refractory rajahs appear, so far aa it that regiments, weak in numbers, be­ is possible to judge, to have come to an come utterly useless before the enemy end. A battalion or two at Baroda, a after they have been a short time in camp. couple of brigades at Hyderabad, and With that army were sent out certain about the same number of troopa at cavalry regiments, numbering barely two Lucknow, are all that appears to be re­ hundred and fifty or three hundred sabres quired to keep refractory native states in order. But if we read between the lines ^ ^ c» 304 [Juno 10, 1876.] ALL THE YEAR BOUND. [Oondaeted by

of almost every official document that during a later period of abont equal lengtl appears in India, or If we interpret all it bas been a veritable prison, generalli those documents by the movements of containing many clever rascals np to al troops, the construction of military rail­ the dodges of possible escaping. ways, and every kind of preparation for Ono night, the rooms of three of th( tbe future, we cannot bnt be of opinion officials were found to be stripped of i that there Is a cloud of gloom on onr quantity of wearing apparel. A patrol north-west frontier, of which the autho­ going his rounds, saw two men gettinc rities are not a little afraid. In other over the garden wall, by the help of a words, men don't talk of the fact that, white rope made of yarn used in some oi year by year, Russia is creeping nearer and the working rooms. He shook the rope; nearer towards British India, bnt they the men fell, but quickly rose again, think of it, and think of it with serious knocked him down, and ran off in the anxiety. Very few years hence, even opposite direction. The alarm being given, if we are not actually at war, our governor, chaplain, surgeon, steward, and forces will be so divided in watch­ helpers hastened to the spot. They fonnd, ing an enemy from without and in not only the white rope, fastened to the guarding ourselves from ah enemy that top of the wall by a large iron rake is within—an enemy that would take ad­ twisted into a hook, but also another rope vantage of our exterior embarrassments depending from one of the loopholes at ns surely as the sparks fly upwards—that the top of the 0 tower. The prison con­ we shall need every soldier, every rifle, sists of several five-sided buildings, sur­ and every sabre we can muster in India. rounding an open court, and having a sort Surely, then, it Is not merely worth of garden outside them, bounded by a while to increase our army to an efficient lofty wall; every angle of each building standard while we are at peace, bnt it Is is strengthened with a tower or turret. onr absolute dnty to do so. It Is the A hammer, a chisel, other tools, and a simple and plain trnth to say that, so large poker were also fonnd. Several far as regards numbers, onr Indian army, bricks bad been removed from one side of English as well as native, is utterly the loophole, leaving a space wide enough unfit for the defence of onr Eastern for one person to creep throngh. Some empire. Nor ought we to omit a prison clothing lay hard by. A skeleton very significant fact—namely, that the key, made of pewter, was found to open natives of India, and particularly those many of the officers' bedroom doors; who Inhabit the Punjaub and the while other false keys had been used to north-west, some few years ago, re­ open the prisoners' cell doors. The rognes garded any chance of a Russian in­ were recaptured in the garden. vasion as an utter myth. Bnt ot late years tbey have, to a man, changed their A prisoner named Cummings one night opinion, and look forward to the advance broke throngh the ceiling of bis cell, and of that enemy on our frontier as merely a traversed the roof along one side of his question of time. Surely It behoves us to pentagon or block of buildings. He was take as much advantage as we can of the not so crafty as most of his fellows, for time we have still before us. he had provided no means of descent. More expert were seven prisoners, who, through some gross mismanagement, had been placed in a large room having no PRISON-BREAKING. bars to the windows. They cut np their blankets into strips, made ladders of them, CAPTAIN ARTHUE GRIFFITHS, when ap­ climbed out upon the roof, descended to pointed fonr years ago Deputy Governor of tho garden, and raised a heavy ladder Millbank Prison, was placed in possession against the outer wall. All escaped— of the official records of that establish­ though only to be recaptured afterwards. ment. Among those records are accounts Three men, confined in one cell, made a of certain remarkable escapes, which he has large aperture in its floor, concealing the incorporated in his recent history of tbe gap during the daytime by a covering of building. Millbank Prison, as most of us pasteboard. The cell was on the ground know, stands on what used to be the fioor; and the men, night after night, dismal marshy Tothill-fields, near the descended through the aperture into a Westminster end of Vauxhall-bridge. It vault beneath, where they worked away was for thirty years a penitentiary; bnt against the wall of the building. They ;:ti Chulda DlckenB.] PRISON-BREAKING. [Juiio 10,1876.] 30.5

also, at other hours of candlelight, pre­ slated roof; then, finding a placo where pared three suits of clothes from their the battens were sufficiently wide apart to towels, made a rope ladder, and improvised admit his body, he broke away a few tools of various kinds. But their ingenuity slates, and emerged on the top of tho was frustrated by detection,- when they building. Then came the descent, for had pierced abont three-fourths through. which he had made ingenious preparations. Three prisoners, located on the ground- The prisoners received their clean clothes floor of ono of the pentagons, gradually on Saturday evenings, and the warders and cautiously removed the ventilatiug- were late in entering the cells on Sunday plate which communicated with an air- mornings; he selected his time accord­ shaft ; they descended through tho shaft ingly, especially as the dirty clothes were into a cellar, where there was a party-wall not taken away till Monday morning. pierced with openings barred by iron One Saturday night, whon his store at gratings. They removed these gratings, hand comprised two shirts, two pairs of and issued out Into the garden, where, stockings, two handkerchiefs, a round as it was summer-time, thick vegetation towel, blankets, and rugs, ho attired him­ afforded them shelter for awhile. In the self in a clean shirt, and out np all the evening a gentleman gave an alarm that other articles Into strips, which he tied or he had seen two men climbing over the sewed end to end. Thus provided, he boundary wall. The birds had really made his way out upon the roof, throngh emerged from their cage, and had flown. the openings ho had made, fastened one end of his patchwork rope to a rafter, PIckard Smith was the most trouble­ slung himself down to tho sill of the attic some inmate ever honoured with a resi­ window; and so, stage by stage, to the dence in Millbank prison, in the old days second story, first story, and terra flrma. when it was a penitentiary. He defied His rope was not in one long piece, but in and derided everybody, from the governor fonr sections for the four stages of his and chaplain down to the keepers and descent, fastening them in succession to patrols. He was in the place over and the bars of the windows. His difficulties over again, the result of new committals were not yet over; he had still to scale for new crimes. One morning his coll the boundary wall. Much rebuildmg and was found empty; and inside the door repairing were going ou in the garden, was chalked this doggerel rhyme : and much building material was lying London is the place -where I waa bora ; abont. First he removed a long and heavy Newgate has been too often my situation; ladder from the scaffolding, and dragged The Penitentiary has been too often my dwelling- It to the iron fence of a small burial- place ; ground separated from the garden. Find­ And New South Wales is my expectation! ing he could not raise it to the full height (Botany Bay penal settlement was one of°the boundary wall, he availed himself of the institutions of those days.) When of two plauks, lashed them firmly together the circumstances came to be closely in­ with a piece of rope he espied near at quired into, it was found that "The mode hand, made an Inclined plane up which he of escape was most ingenious, daring, and walked or crawled to the top of the wall, masterly, though the prisoner was only drew up his double plank after him, and eighteen years of age; there was a com­ by its aid mado his final escape down the bination of sagacity, courage, and ready outside of the wall. resource, indicating extraordinary powers both mental and bodily." Smith had A few words more concemmg this clever secreted an iron pin used for turning the scamp. A bribe from the police tempted handle of the stove-ventilator (the handle some of his "pals" to betray Piokard not being wanted or used in summer­ Smith, and he was onco agam made an time), and with this ho made a hole in inmate of Millbank. Once again did he the brick arch which formed the roof of become a torment to everybody. If he his cell, scraping and loosening until the were kept with other prisoners, he taught hole became large enough to admit his them to bo as insubordinate as himself; body. The pin, a hook, and a short ladder if he were kept by himself, he planned made ot shreds of cotton and coarse schemes for another escape. After some thread, enabled him to climb through the time, this reckless specimen of a bad lot hole ho had mado in the roof or arched (nearly all his relations had, ono time or ceiling of his cell; he crept along the other, been transported) was detected just space between the cell-roof and the outer on the eve of another evasion. Tho screws

Hf [Oondaoted Ijy 30G [JmiclO, 1876.] ALL THE TEAR ROUND.

in tho windows of his cell were found to detected, shows how ill-organised must have been taken ont; his rug and blankets have been tho establishment at that had been torn up into strips of such width time. as would bo strong enough for a descend­ And now let ns accompany Punch ing rope; and between his stockings and Howard in'his marvellous escape. How the soles of his feet were pieces of flannel, a full-grown man contrived to wriggle in one of which was a small piece of Iron, himself ont of such an opening is so in­ taken from one side of his cell window, explicable that we prefer to narrate it in ingeniously formed into a kind of pick­ Captain Griffiths' own words. We may lock. In what way these articles were to premise, however, that this feat and the be used, timely frustration prevented him Davenport rope-trick may, perhaps, throw from showing. The governor recorded some light upon each other, as showing in his official book that flogging had been how remarkably the hnman frame may be useless with this incorrigible fellow; hand­ temporarily contracted in some parts by cuffing led to such a clattering of iron the exercise of certain muscles. " As soon against wood and stone as to disturb the as the warders went off dnty, and the pen­ quietude of the whole place; while ex­ tagon left to one single officer or patrol, postulation and threat were equally with­ Howard set to work. Hoisting himself up out effect. The governor went so far as to the window, by hanging his blanket on to beg the Secretary of State to take Smith a hammock-hook in the wall jnst beneath, away, as being better fitted for a sternly- he removed the window bodily; one rivet guarded prison than a mildly-governed having been sawn through, the other soon penitentiary. "As to corporal punish­ gave way. The way of egress, such as it ment, he has already experienced it very was, was now open—a narrow sht, three severely, without any beneficial effect. feet by six Inches and a half. Howard His knowledge of the localities, and the was a stoutly-built man, with by no means present unsafe condition of the premises, a small head; yet he managed to get his will breed perpetual attempts, however head throngh the opening. Having ac­ unsuccessful, to escape." This desperate complished this, no doubt after tremendons character eventually came to a bad end, pressure and much pain to himself, he as may reasonably bo supposed. turned so as to He on his back, and worked out his shoulders aud arms. He had pre­ Although PIckard Smith was the bete viously put the window with its central noir, the most bewildering and trouble­ Iron bar half in and half out of the opening, some of all the prisoners the place has ever meaning to use it as a platform to stand had, the hero of Millbank, it apjiears, was on—the weight of his body pressing down " Punch " Howard, who effected his escape one end, while the other caught against in a manner to this day almost inexplicable. the roof of the opening, and so giving him This man was a criminal of a deep dye, who a firm foot-hold. He had also torn np his had escaped from Newgate and from Horse- blankets and sheets in strips, and tied them monger-lane. Millbank was to be a place together to form a long rope, one end of of temporary incarceration to him, pre­ which was fastened to his legs. He was paratory to transportation. He was placed now half way ont of the window, lying in in a cell at the top of a part of the building a horizontal position, with his arms free, then used as an infirmary, but nowadays his body nipped about the centre by the known as tbe E Ward. The window of narrow opening, his legs still inside his this room was long and narrow, the length­ cell. It was not difficult for him now to wise horizontal. Three feet of length or draw out the rest of his body; and as soon width had nothing special about it; but a as he had length enough, he threw himself height of only six and a half inches was, up and caught the coping-stone of the roof as we shall presently see, the great marvel above. All this took place on the top of the enterprise. The window revolved story, at a height of some thirty-five feet on a horizontal bar as an axis, riveted into from the ground. He was now outside the stone-work at the jjimbs. Howard the wall, and standing on the outer end of managed to secrete one of the dinner-knives the window-bar. To draw out the whole with which the prisoners were in those length of blanket and sheeting-rope, throw days supplied, and to convert the blade them on to the roof, and clamber after, were into a mde saw by hammering the edge his next exploits." on the comer of his iron bedstead. That he could secrete a dinner-knife at all, and keep on this hammering withont being Punch Howard is now on the roof ol one of the pentagon blocks of building;

'=^ Oharlea Dickens. 3 PRISON-BREAKING. trirno 10, 18J0.] 307

but he does not remain there long, his him, and told him plainly that he was not plan having been already arranged for a what be pretended to be. He took somo descent into tho garden. "This garden ale, paid for it, and was then surprised by was patrolled by six sentries, who divided her saying suddenly, " I'll help you to cop the whole circuit between them. Ho could young Punch." She stated that for a long see them as he stood on the roof. He took series of years she had been ill-treated by the descent by degrees, lowering himself Dan Crockett (Howard's uncle), with from tho roof to a third-floor window, from whom sho had lived as wife or no wife; third floor to second, from second to first, that ho had deserted her for a younger find from the first to the ground itself. The woman; and that she was wilUng to back of the nearest patrol was just then revenge herself either on uncle or nephew. turned, and Howard's descent to terra She warned Power that he mnst not firma was unobserved. Next moment he attempt a capture by daylight, or tho was seen standing in his white shirt, but reckless brickmakers would pretty nearly otherwise naked, among the tombstones "do for him." She pointed out Punch of the Penitentiary graveyard, which is Howard among the men in the field, and jnst at this point. Concluding he was a Power recognised him in spite of his change ghost, the sentry (as he afterwards ad­ of dress. She advised him to come again mitted), turned tail and ran, leaving the at night, when most of the men (It coast quite clear. Howard was not slow being summer weather) slept out npon to profit by the chance. Some planks lay and among the bricks; to bring some close by, one of which he raised against " Bobbles " with him, and capture his the boundary wall, and walked up the prey whUo asleep. An attempt was made incline thus formed. Next moment he at night to carry ont this plan, but Howard dropped down on the far side, and was could not be identified in the dark without free. His friends lived close by the prison, disturbing the rest. Power, therefore, con­ in Pye-street; and within a minute or two cocted a new scheme. On the next day he he was in his mother's house, got food hired a good horse and trap at the inn, and clothing, and again made oH for the changed his dress again, and drove to the country." office of the foreman of the brickfield. The foreman had been a pensioned-off sergeant All bis marvellous ingenuity, however, of police, and, when Informed of the facts, was of little avail to Punch Howard; ho readily agreed to assist Power. A lad was recaptured by a man as clever as him­ was sent to ask Dan Crockett whether his self, although in a different kind of clever­ nephew would like to earn twelve shillings ness. As a specimen of hunting the hare, a week at screening coal-dust. Dan at we will briefly describe the exploit. once sent Punch Howard to the manager's On the morning when Howard's escape office. The warder, a strong, powerful man, was discovered, Dennis Power, a warder boldly seized him, handcuffed him, lifted in that part of tho building, recollected him bodily into the trap, mounted himself, that Howard, when brought to Millbank, and drove off as rapidly as a narrow road had been accompanied by a companion wonld permit. He had enough to occupy criminal named Jerry Simcox. Going every thonght and every muscle; for he into the cell where Simcox was located, had the reins and whip in his right Power cautiously opened his eyes and ears hand, his left arm tightly clasped ronnd to any facts that might furnish a clue. Howard's neck, and his left hand gagging Simcox, after declaring admiringly that the criminal's month as well as he conld. Howard conld get out of any prison in But the gagging was incomplete; Howard England, unguardedly let drop tho infor­ shouted and roared; the brickmakers mation that the hero had an uncle work­ heard him, left then- work, and ran up by ing in some brickfields at West Drayton, a diagonal route to intercept the trap aa it near Uxbridge. Quickly obtaining ample turned a corner. It was a close shave, authority and money from the authorities, that might have been perilous to Power; Power started off without an hour's delay. for the brickmakers were two or three Arrived at West Drayton, he bought a hundred in number; but he had just a suit of navvy's clothes from the ostler of minute of time ahead, and reached Ux­ an inn, shouldered a spade, went to the bridge, where other aid was at hand. The side of the brickfield, and entered a small thing was so smartly done, that Dennis frowsy alehouse hard by. He asked a Power obtained reward and promotion; woman at the bar whether she thought nntU at length he became " Mr. Power, liands were wanted. She looked hard at

=^ ^*?" J^

308 [Juno 10, 1870.] ALL THE TEAR ROUND. tOoaduoted by chief warder of Millbank," at the time Lady Olive,' Audrey said, with a smile when Captain Griffiths wrote hia book. ' and I fear dimity must be substituted foj Two remarks snggest themselves in chintz. Wasn't it lucky yon did not succeec connection with these escapes. One is in inspiring me with an ambition abovt that we must all regret to see so much Kidderminster ?' misapplied ingenuity. Pickard Smith, " She took me to inspect the prepara. Punch Howard, and the like, had had tions for her young guest, and I quicklj little or no chance of becoming honest noted that among the small decorations men. Born and bred among thieves and of the pretty room over tho porch, with rogues, they had been almoat as familiar windows framed in greenery, were all with crime as with their daily food. At the choicest of Audrey's own possessions. war with society, yet were they full of Her own pet bookcase, and her own little tact and shrewdneaa that might have table, with its quaint bow legs and brass benefited themselves and others if pro­ locks and keys—an ancient piece of furni­ perly directed. Another remark is that, ture, black with age, and shiny with rub­ on the authority of Captain GrifG.ths, such bing—and a few delicate bits of old china, eacapes are now almost impossible from which had been the prido and glory of our well-conducted prisons; moreover, it is her own mantelshelf, were disposed to the noticeable that, even in the past days of Mill- best advantage for the beautifying of the bank, every one of the escaped prisoners room which was to receive the orphan girl. was recaptured sooner or later. A safe and pleasant haven for the ocean waif wonld be this simple and pretty room, which had ' home' in its aspect. Wonld GRIFFITH'S DOUBLE. Ida Pemberton appreciate it ? Wonld she BY MRS. OASHEL HOET, discern the care and thonghtfnlness, the ADTHOa or " L HOUSE OT CAJinB," &C. &C. sympathy and the delicacy which had prompted its arrangements ? I thonght BOOK V. lADY OLIVE DESPAKD'S STOKT. of the letter which she had dictated, and CHAPTEE lY. HAILWAT READING. had my doubts. I feared that the stranger "I ANTICIPATED with pain my next meet­ whom these kind people were about to take ing with Griffith Dwarris. His conduct, to their warm and simple hearts was of the as I divined that conduct to have been, cold and hard order. nnder the crushing disappointment which "' We have been obliged to remove the had come when hope was so justly high, boxes,' said Audrey, 'and to have them had increased my good opinion of him, stored away in the loft—you remember and deepened my pity for him. In all our wondering what was to be done abont my experience of life there waa nothing them P—^because the room they were in more rare than for young people to put must be got ready for Ida's maid.' effectual restraint upon themselves, their " ' She is bringing a maid, then ? How wishes, feelings, and impulses, out of con­ do yon know thatP Have you heard sideration for the peace and welfare of again ? ' their elders, but tins rare thing Griffith Dwarris had done. Would he come aud "' Not at all. Papa concludes that she tell me abont it f will do so, or that, if she do not, we must find oneforher. And there's trouble in store " The morning brought me no commu­ for me ou that score with Frosty. She was nication from him, and when I went to exceedingly " sniffy," as Miss Minnie says, the Dingle House in the afternoon to see about the maid, and uttered many dismal Audrey and arrange about my journey, I prophecies concerning the mischief-making found that Madeleine Kindersley had not we may expect. It seems that Frosty holds been there. She had written the sweetest " uppishness " to be inherent in maids, bat little letter to Mr. Dwarris to congratulate my real belief is that the dear old woman him on the joyful news of his niece's safety, is extremely jealous because my cousin ia but I daresay the letter to Audrey in which what she calls " grander " than I am.' it was enclosed was a sad enough document, fop Audrey's eyes bore traces of tears. But "' I think it Is more than likely Bessy she said nothing to me, however, except in West is her maid, and will come with her.' reference to her cousin's coming, and the " We were standing at the- window, preparations which she had already set and we heard the latch of the gate click. about. Audrey looked ont. "' Oh,' she said, ' there's Clement Kin­ "'They don't include the " bestBrussels," dersley and that horrid man, Mr. Durant. OhATlea PiokeuB.] GRIFFITH'S DOUBLE. tJuuo 10,1876.] 309

And they see me; they're raising their hats. coming in a visitor to a strange place. I mnst go down now.' He, in common with everybody in Wrot­ " ' Then I wiU go to your father's room. tesley, was acquainted with the matter in But why do you caU Mi. Dnrant a "horrid which tho Dwarriscs were at present so man ? "' deeply interested, and he asked a few "'I don't know,' answered Audrey, pertinent, permissible questions, and would petulantly; ' I don't like him to be such then have dismissed the subject, bnt an imago of Griffith. It annoys me when Clement Kindersley kept it np. He people tell me of it.' wanted to know what Miss Pemberton "' Griffith sees the likeness himself, I was like, and who her step-mother had suppose ? ' been? whether Audrey did not think it "' Tes. They met for the first time was a very good thing the baby did not yesterday, and Griffith was amused; but live, and that all babies were bores ? it is a bore.' Audrey grew positively nervous under "We had come downstairs; the two this unpleasant cross-examination, and yonng men were in the drawing-room. I once or twice Mr. Durant interposed, and was about to pass on to the adjoining tried almost to wrench the conversation iu room, but Audrey, whose face lacked its another direction. In vain; his companion customary brightness, begged mo to come would, and did, talk about the Albatross in with her. and Ida Pemberton in spite of him. "' I hope they will only stay a few "' I suppose yonr cousin writes in great minutes,' she said. * I never know how spirits ?' was one of his questions; at to talk to Clement Kindersley, and I which Mr. Durant looked nndisguisedly think he has a wholesome dread of you.' vexed. " * And so you've heard of your cousin. " ' My cousin does not write at all,' said Miss Dwarris,' began Clement Kindersley. Audrey, shortly; ' she Is too ill to write.' ' I thonght I wonld come and congratulate " ' Ah, yes; by-the-bye, Madeleine said you. Wonderful piece of luck, really ! something about her getting someone else Madeleine did not seem to know much to write. A fellow-passenger, I suppose ? ' about it, however—I mean beyond the fact " ' We really do not know.' that the ship was burnt, and that your " 'But you could easily tell, by the cousin was saved in one of the boats.' list of the saved passengers, "rhere's a "' There is not mnch more to be known,* Ust in yesterday's paper. Haven't you said Audrey, with steady gravity; ' and we seen it ? ' have to lament the loss of Mrs. Pemberton " * No. We know who had been saved, and her little son.' and who had been lost, of those we cared "' Ah yes, Madeleine said something for, and we looked no farther.' about it. Well, I'm sure I'm very sorry; "'Here it is,' said Clement, officiously but everybody can't escape, you know, and pulling out his pocket-book, and taking it's only fair the young ones shonld have the from it a slip of printed paper, ' and yon chance. Horrible thing, a voyage, I shonld can find out in a minute who it was that say; I shonld hate it myself; shouldn't you, wrote the letter to you. Tell me the name Miss Dwarris ? ' and I'll find it for you.' "While Clement Kindersley, who looked " ' The name is Bessy West.' more than usually pasty-faced, dull-eyed, " 'No such uame among the passengers. and ill at ease in the presence of ladies, Here's your cousin's, "Miss Pemberton was talking to Audrey, after this elegant and maid." The maid's name is Bossy and engaging fashion, I was exchanging a West! There, Miss Dwarris, don't yon few words with Mr. Dnrant. I could think I should have made a good de­ hardly exaggerate the closeness of his tective ?' resemblance to Griffith Dwarris; and it " I caught a look in Mr. Durant's face, had a puzzling sort of effect ou me, which persuaded me that there was au especially there, in the place where I was instantaneous harmony of thonght between accustomed to see Griffith. He was a ns, when the notion occurred to me that gentlemanly person, surprisingly so for a Clement Kindersley was rather of the friend of poor Clement KIndersley's later material which furnishes employment for choosing, with something in his look and detectives. The next moment Mr. Durant manner suggestive of watchfulness, or glanced at the clock on the mantelshelf perhaps I ought rather to say of obser­ and rose. vation, not, after all, unnatural or unbe­ "'I beg yonr pardon, Kindersley,' he Ni>_

[(Jonduotfid by 310 [Jnne 10, 1870.] ALL THB TEAR ROUND.

said, 'but I must remind you of our that hateful Mr. Dnrant; and she won- appointment.' dered what brought him prowling abont "He then took leave of us, with a there with Oloment Kindersley. In another manner as unembarrassed as Clement's minute Griffith came up to us. His colour •was awkward, and when the door closed changed as his eyes met mine, and he spoke on them, Audrey remarked that it gave in a hurried voice the ordinary nothings of her satisfaction to observe that Clement the occasion. Kindersley's new friend possessed the " We were soon in our places; and Mr, useful art of snubbing him. Dwarris, who tad previously given me a ^ " Griifith and I were to leave Wrottesley small packet, which I placed in my travel­ for London by the mail-train, and on the ling-bag, bade me farewell. The train following day we were to start on our moved out of the station, and we lost sight journey to Plymouth. During that journey of Mr. Dwarris and Audrey, but had a we should have plenty of time to talk over later glimpse of Clement Kindersley, who all that had happened. It was better that stood at the end of the platform with a I should see neither Madeleine nor GrifiBth vacant grin upon his face, and by his side in the meantime, and I felt sure that Mr. Durant. They raised their hats to me Audrey's silence was enjoined by either or as the train glided by the edge of the plat­ both of them. form, and Griffith said: " We could not fix any day on which my " ' Madeleine calls Clement's new friend return might be looked for; all that must my " double." I suppose he has taken a depend on how I found Ida Pemberton, and fancy to him, on the principle of the lady on her fitness for a journey. If the illness who said she really could not resist mmung from which she was suffering should prove away with an admirer, because he waa so to be nothing more than nervous depres­ like her husband in his best days.' sion and debility, my experience told me "' The likeness is curious, but not so that she would speedily rally under the strong when one sees both at the same influence of kindness and care, and the time. Where did Clement Kindersley pick - sense that she was going home. It was up Mr. Durant ? ' arranged that Griffith should join me at " ' In London, I believe. I don't know the railway station ; and, as I returned to much about him; bnt, I believe, the like­ Despard Court, I reflected on the oddity ness led to the acquaintance. Clement's of the situation. He and I had parted with story is that he saw me, as he supposed, words full of the hope, whose dispersion in the Strand; and that he slapped me on into thin air was assured by the object of the shoulder, and said, " Hollo! Griffith, the journey we were about to undertake. what brings you here, old fellow ?" " When I arrived at the Wrottesley Whereupon the recipient of his greeting railway station, accompanied by my maid, looked at him not over kindly, and in­ and so moderate a supply of luggage, that formed him that he was mistaken. Ex­ any man accustomed to travel with planations and acquaintance followed, and, ladies would have felt that Grifiith was to I presume, each found a congenial spirit be envied, I was surprised to find that my in the other.' journey was regarded as a kind of event. " ' What is Mr. Durant doing at "Wrot­ It seemed to be pretty widely known, thanks tesley ?' chiefly to the gossip of Miss Minnie Kellett, '"Nothing, I believe. Clement talks that I was about to do this very simple very big about him as a young man of act of neighbourly kindness to my good fashion and leisure, with a taste for fish­ friends at the Dingle House, and there was ing; and that is, literally, all I have a plentiful attendance of gobemouches on heard.' the occasion. " Our talk on this indifferent subject " I expected to find Audrey with her had disposed of the first minutes of onr brother, but I was unprepared for the journey, and the unsettled sensations which apparition of Mr. Dwarris, waiting to attend a start. My companion had pro­ hand me out of the carriage. Grifiith, I vided for my comfort with all due care. concluded, was taking the tickets, as I did My wraps were carefully disposed, my not see him for a moment; then I per­ book and paper-knife at hand; but I had ceived him on the platform, and very no intention of reading. We were vir­ lightly dressed, as I thought, for a tually alone, for my maid neither under­ journey. But it was not Grifiith, Audrey stood nor spoke English, and was already explained, with voluble vexation, it was exercising the most powerful gift of sleep

—~P Oharlei Dlckeni.] GRIFFITH'S DOUBLE. [Juno 10, 1870.] 311

with which I have ever known anyone to do Immediately, and something I must be endowed. prevent; the clearest feeling in it being "'Come,' I said, 'you know I am most one of great thankfulness that my father anxious to know how things are. Tell me should not know that the news ho had told all about it.' us, and its reversal, had any extra import­ "' I will indeed,' he replied. ' I am snre ance for me.' you know I have only been waiting until " He passed his hand wearily across his the turn of things to be done should bo forehead, and sighed. over. It has been "a pull," as Traddlee "' I hope you don't blame me very says, for ns all—for Madeleine, aud Audrey, severely becanse this was the first effect and myself.' the intelligence produced on me. In a " ' You have borne it bravely, and very short time I was able to rejoice in Audrey too. So much as that I can see. the safety of my cousin, and to discard Te'i me abont Madeleine.' the selfish impulse of regret that I had " He told me. I mnst not repeat the had a vision of fortune for a few hours.' details of the homely story of hope, dis­ "' Had Mr. Conybeare any notion of all appointment, courage, patience, and true this ?' love, the love which might trust and be "' Not the slightest. My father, as you trusted in the future, because it had been know, had told him, and consulted him proved to have its roots in honesty and about Mrs. Pemberton's will, and he was duty in the present. Somehow, I felt, it mnch distressed abont the unfortunate would come right, it must come right; I ' disappointment,' as he called it. I sent a could not see how, but I had the strongest line to Frank Lester, and got him to take a faith in the future for these brave young letter to Madeleine for me, for I could not hearts, in their constancy and its reward. leave the bank when business hours had It had all happened as I had pictured it to begun. Frank went ronnd to the Dingle myself. Griffith had gone to Madeleine House in the afternoon, told Audrey, who with the intelligence of his father's acces­ behaved like the good little girl that she sion to fortune, the news which changed the is, and found that my father had gone to scene for them as effectually as sunrise Despard Court. Frank and Audrey then changes night into day, and she had given arranged that Frank should follow him, him joyful permission to reveal the de­ and set his mind at rest by letting him lightful truth of their mutual love to bis know that we were aware of the news father. Mr. Kindersley was not at home that had reached him. Tou kuow tho that evening, or Griffith thought Madeleine rest.' might have been unable to conceal from " ' Not all the rest, Griffith. Tou saw her father that something of great import­ Madeleine that evening; while your father ance to her had occurred. was with me. Tou and Frank Lester " ' We were spared that, however,' he went to Beech Lawn. How was it with said, 'and it is a great deal spared. It her?' was arranged between ns that my father "' How is it with the angels. Lady was to ask his old friend for his daughter Olive ? I believe she is as like one of for me. There was no need for me to ask them as any hnman creature ever was; I my father what he intended to do for me. believe they are indeed " her high-born The new fortunes and the old wonld be all kinsmen." She had no room in her mind alike in that respect. And I was to have for any thoughts bnt of the rescued girl, seen my father and got him to go to Mr. no room in her heart for any feeling bnt Kindersley yesterday, and to have seen joy. Sho made me feel unutterably Madeleine in the evening—you may fancy ashamed of my want of courage. " Wait what castles we had built the evening and hope" is to be her motto and mine before—but Mr. Conybeare sent for me henceforth. When things are all quiet and early on business (before my father was settled at home, I shall go away somewhere, ont of his room), and when I got to tho and seek my fortune; and Madeleine bank, he showed me the paragraph in tho will stay at home and wait for me.' newspaper about the CoUingwood's having " I could not help thinking, as I listened brought passengers saved from the Alba­ to Griffith's cheerful and brave words, that tross into Plymouth. Lady Olive, I don't Mr. Kindersley wonld do a wise thing if quite know what I felt at first—it was a he disregarded every consideration of in­ kind of confusion—the clearest sense iu It terest, and the world's opinion, and gave being that there was something I must his daughter without more ado to a 312 ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [June 19,1876.]

young man who might so well be trusted slightly confused langh, ' I thought at with her happiness. I thonght this quite one time that you would have been glad dispassionately, for in general I am by no if ' means a person disposed to set aside con­ " ' If Barr had liked Madeleine, and she ventional rules, or to advocate exceptional had liked him ? Tou were quite right. Bnt courses. I think society is mostly justified it did not come to pass, or only half of it in its demands, and that in the vast majority came to pass, and that in a very safe degree. of cases the world's opinion is right. Can you guess why ? Because Barr dis­ " ' I have been talking things over with covered what I had not suspected, that Lester,' Grifiith went on to say; 'and he Madeleine's heart was not hers to give.' • knows a good deal about the outside world, "' I did not know it then. We both which is so strange to me. The only thing learned the truth during that absence.' • I cannot stand, and must not try, for her "And then Griffith and I talked of sake and mine, is remaining at Wrottesley, Madeleine until we tired of talking, and' in the bank as I am. I have a notion that resorted to our respective books. Audrey and Lester will marry sooner than " The train stopped at a station within we hoped. I think that will come .out of an hour of London, and when we reached all these changes ; and that I shall be able it I insisted on Griffith's changing his place to reconcile my father to my trying some for one in a smoking-carriage. When the quite new line, on the natural plea of feel­ train moved on again I took out of my tra­ ing unsettled.' velling-bag the packet which Mr. Dwarris " ' And that ever-vexed question— had given me at Wrottesley station. money ?' " It consisted of a thick blue envelope, " ' That will be easier than it ever has containing a second, on which was written, been. Mrs. Pemberton's wiU confirms my in Mr. Dwarris's hand : uncle's legacy to my father, and makes a " ' Eoclosure No. II., contained in Mrs. liberal provision for my cousin's expenses Pemberton's letter.' until her majority, on the supposition that " ' Read that,' Mr. Dwarris had said to she will reside with my father.' me, ' and thoroughly master its contents; " ' Have you any intention, any precise so that when you return you can advise notion, of what you want to do ? ' me in my line of conduct from the begin­ " ' I am afraid not.' For the first time ning. It is better that you should com­ Griffith's face assumed a dreary look. pletely understand the position before yon ' There is a great restlessness over me. I see the girl.' have begun to feel my captivity, and the " I drew out of the second envelope narrowness of my cage, and the longing several sheets of letter paper, closely to stretch my wings even for a little.' written over in a distinct and carefnl > " ' Then I will tell you what it is best to hand, and numbered. I settled myself do. Let us consult my brother. We shall into the comer, adjusted my travelling- probably see him at Plymouth ; but if not, lamp, and prepared to read the voluminous I will get him to come to Despard Court document. I was naturally interested in for a few days. Barr is practical, if de­ it; the circumstances under which it had- sultory, and what he puts his mind to he been written, the terrible fate of the writer, . generally accomplishes.' the purpose of my present journey, all in­ "' It would be very kind of him to vested it with a solemn importance, which, interest himself for me.' however, had no conceivable reference to " ' He wUl certainly do so, for my sake, myself. Intimately associated with the and for your own, and, indeed, for Made­ circumstances in which my friends were* leine's.' placed, I was absolutely dissociated from "I remembered my own imperfectly- them in every personal respect. formed schemesfor my brother,and thought " What, therefore, was my astonishment, of the bootless expenditure of poor Mr. when, in the course of my perusal of Mrs. ' Pemberton's ingenuity on a similar project, Pemberton's confidential communication" and took in a fresh lesson upon the con­ to Mr. Dwarris, I discovered that I waa trariness of human destinies. reading a long missing chapter in the story " ' Do you know,' said Griffith, with a of my own life."

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