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CO/JDUCTEDBY

WITH WHICH IS llMCOI\PO^TED

\'o.248.NiwSiRiE8.tf SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1873.

fashion, bnt tbey had clearly known nothing TOUNG ME. NIGHTINGALE. of re-decoration for many years. The «T TM AUTHOR 0? "HOBSON'S CHOICE," Sc. pattern of the carpet seemed to have been fairly swept off it, exposing a surface of CHAPTEB XXVIII. AN ARTICLED CLERK. discoloured threads; the chintz that cur­ AIDED by my map I soon found ray way tained the windows and covered the chairs jPeatherstone-bull dings—a sort of Istbraus was limp of texture and faded of hue ; the nectuig the thoroughfares of Holborn paint was dull and rubbed away at all sharp Dd Bedford-row—and there secured fur- corners; the quicksilver was vanishing from lied apartments on the second floor of a the looking-glass, and its frame retained on the western side of the narrow only a very few streaks and patehes of They were rather dark rooms, and gilding. Still I was in the raood to be I me, accustomed to open spaces, seeraed satisfied with everything, and I assured confined in the matter of outlook ; the myself I should be very comfortable in site houses were so strangely near, and Featherstone-buildings. When I had re­ beir tenants able in such wise to inspect all moved my luggage from the Golden Cross— ' ' proceedings so closely, that I appeared after rewarding tho pimpled waiter with ^Highland dress, with able tailor's at tbe West-end of the town— *^g8, who played the bagpipes twice Stultz, I think the name was—and an ex­ k just below my window, I still look cellent workman " when he 'ad his 'ealth," « ttpon as one of the sworn tormentors which I subsequently discovered to nieaii, ^ early life in London, when he was sober. She int rust ul ine '•rooms were furnished with a sort of with the kev of" the street-(li)or—a piieious •hahbincss. They were clean after a ^^ —-«^ 4 VOL. X. V?ii A 410 r\u;^u^t .TO, IST."».J ALL THB YEAR ROUND. *crt syndiol of independence I accounted it— or mmrky districts—for stories had anil expressed a hope, certainly snpcrflnons, my ear of tbe entrapping of i IfL

^5= ^ y Aa IMckens.] YOUNG MR. NIGHTINGALE. rAngnst no, is-s.] 411 1

that momentous events had come between so naturally we do without it; we're paid 'US like some insuperable mountain. She by the word, or rather by the folio, so ,ined to a past state of things that was raany words to a folio, you understand. very distant from me. It was as Precisely. I'm sure you'll do your best. neh long years had intervened between Now, this Is the kind of writing we liko. time when I had last seen her with her You might keep it before you as a model." ,ndat Overbury Hall, and the present. Ho produced a second document, an affi­ iras a child then; now I was a man— davit, I think it was, very neatly written lost, and she—Lady Overbury. Yet I on blue foolscap paper. I recognised the \\ d myself inquiring at times, though penmanship at once. The formal letters comparatively unexcited by the question, received by ray uncle at the Down Farm hat had become of her ? Should I ever In reference to ray being articled to ^Mr. her again ? ^lonck, and signed by hira, had clearly I took possession of my seat and desk in been written by the hand that had en­ fUr. Monck's office to commence ray career grossed this affidavit. If affidavit it was. his articled clerk. I found old Vlckery " Is that your writing, Mr. Vlckery?" I his post. He saw that I was well sup- asked. iud with writing raaterlals, and handed " No," he answered with sorae hesita­ a voluminous document to copy. tion ; " no, it's not mine. I can't write •• We shall get on very nicely, I'm sure, like that now; Indeed, I never could, '. Nightingale," he said. " I'm glad to though, years ago, I could engross neatly you're so punctual. II trust it may and carefully enough. But my eyesight Hitu' He said this as though he fully isn't what it was, and my hand is le.ss Wieved it wouldn't. " I think we had steady. I'ra getting old, that's what it is, llttter make a practical commencement; Mr. Nightingale. Precisely. I call tbat Ihat, I know, has always been Mr. Monck's writing really beautiful; so even, and re­ w with young gentlemen articled to him. gular, and legible; such proportion about always been in favour of practical It; each letter perfectly forraed and no nres myself. There's so much more ragged ends, you perceive, or useless to be learned in that way than ft-ora curves ; all neat and siraple. If you can books. I've but a poor opinion of books only write liko tbat, Mr. Nightingale, or jijiA myself. They're so confusing, I find. come any way near it, you'll do. You'll >Tou needn't trouble yourself much about become a first-rate lawyer. It wouldn't iifcading, I think." And I had been look- at all surprise rae. With such a hand as forward to diligent study of Black- that, a man might climb to the woolsack, itone! " I've not read many books my- even. LCany Lord Chancellors I've known .self, and yet I may say that I know a haven't written nearly so well." deal of law. I ought to—precisely— So saying, be shuffied to bis desk, leaving ag how many years I've been Mr. rae to deal as best I might with the Stato ick's manager. I don't pretend to be of Facts In Dobson versus Dicks. I set t>re than that, of course. This is what manfully to work; but I found great dif­ loall a State of Facts for tbe blaster's ficulty in cramping my hand to the legal ice. It's In Dobson versus Dicks, a pattern, and the State of Facts was terribly mcery suit of long standing. Let ns dull reading. I could make nothing of it. iiee if you can make a nice fair copy of it. If it had meaning at all it was lost in ^fin're not accustomed, of course, to involved verbosity, in labyrinthine sen­ ing what we call a law band. Pre- tences, and confused aud preposterous re­ »ly. But you'll soon get into the way petitions. \W it. There's no hurry, we're never in Silence prevailed for some tirae, bi-oken hurry in Chancery matters; only write only by the asthmatic ticking of the dusty- ilj^nily and legibly without flourishes—we faced office clock on a ledge above the door. Ewm't care about flourishes in the law— Mr. Vickcry was busy writing, bis head ttioept perhaps just at the commencement bent low, so that bis conical horn of iron- •f a deed at 'This Indenture,' or ' Know grey hair nearly swept bis desk. He paused [•en by these Presents;' then we Indulge at intervals to reinvigoi-ate himself with a Bwtimes In a little ornament. And don't pinch of snuff frora his tin box, bnt he , >»ke the tails of your letters too long; it rarely looked iu my direction. I grew ^Jpnls the look of writing, to my thinking; weary; my fingers becarae craraped, and *IM don't mind about putting in stops; a strong disposition to yawn and stretch • ••le not paid for punctuation In the law. nivself possessed me.

V ^- 412 fAugu^t:;o, js:."..] ALL 'lllL YLAR ROUND. [Con " Is Mr. Monck likely to be disengaged, be tho same with yf)U as with the doyou thii.k :" I askcil presenth'. 1 had young gentleraeu who've been articled J. to put the question twice before I could Mr. :Monck. They were all under my obtain an answer. and they got on surprisingly. Knev " No," 2ilr. Viekery said at length, very the courts and offices, and I may say deliberately. " Not to-day, I think. You whole proceduro of law, from a p; wish to see bim ?" point of view. Any message you I Intimated that such was my desire. have for Mr. Monck, of course I'll " You've something particular to say to care to deliver. Meanwhile, it wonld him, perhaps r' as well, perhaps, not to disturb him. '* No; nothing very particular." doesn't like being disturbed. Few peoi " Precisely. Well, he happens to be do. That's my experience. I hope yon very much occupied just now; so as it's getting on nicely with that State of Fa nothing very particular It might perhaps I'll come round and see presently." stand over." I thought it strange, seeing that a " He Is in, then ?" siderable preraiura had been paid to hira " Ab ! you're too sharp upon mc, Mr. on his receiving me as his articled pnril Nightingale. But It looks well for your and that he bad covenanted to instruct im. success In your profession. I don't object duly in the mysteries of his craft, that to it. I didn't say he was in. But, as Monck should be so httle curious in you make a point of it, and press mc upon regard. It would have occupied Httle it, I don't mind admitting that be is In, his time, however valuable it might be, but, as I said, particularly engaged. He have seen me and interchanged a would much rather not be troubled just friendly words. If this was not due tO''_ r now, unless It was about something very me on my own account, I thought it dne """.-., particular. But you've said it isn't that." to my relationship to his former friend, my Then, after a pause, he added : " Perhaps uncle. But my opinion was not very you thought of paying your respects to clearly defined on the subject—all was so •lilO ? bim, as his articled clerk ? Very proper. new to me. For aught I knew to the con­ s But there's no real necessity for it. At trary, this might be the ordinary practice any i-ate there's no hurry about it, Mr. of a lawyer's office in relation to articled !Monck being so much occupied; any time clerks. Mr. Vlckery had almost suggested will do for tbat." as much. " To-morrow, perhaps ?"' ^Meantime I tolled over the State of Facts, " Ay, to-morrow, or the day after, or making little progress with it. I calcu­ the day after that, or next week, or next lated it would take me at least a week to nionth. It doesn't really press, you see. complete tbe fair copy of it. It was dull !Mr. Monck Is not ceremonious; he's tbe work. The office hours were long in those last man in the world to be punctilious days. We paused about five o'clock for about trifles ; and it's but a trifle, you some two hours or so, during which in­ ^Sl£t know, Mr. Nightingale. Not that you terval I dined In Rupert-street. Then we must think yourself neglected. Mr. !Monck returned to the office as a rule, and sat at wouldn't wish that. But he has full con­ our desks until after eight o'clock. I was fidence in me. I have been his manager unaccustomed to this long confinement, and so raany years. I came to this office first found it rather trying. quite as a boy, !Mr. Nightingale ; In the Few people ever came to the office. old gentleman's time, Mr. Monck's father, There seemed no other clerk but Viekery

I mean. He regards me quite as his locum and an errand boy, who when unemployed •iT

tenens, as we say. You know Latin ? of out of doors, occupied his time in dusting, :•;{ course, precisely. I know a few formal sorting, and tying up papers, in cleaning terms, but not more than that. I don't inkstands, spilhng ink upon the floor, pretend to, and more is not really neces­ and blotting himself all over. He aat sary for all practical purposes; yes, as his upon a little stool In a corner, and often, ill locum tenens. I'll see that everything's I noticed, dropped off to sleep, leaving a done that's right, ]\Ir. Nightingale. You black impression of his head, as though » may trust me. Though I say it, there's no had been a lithographic stone, printed off one better qualified to give a young man a upon the wall behind him. I asked him once practical insight into his profession. You've why he went to sleep so often. He said got hold of the right end of the stick, as he couldn't help it. He'd been up all the saying is, :Mr. Nightingale. It will night; he was up most nights, helping his -^

& Xiii (jharksI>>c1i:«D8.] MODERN ROMAN MOSAICS. [August 30,1873.] 413 other get through Avith her washing. He glimpses through wide open casements into not an interesting boy, and suffered sombre depths of comparative darkness— IlHj ich from an eruptive condition of the back-grounds of gloom, against which 9r part of his face. figures flit, and white curtains aro "re­ lieved," so as to look dazzlingly clean. But this effect—to judge by all tbe white cur­ j^^» MODERN ROMAN MOSAICS. tains which I have the opportunity of sur­ ^tt,|9&i ON SOME BACKS OF HOUSES. veying, under circumstances of less favour­ i fa^TLOOKING out of window is a very general able contrast—is probably a mere optical '-Recreation in Italy. Considered as an delusiofi. amnsement, it has several advantages. It I confess, not without some qualms of 'SeisiVf is cheap. It involves no exertion of mind conscience, that, as I pass many an hour, or body. And it is always at hand. I cigar in mouth, and elbow on sill, looking QHn. to having adopted this Italian mea- out at my backs of houses, I consider my­ aare, subject, however, to such limitations self peculiarly lucky in point of situation. and variations as result from my having There are two or three stinking contrasts is call been horn in a country in which absolute within a stone's throw of me, which fur­ idleness is not cultivated as a fine art. nish the quaintest combinations sometimes. ^^ Now, in looking at a great thoroughfare Straight opposite to me, as I sit di.screetly there is no time given you to enjoy the shaded from view by the half-closed per- CCHfiiji fhow thoroughly—I mean tbe human part siane (those wooden blinds which we call, of the show. It is like looking at a land­ I know not why, Venetian blinds), is an scape from a railway train in motion. The establishment of Sisters of Charity, who pace is too rapid to allow you to distin­ keep a school for young children of the itiutj: guish the details. Only In this case It is poorer classes. On my left is a row of IjSG-lll ^e spectator who is stationary, and the dwelling-houses, occupied by Roman citi­ de which moves. Tbe stream of zens of the lower middle class- On ray irfaj' lie hurries by in a purposeful way. right is a huge overgrown caravanserai. ey are all bound somewhither, and are Heaven knows how many stories high, a going to do something. It Is true that this tourist-frequented hotel, full to over-flow objection applies less to transalpine than to ing, chiefly of ti-ansatlantic travellers, very English towns. There are, in most cities smart In their attire, very energetic in their Italy, streets—crowded ones too—in sight-seeing, rather more strident of voice h the respectable public lounges all than is pleasant to persons whose ears are long. The lounge, the whole lounge, sensitive, and going and coraing all day long- ill notibing but the lounge, is practised in In an endless double procession, outward and fevoured localities. But they do not horaeward bound, of carriages and pedes­ Jtf;' the variety, and dmraatlc interest, trians. Between tbe caravanserai and the IB* which are the great charms of looking out Sisters of Charlt}', there Is a wide gap In .fd window. The performers are, almost the line of ray backs of houses. The gap rilt ttclusively, men, and almost exclusively is occupied, first by the opening of a stee]) o'cltd I men of similar social position to one an­ lane running up In tbe direction of the other. They sit or stand outside cafes, or Mous QuIrInaHs,and then by the garden of •t clnb doors, or on the pavement, or In the hotel on which I look down frora my the middle of the road—for we do not second-floor window. The gap allows me trouble ourselves here about leaving free to see a large church opposite (it would be •pace for the circulation of vehicles, or of difficult to find a space of ground In Rome •toy eccentric persons who may be in a where you are not within view of a church), rory—and talk, and smoke, and spit, and which Is approached by a very broad and <^>it, and smoke, and talk, with a monotony lofty flight of tirae-worn steps. The grass il which it is a little tiresome to watch. throws in the fissures of these steps, and Bnt get a good commanding view of there is a plentiful crop of weeds waving tome backs of houses, with, if possible, a and nodding on the arch above the west en­ fnnpse, obtained cornerwlse, of a busy trance of the church. Close to the church iiwet beyond, and you have the most is a series of artists' studios, with wide pwfect position for a window to look out wooden doors to perrait of the egress of w. ^ You see the out-door life of the people, larf^e works of sculpture or painting. Add Wmch includes a very large number of to all this the fact that the fronts of ray •WOT ont of the twenty-four, and as much backs of houses and the garden of tho • their in-door life as can be made out by caravanserai border a long thoroughfiirc. ^^ A 414 fAuguBt 30, 1873.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [Oonducted ty

which leads to the chief railway station, voice of an English navvy, who is and through which pass the bulk of the vast quarrelsome in bis cups. The girl number ot travellers of all nations arriving making some simple and common at, Ol departing from, the Kternal City, observation, she may even be band; irtsf' and it will, I think, be admitted, that what jests in high good humour with her meets iny daily view is a Roman Mosaic, pauions, but the tone in which her sentences compounded of very various and sharply- are uttered, might make all Billingsgate •:;0 contrasted pieces. quail. Nor is this peculiarity confined to Behind the school of the Sisters of the lowest stratum of the population. Charit}', and consequently between their Tbe other day I entered a shop to buy a hou.se and my window, is a playground for cravat. There was a respectable, neatlr- the children, aud (walled off from it) a dressed young woman there, bonneted tt l 11 u small kitchen-garden. The playground is shawled, and apparently belonging to % tc my eyes a dusty desert, divided down tradesman's family. Whilst I modestly the centre by an open wooden paling waited in the background of the shop until • ia which sepai-ates the boys from the girls ; my turn to be served should an'ive, tin:, damsel was chaffering and haggling about to the childish imaginations of the young ; I Romans who are let loose into it twice a the purchase of some white gauzy stuff for a veil. The man who was measuring out day from their close school-room, it is :.; e« doubtless peopled with delights. Tbey the material behind the counter, and making are, as a rule, neither handsome nor healthy but a feeble fight of it, poor fellow, against looking, these poor urchins; sallow and the lady's strenuous demands for the re­ coarse-featured for the most part, with duction of three halfpence sterling on the frowsy mats of tangled dark hair, and entire price of the article, happened to fold clothes which look rather dirty aud neg­ the gauze a little crooked at the point Where lected, than shabby from long wear. be was about to cut it. Instantly the young Amongst the elder girls there are some woman bawled out at the full pitch of her fine creatures of fourteen or fifteen, look­ Roman voice (I can think of no epithet ing as old as many English girls three which would convey an idea of the sound :;t:«st or four years their seniors, witb massive to those who have never heard it, and to figures, and fine dark eyes. Possibly those those who have, it will suffice to charac­ elf-like, uncanny-looking little ones may terise it as Roman, par excellence). " What grow into some sort of beauty. The boys are you doing ? Wait! Stop, I tell yout are all quite small; none of them over ten The stuff is crooked. Diavolo I Non mi years old, I should say. They have all, fate arrabbiare ! Don't enrage me 1" And without exception, harsh, screaming, un­ truly, if she were not already enraged, one civilised voices, which tbey exercise, poor would not have liked to enrage her; for little things, in ceaseless yelliugs, during tbe warning suggested yet latent powers their hour of recreation. Except, bow- of lung and tbroat in reserve for an emer­ ..it: ever, that they are shriller, I do not think gency. For myself, I am not ashamed to that the children are in this resjDCct more own tbat I shrank back a step or two into disagreeable neighbours tban a similar tbe darkness of my corner, and modestly 4k\ retired from notice as much as possible. number of adult Romans of their class fit to would be. Nothing strikes a stransrer And yet, to say the truth, the girl did not more unpleasantly than the hideousness of look like a virago, and when she left the the Roman voices ; especially of the female shop with her purchase (and with the dis­ voices. Beautiful, or even fairly agreeable puted three halfpence she had glorious^ speaking voices are rare all over Italy, with won in fair fight), she bestowed a good- tbe sole exception, as far as my experience humoured smile and nod on the shopman, who returned both with interest. But to goes, of Venice. But in Rome the maximum %.~ return to my backs of bouses. of discord producible by human throats ap­ \ pears to be reached. You are attracted in On tbe ground floor of the school kept the street by a face of classic beauty (there by the Sisters of Charity is an open arcade

are such faces, and of frequent occurrence —a loggia, as it is called, in Italy—under •'till too, among the population of the Eternal whose shelter the children play in wet % City), and whilst you are admiring the weather. In the girls' division of the play­ noble outline, lustrous eyes, and columnar ground grows a sickly young cypress-tree; \ throat of some young contadina or popo- in the boys' division, a plane, which look* \ lana, there issues from tbe columnar throat flourishing enough, and is now (the first* W aforesaid a series of sounds which recal the week of April) nearly covered with freai

•?<= ==#^ i HUUoB.} MODERN ROMAN MOSAICS. [Angnst so, is;3.] 415 *lioij, *Jiage. Eound theso trees the youngsters acolytes in fustian suits and checked pina­ ^ P ran pursuing each other, and, in the case fores swinging censers. That is to say, to of tiie cypress, shaking the rlckety-look- the gross vision of adult lookers-on what igff plant fiom summit to root as they they swung were broken flower-pots hang­ linng themselves round its trunk by their ing by a string ; but I knew well enough, hands. They certainly seem to be under having once upon a time had my eyes all OHiBtraint in their hour of recreation, anointed by a kind fairy who lived in a •h tbey are never free from super- green-and-gold volume of stories, and who There is always a watchful " sister" thereby bestowed on me the precious gift in tbeir midst, in her blue gown and white of seeing sometlraes as a child sees—I ibed cap; or else one of the elder girls knew, I say, that these were censers, richly (nted to act temporarily as her lieu­ chased, and glittering with gold, and send­ tenant. Day after day I see the children ing up clouds of perfuraed sraoke. The —especially the very little ones—crowd rest of the procession was raade up of round the suora when she comes among priests and dignitaries of the church, walk­ tbem, seize her hands, clasp her knees, ing two and two with much solemnity. and pull her gown with perfect confidence There were two or three of the dignitaries niiiad familiarity. Yet these good women —notably one cardinal archbishop with aaa give their charges a sound rating on a red hood on, and short socks and buff it(r,)ifloccasionB, and even administer scbiaffi shoes—to whom, walking at all, was a re­ (boxes on the ear) to the refractory, as I cent accomplishraent, and who consequently have beheld with these eyes many times. bad a little difficulty In keeping up with ciitiri In short, their treatment seems to be quite the procession, and followed It non passibus aair maternal, aud by no means of tbe far-off, equis, as parvus lulus toddled along beside unapproachable sort either for discipline his father -^neas. Banner-bearers, aco­ or kindness. And that the children like lytes in their pinafores of state, priests, them, and are at ease with them, cannot and cardinal archbishop, were all vigor­ be doubted. ously intoning a chant In tbe Latin tongue. At the windows above the loggia sisters (Did I mention that the kind fairy had stand ironing piles of snowy linen, or pass touched my ears also ?) The procession to and fro armed with great dusters, clean- visited several shrines, stopping for a short the tables and chairs, and the few while at each. The first was the poultry- ml OS prints which hang on tbe white- house, whero tbe visitors were received " wall; or inspect the needlework of with much emotion and a general cluck. of elder girls. The next was the plane-tree, which nodded, m Bometimes the sisters work in the kitchen- and answered the chant by a mysterious garden, weeding and thinning the plants; whisper all through Its rustling leaves. ifrtfiey hang out newly-washed clothes to Finally, tho procession paused at a great dry npon lines of ropes. They are always stone step leading to a little postern door busy, and, so far as the material part of in the wall, and knelt before it as before their labours is concerned, I doubt not a high altar. Here tbe chant swelled out ttat they are also always useful. Whether in full force. The antiphony was thrown it be desirable to occupy a great part of backwards and forwards from one phalanx the hours of instruction In making little of the choristers to tbe other like a dliUren bawl out a succession of Avc Marias weaver's shuttle. And the last glimpse I • a monotonous sing-song, uttered evi- had of the ceremony—being called away without the smallest meaning being just then to attend to sorae mundane affairs to the words, is a point which I —was the chubby form of the cardinal •n not called upon here to discuss. archbishop in his red hood, short socks, ' One festa day—I think it was last Sun- and buff shoes, being hauled up frora bis •f—there was a gi*and game of play in knees by one of the acolytes, and set down tta boys' ground. The children played at square on his feet iu a rather staggering %diaroh procession! Two little boys of condition. •bent nine or ten years old headed the The way in which these tiny urchins h, each holding a forlorn old birch iraltatcd the chanting of the priests, giving «r in a vertical position with great all the peculiar intonations, and the long- . The brooms were, of course, di-awn two or three concluding notes of the ^^ n, or great candlesticks, such as are " Amen," following a rapid gabbling out i(»5?** *^°^ ^^ *'^^° imposing cereraonies of of syllables which sound as much like (fB** Bomish Church. Then came two gibberish to the unaccustomed car, as the

^=r=-^:^o ^^il. ^ A 41G [AnguBtaO. 1PT8.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. tOonducl«dbjXj(lll i/isD; children*8 parody it.self, was quaint In the better days. He has not been pros^ \i extreme. 1 glanced at tbe suoi-a on guard and lays the blame on widely diffei to see whether sbe disapproved of tbis kind and indeed contradictory and incom cf <'iinie. But she did not at all. She —causes. He is a stubborn laudator stood leaning against the wooden paling porls acti, although the " good old with folded arms, not smiling, but quite liave done nothing particularly placid, and evidently considering the hira. He detests and despises the I children's iniralcry to bo quite a good and as the pure-bred Roman styles hia jdeasant and innocent way for thera to di­ countrymen born outside a limited vert themselves in. And no doubt, to the round tbe city walls. He despises children. It was Innocent enough; only I none tbe less because he is uneasily Avas a little surprised that she should have scions that these intruders with their thought so! fangled ways (especially, perhaps The backs of the bourgeois bouses ad­ sively, the intruders from Lombardy, joining the Sisters of Charity, are less in­ mont, and the north) are elbowing ont teresting ; but even they have their cha­ old-fashioned local tradesmen, by dint racteristic features. One of these is tbe superior energy and business faculty, frequent transit up and down, frora the does not affect hira personally, to be s windows of each floor, of a tin bucket, His race is run, his voyage is over, and which journeys downward empty, and lies safe aud obscure in his poor little hai journeys upward full of water. There Is among my backs of houses. Still he a well in the little garden adjoining the bitter and sore when he sees the northe: kitchen-garden of the sisters, and this well names over tbe shop-doors on the Corso, supplies all the various inhabitants of the he passes thera to take his Sunday walk difierent flats or floors of the bourgeois the Pinclan, and hear the baud play, bouse. The first-floor family employs a is inclined to confound heresy, irreligioo,' serving-Avonian; a stout, portly person, liberalism, and prosperity in his mind,M P who is probably the cook, aud housekeeper, convertible terms. And it is to be fearad< and general factotum. She coraes out tbat his devotions—made very regularly, ai i»ttf often on to the little balcony, and lets down being almost tbe only form of "distrao ^rmu the shining tin bucket, which goes clink­ tion" now remaining open to him, for ba 4' ing and jangling, with Its wire handle bob­ cannot afford the cafe—in the nelghboiw- J^. bing frora side to side, as If it were in a ing church with the grass-grovni stens, '4 ^ desperate hurry to reach the well. It dis­ are more remarkable for stimulating vM ^^ appears frora my view before it gets to abhorrence of the heterodox, than for dia*. Its goal, hidden by the garden wall; but tilling into his breast the dews of Christian presently Is drawn up witb regular hauls charity. of the rope over a pulley, splashing out the And yet, poor old fellow, I never see him silver water over its brim at every jerk. I pottering about on his terrace in company could fancy that in the fierce hot suramer with tho sour-looking woman who attends time, when all vegetation is parched and hira, without a sentiraent of pity. Theie thirsty, the passage of tbat dripping bucket few square feet of brick-paved terrace, wiih Ri( to and fro must be looked for with eager­ its flower-pots and boxes, constitute all his ness by the weeds which grow on the domain. He has been rather pompous aud sloping roof of an outhouse, over which its autocratic in his day, domlueering over aerial course lies ! his shop-boys, and yet easily turned and At tbe top of all, on the very suramit of softened by a little adroit flattery. Now he the house, is a flat terrace roof. !Many has nobody to doralneer over, for the sour- flower-pots, and plants in long wooden looking feraale is anything but meek, and boxes, are ranged on it. And here, morn- he is, in fact, a forlorn old fellow, whose ing and evening, walks a very old man. weaknesses and virtues, whims and ^inaev, I leaning on tbe arra of a woman who may likings and dislikings, are matters of im­ be his daughter, although she Is herself past portance to no one on this earth any more. ii middle life. I have settled it firmly in my And yet, and yet, he stands over his boxes mind that she Is not his wife. I know his of mignonette with a little air of pomposit;^. history quite to my own satisfaction, and I He straddles with his legs, and thrusts hiB expect the reader to accept it with impHcit hands deep down into his pockets, and confidence, unless he should chance to have shakes his grey bead, covered with a black any better theory to offer ! The old man, skull-c.ip, in a severe manner, as thongh then, Is a retired tradesman who has seen he were asking the flowers what the

V- =* :^ . Cktries Dickens.] MODERN ROMAN MOSAICS. [August 30, 1S7:;.] 417 dence tbey meant by it. He constantly should say, before going Into the house for alters the arrangement of tho shabby, the night. A Sister of Charity in her dusty pots and boxes. He Insists very white-winged cap begins to close the often on watering them with his own hands. shutters, and draw down the great blinds Hany a journey the clattering tin bucket of coai*se matting which hang outside the makes over its bridge of rope, as the spring windows of the school-room. The children evenings lengthen out, and the old man Is are trooping out noisily Into the street. I able to remain later on his terrace. The hear their voices rising shrill into the even­ sour-faced woman offers her assistance to ing air. Up on the terrace, the old man lift the full bncket on its arrival from the and his daughter are transfigured in the jfcll, but is repulsed querulously. And the Hght of a beautiful sunset. They look like fellow hooks it towards him with bis two dusky mediaeval .saints painted on a crooked stick, detaches It frora the line with golden background. I can see now a certain difficulty, and spills half the water at one nobility and severity in the outline of that splash as he raises the briraraing bucket in sour-looking woman, with her down-drawn his trembling hands. He frowns porten­ Dantesque mouth, and spare upright figure. tously, and drags his flower-pots hither and Rose-colour succeeds to gold in the western thither, aud pokes at the soil with the point sky, and flushes deeper and deeper into of his stick, and makes a vast pother about crimson, I have a glirapse of two black pulling off a few dead leaves. But the cypresses above the confused raass of roofs flowers don't mind it. They flourish with on the honz-»n. And nearer at hand, be­ M sweet contentment In their shabby homes, tween the church with the grass-grown steps and sometimes send out such a delicious and tbe house of the Sisters of Charity, a breath on the evening air, as softens the noble stone pine raises its spreading crest lines about the mouth of that sour-faced into tbe blue air frora behind the walls ofa woman, and makes their old master wrinkle convent garden. np his Roman nose with a sniff of plea­ Suddenly a little pale spark begins to sure. twinkle in the second floor caseraent. The Just below the terrace, on the second black-haired girl has lit a candle, finding the floor, a young woman is dressing her hair. twilight insufficient to complete her toilet She has brought a little bit of looking-glass by. May sbe enjoy her merry-making! i to the window, and turns about this way The church bells are all jingling and , that way, so as to contemplate the effect clanging the Ave Maria witb sounds which her coiffure in various lights. She is are mingled and softened by distance into a pretty young woman by any means, a pathetic chorus which seems to be tbt; but she has a thick and long mane of black voice of a crowd sending its complaints hair, which she is puffing, and frizzing, and and troubles up to heaven's gates, half ag up in a heap on the top of her head querulously, half confidently. " We arc Br the fashion of those fine ladies whora sadly confused and troubled here below," she sees in their carriages. At least on the chorus seems to say. " Life is so this point she can rival thera. Her gown strange ; life Is so bard. Can you help us ? be poor, her bonnet shabby, but her You will help us. Ave Maria I" i-dress is quite as grotesque, quite as The children are trooping home. The disfiguring and destructive of all grace as sisters are kneeling at their devotions. The that of the fashionablest darae who ever black-haired girl pins a smart shawl over paid a French hair-dresser. I fancy my her shoulders, and takes a farewell look at young friend is going to a party to-night, the mirror before she hurries away. I for when she has reared a lofty pile, partly think she expects to see her sweetheart this iapported and supplemented by what look evening. The sun is gone down, and the to me like small black hedgehogs, but old man ou the terrace prepares to go down which are in reality, I believe, rolls of too. The mingled harmony of the city Msy horse-hair, technically nominated reaches his ears up there. The shrill |lwettes, she crowns the edifice with a laughter of the children, the chanting in wison bow of ribbon, and conteraplates the church, tbe liura of talking, and tho we whole in tho glass with much apparent sound of wheels in the busy thorou^fhfares, MtiBfiEKition. and—above all—the claraour of the appeal­ The fat old cook of the primo piano ing bells. Not for raany raore spring-tides oomes out and leans her folded arras on will he stand on that terrace among his jjhe raihng of the balcony, to pigllare il flowers. Let us hope that a breath of •••oo--get a breath of fresh air, as we peace aud goodwill towards raan is descend-

1? X-i. .^ A 418 [August 30. ur,.] ALL THB YEAR ROUND. [Condnetodli^

ing on hira frora tho serene depths of tho stance, on Michaelmas Day in the ^ evening sky. year tho clock will be nearly ten miB (I.)od night, Signor Pantalon ! before the sun ; whereas on Christmae the sun will bo about half a minute the clock. SUNDIALS. A sundial, this irregularity allowed'ftf, J fk shows the hour of the day by the directicai J^d: THE Oriental potentate whose sayings of a shadow. A piece of metal, called til»^ and doings in England have formed quite style or gnomon, is so placed that a straf a novel ej^i.-ode this sumraer, aud who dis­ edge along one side of it shall be pai played a laudable curiosity relating to use­ with the earth's axis, and the shadow ful things that were new to him, is reported this straight edge is received on a snr^Mje to have taken away with him a stock of marked with lines and figures. The length egg-timers, or three-minute glasses, the of this shadow is not a matter of mnch \ action of which struck bis fancy. Or it consequence. If we plant a stick, two C may have been those ingenious egg-boilers feet in length, upright in the ground, its vl which extingui.sb their own fire when the shadow on the ground will be about a foot ^'^i eggs are done. If this be .«?o, our Illustrious long at noon on the longest day, whereas Jt \t\ visitor is almost too good to be a Persian; will be more tban seven feet long at noon en for egg-glasses are time-tellers. Time is the shortest day ; but the two shadows will ' * not valued by the Asiatics as it is by be in the same direction, which is all tbat '^., Europeans ; and all time-measuring instru­ is absolutely necessary in sundial time-meai JP ments arc regarded for their beauty or their surements. To tbis present day the peasaifiB i* ingenuity, rather tban for the value of the in some of the remoter and poorer dIsbrictB ;" 0j thing which tbey mea.sure. Whether the of southern Europe get a rough knowledge ^'' Shah possesses any sundials at Teheran of tbe hour by this straight-stick method, ' "" is a question beyond our power to an­ tbe stick being either stuck vertically juial, s swer, but those earliest of all time-mea­ in horizontal ground, or horizontally in a :^ iirii surers wonld bo more worthy of his atten­ vertical wall. The stick, gnomon, or style, tion than sand-glasses. Nay, English folk however, ought to be inclined, the angle of ilDG themselves have, for the most part, only a inclination depending on the latitude of the vague notion of a subject which, as we shall place. show, touches both upou science and upon When the principle whereon a sundud a; poetry. depends is once understood, the practical Sundials are, so to speak, sun-wor­ modes of working it out are numerous atnd airei shippers; their hour is just the length of varied. The plain sundial, so often to be his, regardless of the season of the year. seen on old country churches, usually faces' s'«« If the earth stood upright, and spun round the south, and has the hour-lines directed ifi like a top ; if, moreover, she revolved in a downwards, or a little to the right or left. ai true circle round the sun—then the hours If it is not exactly facing the south, the would be all equal in length. But neither gnomon is adjusted in a different way, and of these conditions prevails. Tlie axis of the hour-Hnes present a peculiarity of «^ I fe, the earth is inclined to the horizon, and the rangement. Sorae dials are horizontal, wila \^f^ orbit is oval or elliptical: circurastances the gnomon sticking up in an inclined which give an irregularity to the apparent position. If it be neither vertical norbori- ,ji;^ path of the sun across the heavens from zontal, the sundial may be inclined; or tlb«P morn till eve. It is for this reason that may be two kinds, the reclined and the priJr solar time is not exactly the same as clock dined, considered relatively to the positioa time; the difference may be as ranch as of the sun. If parallel to the earth's equar sixteen minutes and a quarter, the sun tor, it is an equinoctial dial; if P***^ before the clock in certain seasons of the to the earth's axis, it is a polar dial. *f year, the clock before the sun In others. he plane of the dial be not exactly east The difference varies from this maximum and west, it is a declining dial. If f«* down to nothing, and then advances to an­ plane be neither horizontal nor vertical, or other maximum in the opposite direction. if it does not directly face the south, it be­ St And sundial time is the same as sun or comes a de-inclined dial; while other peoa- %. solar time, obediently following it. The liarities in tbe position give rise to other ^ difierence is called the equation of time, names. Some sundials are shaped lik* the araount of which is given for every day crosses, sorae like globes, sorae like hoUow h in tbe year in good almanacks. For in­ hemispherical basins, some like a ham <»

ebiilw DIekens.] SUNDIALS. [Angnst 30,1373.] 419 leg of mutton; and if we closely eiamine In the same year he " made a diall for my the costly specimens of art workmanship at Lord Brook in Holborn, for the which I the South Kensington Museum, especially had eight pounds ten shillings." This was those which once belonged to the Bemal on the site of the present medley of houses Collection, we shall find still more remark­ called Brook-street. On the top of a foun­ able oddities in the forms of old-fashioned tain at Leadenhall, erected In the same sundials. Whatever the shape of the century, was a singular globular sundial, Burfacse, and whatever its position (within which showed the hour without the aid of certain hmits of range), there may be such any gnoraon or style. It was adjusted to adjustment of gnomon, and such a tbe latitude of London ; a belt or line repre­ rking of hour-lines, as to enable It to senting the equator was marked with two e approximately as a sundial or hour- series of numbers frora one to twelve; nrer. when the sun shone on this globe, the Let us cursorily glance at some of the numbers found under the place where the ore remarkable sundials which have shadowed part met the illuminated part, found their way into illustrated books. denoted the hour of the day. A shopkeeper at Marlborough has an Scotland has sorae rather curious sun­ oval vertical sundial in his window, in dials still left, chiefly in and around the old which he (or his dial-maker) has inge- mansions and abbeys. At Dryburgh Abbey, niensly managed that the hour-lines shall there are four dials on the four laces of a bear a definite relation to the direction of pillar, all different—indeed, they must ne­ the street. At Madeley Hall, Salop, there cessarily be so, to accomraodate the diffe­ ja a solid cube of stone, with four large rent directions in which tbe shadow is hollows or concavities in the four surfaces ; thrown. At Glamis Castle, the narae of and aronnd them smaller hollows of various which is known to all tho readers of !Mac- shapes; every hollow Is fitted np as a beth, there is a sundial of specially curious sfl|iarate sundial, to mark sorae or other of character. Four carved stone lions stand the houre during the sunny part of the on a base, each holding a dial as a shield; day. At Tredegar Park, Monmouthshire, the names of the raontbs and days aro en­ in a fine old room panelled with cedar, a graved below; between and abovo the lions, pane of glass in a window is marked with in a kind of pyramidal or obelisk arrange­ the lines and figures of a sundial radiating ment, are no less than eighty other dial- from a gnomon; and there it has been, ac­ faces, cut diamond-wise on the several cording to a date inscribed underneath, for blocks of stone. Every one of theso was jnst two hundred years. In the garden of the result of much calculation, to see that Weptworth Castle, Yorkshire, is a sundial the markings bore a proper rchition to the formed of box-edging cut into the proper plane of the surface; some araong thera nmnerals. A pretty conceit bas sometlraes could have shown only a few of the hours in realised, of making a floral sundial, just after sunrise, or just before sunset, on dial being composed of flowers that and near the longest day. At Kilburn room in succession during tbe months of House, In Ayrshire, is a tapering pillar on sunshine. George Stephenson, when he steps, swelling out in tho centre; it is was plain Geordie the colliery viewer, had covered with sraall .sundials on all sides, the aid of his son Robert in setting up a and of all shapes — cruciform, hemi­ aundial over his cottage door; they hewed, spherical, shell-shape, &c. Scotland, as •frved, and polished the stone, and con­ well as England, has preserved a few speci­ structed a dial upon it by the aid of the mens of the Ingenious ring-dial, much in Jdee laid down in Ferguson's Astronomy. favour during the seventeenth century. It e of the sundials at present existing In was usually a brass ring, with a narrower 8 parts of England date their history ring moving in a groove in its circum­ the time of Nicholas Stone, a cele- ference ; this facility of moveraent being *ted sculptor two centuries and a half necessary for tbe adjustment of the dial to There is an entry extant of the the declination of the sun at various seasons se of setting up a sundial by hira of the year. The sun's light passed through Bt. James's Palace, six pounds thir- a small hole, and fell upon the interior sur­ shillings and fourpence, the king find- face of the ring, which was engraved with aaterial. Ho also records, " In lG:i2, | liour-nunieraLs. Tho ring was held su.s- Jnade tho great diall in the garden at pended from the finger, and a boss was so tehall, for tho which I had forty-six placed as to govern tho shifting of tho •**'—no small sum in those days. inner ring, according to months and days

H' 420 [AuRuat 30, 1873.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [Condwiedby

marked on it. Whoever invented that Yokohama an English traveller recently * ring had a remarkably clear notion of the observed a clever bit of ingennity; the principles w hereon sundials must be based. shopkeeper used the railings ronnd hia Nor was it a bad idea on the part of a house as a dial to set his clocks and watchw young lady who marked the hours on the by, the markings for the shadows being door-sill for every day iu the year, thrown observed and adjusted once a week by tbe by the shadow of some of the framing. Saturday gun of the flag-ship. Tcurihts on the Continent and in the The literature of sundials is raiher I]ast meet occasionally with curiosities in copious. Satirists, moralists, poets, all have tlie forra of sundials. At Malaga, In Spain, contributed towards it in various ways. is a white marble pillar or pier marked Plautus denounced the man who first in. with nearly a hundred and fifty of these, vented these time-measurers: raany In the forms of stars, cresses, and To cut and hack my days so wretchedly shells. Father Lyne, professor of mathe­ Into small pieces ! When I was a boy matics at Leyden, made a sundial which My belly was my sundial—one more sure, Truer, and exact than any of them. was based on a stone pedestal; six pyra­ This dial told me when 'twas proper time midal compartraents rose above the pedestal, To go to dinner, when I had aught to eat; on which were no fewer than two hundred But now-a-days, why even when I have aud seventy dials. Some of these were I can't fall to, unless the sun gires leave. .^undlals to mark the hours according to In the old days of Seven Dials there wag- European time; others raarked it in ac­ originally a Doric colunm in the middle of the open place where the seven street! •4 cordance with Jewish, Babylonian, and astronoralcal tirae; others threw a shadow meet; and on the sides of this column were on the gnoraon itself, instead of a shadow seven sundials, each about a foot square. of the gnomon on the dial-face; while Dials and column were removed long ago; others furnished the means of solving but when Gay wrote his Trivia, or the Art several problems in astronomy and mathe­ of Walking the Streets of London, he p matical geography. In the Pyrenees an thought the matter worthy of a little of hia ingenious sundial is sometlraes to be met versification: with made of a sraall cylinder of boxwood; Where fam'd St. Giles's ancient limits spread. the top can be drawn out, exposing a sraall An in-rail'd column rears its lofty head ; liili Here to seven streets seven dials count the day, iMUi blade turning on a pin ; this forms a gno­ And from each other catch the circling ray. U'uu mon, the shadow of which falls on engraved Bowles, in his History of Brerahill Parson­ lines on the cylinder, and denotes the hour age, has some hues far above the level of with an error seldora exceeding five mi­ Trivia: nutes. In the base of Cleopatra's Needle To count tbe briefand unretumingboun ^' h:i a sundial was discovered a few years ago, This sundial was placed among the flowers. a hemispherical cavity scooped out of a Which came forth in their beauty, smiled, and died, Rtro Blooming and withering round its ancient aide. it square block of stone. We might perhaps Mortal, thy day is passing—see that flower, have dismissed our conjecture relating to And think upon the shadow and the hour. the possible ignorance of the Shah con­ The genial Charles Lamb had his ow» cerning sundials, for they are well-known in quaint way of treating the subject: " Why Turkey and other Mohamraedan countries; has the dial almost everywhere vanished? and although the Shah and the Sultan do If its business use be superseded by more II not accept the sarae version of their faith, elaborate inventions, its moral uses, iti Mi they agree in essentials. But be this as it beauty, might have pleaded for its con­ may, the Turks—the real Osmanlis of the tinuance. It spoke of moderate labours, Sultan's dominions—pray several times a of pleasures not protracted after sunset, of day ; and all the principal mosques in Con­ temperance and good hours. It was the stantinople are provided with sundials out­ primitive clock, the horologe of the first '4k side, that the people may know when the world. Adam could scarcely have missed hours of prayer have arrived. Most of them it in Paradise. It was the measure appro* **tiu have no other marks than such as will denote priate for sweet plants and flowers to spring the time; but sorae have a line drawn, by, for the birds to apportion their silver war- which points In a direction towards the blings by, for flocks to pasture and be led to sacred town of Mecca, this being the di­ fold by. The shepherd carved it out quaintly rection in which the faces of the faithful in the sun, and, turning philosopher by the must be turned during the performance of very occupation, provided it with mottoea worship. Going further East, we may re­ more touching than tombstones." mark tliat the Chinese and Japanese use sundials. At a watchmaker's shop at Mottoes :—this word of Charles Lamb's suggests what is perhaps the prettiest fea^

^^ Ouirlei WckeacJ THE VALLEY OF FLOWERS. (August 30, 1873.] 421 tore about sundials, the mottoes which flies, pray." Doctor Watts wrote an in­ they so often bear. The antitheses between scription for a sundial in the garden of day and night, sunshine and shadow, wak­ Lady Abney's house. Stoke Newington: ing and sleeping, life and death, time and So rolls the sun, so wears the day. uto eternity, are brought before us In number- And measures out life's painful way; Through shifting scenes of shade and light, lip. less ways by the phenomena presented, and To endless day or endless night. ^ ,the mode of representing them, in a way, Nor is the Continent bare of such in­ .j^.'too, tempting both to the poet and to scriptions, often couched in that epigram­ Ij^^the epigrammatist. Mrs. Gatty's elegant matic Latin which is diflficult to render 'volume on sundials is cro\^ded with de- into English with less than double as many :s: '^icriptions and quotations, from which words. Such is the sundial motto at St. •ahnost every taste might be gratified. Philippe's, Nice, " Sine sole sileo," " With­ Kvcn those who know but little Latin out sunshine I am silent;" and that in the conld pick out the sententious meaning convent of St. Cimies, in the sarae town, from the appearance of many of those " Scis boras: nescis horara;" and that vrltten in tiiat language. Wc h.ave only on a third sundial in the sarae place, space for a few. " Non nuraero boras, nisi serenas," " I only In the south wall of an old house at mark the hours in fiue weather," or, "I Tottenham is a sundial of large size with mark none but serene hours." At Cannes, the motto " Sumus umbra," bringing in where the late Lord Brougham often re­ the Latin for shadows in a religions sense. sided, we find " Irrevocabills hora," a senti­ _ POn a house in the High-street of Marl- ment which we all admit every day of our jjju^iborough, beneath a sundial painted on a lives. A German sundial tells us that window, is a motto with much meaning in " Die Sonne scheint iiberall"—words that it, "Dum spectas, fuglo—sic vita." On almost translate theraselves to an Engbsh Elsworth Church, Cambridgeshire, " Mox eye and ear; while one In French, at Nox," Night shortly. Under a sundial on Rougeraont, In the Canton de Vaux, says, a white marble cross In Collaton Church, " Je suis pour tout le monde. Mon orabre von: passe avec vitesse, et la fin approche avec If on this dial fall a shade, tbe time redeem; rapidlte, O raortel I" For, lo! it passeth like a dream. But if it all be blank, then mourn thy loss Of hours unblest by sbadovra from the Cross. THE VALLEY OF FLOWERS. Si Mary's, at Kidderminster, a sundial IT lies at the gates of the morning. Hard by tbe tair ftlcsauncc of youth. rs an inscription, " None but a villain Bear its winds never whisper of warning P ill deface me;" though why even a villain Its songs never burden of ruth P should take the trouble to do this does not Ah nay, lor the airs are all gracious That breathe through its bloom-laden bowers; ly appear. At St. James's, Bury St. Serene, sunny-swarded and spacious, nnd's, a motto, under the guise of a The Valley of Flowers 1 •omewhat rude homely reproof, gives a By what mystical rose-shadowed portal, ly reminder of the duty and value of (Jnwarded by visible band, Are the feet of the way-weary mortal indoatry, "Go about your business !" At Drawn down to that delicate land P •mmon there is a sundial which con- What soul, tbat bath strayed o'er its borders, to keep alive the Orange enthusiasm May tell in the grey after hours? No sword-flaming ones are thy warders to a way novel, if neither poetical nor Oh Valley ot Flowers! kgical: Soft, soft is the footway and glowing May thou be blest with length of days With green that out-gloncs the spring. ^ho still proclaim King William's praise. Arc they earth-blossoms lavishly blowing? Earth-birds that so blithesomely sing ? ^Onadiurch at Charlton Kings, a sundial It is bright with unwearying splendour. ii^Mtto perpetuates the monition, " Our And cool with the tinkle of showers; Delightsome and trsnquil and tender tKV^ on the earth are as a shadow, and The Valley of Flowers! "there is none abiding." At Seaham a dial What sweeter than trancedly straying on a stone slab is inscribed: Through tracks tlower-soft to the tread; fto natural clockwork by the Mighty One, By fountains snow-crested, bright-spraying, Wevnd ap at first, and ever since has gone. And rills that are lucently led «0 pia dropi out; its wheels and spring hold good; Through thy green-girt and blossomy mazes. I rJMP**ks its Maker's praise, though once it stood. Thy silent and shadowy bowers, 1*4 ^' *** ^^ order of the Workman's power; Kose-visfas. and violet hazes, * Aaa when it stands again, it goes no more. Oh Valley of Flowers ? What flowers ? Ah say, are they roses to old dial in tho front of Cattrick Red-hearti-d, that crush and that trail? lb, are the three siraple but ex- Yon lily thiit languidly dozes ve words, " Fugit hora, ora," " Time With mystical pal or is pale. A 422 (.\u€n!.t30, IMX] ALL THE YEAR ROUND.

Thoy are bl««< ncd with beauty that thralleth, constraints of bead-quarters, our And dight with unspeakable powers : were coidined to morning parade, On thy awards is it sunshine ihut fallctb. left stable duty to tho special su Oh Valley of Flowers? of Providence and the sergcant-n«goi\ Whnt ilKWcrs? Flame-tintod, snow-creamy, And weird unceleslial blue; at one P.M., when tbe unfortunates at" What delirious odi-urs and dreamy quarters wero confined to the stables, Exhale ! Oh the ominous hue ing to bate everything in the shape That peers up through the mosses and grasses! iJed-dappled are footways nnd bowers ; trooper, wo were generally to be lie must crush out those petals who passes driving through the vilhxgo to some The Valley of 1 lowers. of festivity. Ah where in the ilower-dight mazes, Our station. Ballywilliara, was a Crush-clustcri-il with blossom nnd bell. Are tho smiles of the innocent daisies? dirty village, in an undulating Not here in this valley thoy dwell, country, studded witb comfortable Nor the purple and pure-hearted paniics; houses, and some largo domains and What glamour is then in thy bowers. That filleth with frnr-wing^J fancies dence.s. The country was well wo Oh Valley of Flowers P the fields of that emerald green so seldom What spell in tho pathway is growing, seen out of moist Ireland, where Ni Tbat draweth the hesitant feet ? paints her most beautiful laudcapea Are the rod-bcartcd rotes out-throwing In odours seductively sweet, water colours, and the sky line broken Tbis shadow that claspeth and chilleth ? a serrated mountain range that supplied Uath it parching and pulsjiiig powers background leaving nothing to be desi This soul-steeping fragrance that filltth The Valley of Flowers ? A bird's-eye view of the country she Bally William set in the midst, like arefi Cold 1 cold 1 and the odours are sickly. Death breathes in the blossom-born gnlc. heap in a garden. A salmon river flon Ah forth, let us forth then, and quickly, by the barracks, and, in winter, houn For love and delightsomcness fail ! met four days a week within easy distance., .^M But who, unnttaint and unstnitten, Shall pass whero the thunder-cloud lowers, Tbe people of the neighbourhood wa|^^^ O'er thy p( rial, erst fair and rose-litten, hospitable; fi.shing and shooting withl>ji„iOT p Oh ^'ulley of Flowers P end were freely given us; so EgrcmonfcM|^ I were fain to confess that our good foi THE LOSER WINS! bad drifted us into a capital station. " Where away to-day. Jack ?" Ml s ON a bright spring morning a few years Egreraont one raorning, as we sat smd ago, ray regiment marched out of Col- alter parade In the room that did di ' I clioter en route for Irelnnd, where we a mess-room. had been ordered to the unspeakable dis­ "I think I shall fish the Grange; gust of the young.'^ters, who looked upon waters," I replied. duty in the Sister I.'^le as foreign service. A shadow passed over Egrenoonts The sadness with which we marched out face as I spoke; he made no further UP of our pleasant quarters was deepened Into mark, but Immersed himself in the Field. profound melancholy by many days' march­ The Meredyths of Grangemore were onr H ing frora Dublin to our new station, and stauncbest allies. A week after our arrival, ^^ we tuok over our barracks witb heavy Mr. Meredyth had called upon us; in i'J beart.^. month a friendship had sprung up, and ert ^ However, after six months' residence the summer bad well come an alUance oi- ^ our feelings had underirone considerable fensive and defensive was completed be- - change; half the regiment was at out- tween the barracks and Grangemore. Need^';i stations wlthiu easy distance of head- I say the attraction that drew us thoe^^ quartcr.-^, whore our band played twice a almost daily was not Mr. Meredyth, ^ift'i week, bringing together to croquet fights his genial bonbommie, nor yet Mw* and afternoon tea the surrounding fami­ Meredyth, who as the organiser of every : lies, who returned our sraall attentions social amusement won all hearts? Nor y» * witb boundless hospitality. Six months' the sons of the bouse—one home fr***. dinner parties, croquet parties, riding par­ India, the other devoting his talents to »e :* ties, cricket matches, and picnics, had done destruction of the various animals, biid5,vi their work but too effectually, for tho mess and fi.shes, the killing of which comes under J casualties showed two captains married, the head of " sport." No, I may as weU > and three subalterns engaged. confess at once—there was a daughter, ^^, i- he captain of my troop, Frank Egrc- snch a daughter 1 Of Adela Meredythll mont, was an easy-going fellow as any in shall not give an analytical description; «•• Her Majesty's service; so, freed from the was dark, and, as even the ladies allowed

'^ y :JCI 0toks Dtokens.] THB LOSER WINS! [August 30,1S7.3.] 423

^ Jjgj beattifol, with a nameless grace in C( I hear Captain Egremont is going to ^^rj movement of her beautiful figure; a ride also," said Adela. ven of lustre in her dark eyes, and that Tho first remark she had made since I TDiing Insouciance that makes an Irish joined thera ! Jealousy and I had a sharp 1 so fatal to the unwary, especially to dialogue over the fact of her thinking of glishman, accustomed to the more Egreraont, and the conclusion was not a coldness of our English ladies. Her pleasant one. 's Twenty-ninth Hussars went down " Yes," answeredTora, "and, I think, to her charms without a shadow of win. I know nothing in the race to beat ,nce. Ere the September gold had Warhawk at the weight, if he stands up, the corn-fields, I was hopelessly of which there is but little doubt, for he Is Ibve, and as hopelessly despairing, for I a perfect fencer. Come, Adela," he added, gaw that Egremont had also struck his flag " let's have a bet about the t^;^•o horses; fo tho Grangemore queen. A universal you shall have your choice, for half a dozen te, rich, handsome, and gifted, ho pair of gloves." andifMM everything a woman could desire. I " Which shall I take, Mr. Brandon ?" uiiil Jived wo* hope, with liim for a rival, and " Whichever you prefer, ' I answered, sir iTfcr'with all the pain that jealous pangs with what I meant for a killing look of could inflict, that while often silent and entreaty to show some preference for my Ined with me, with him Adela Mere- mount. ii)iii was always gay and charming. " Then I think I shall take Warhawk," Half an hour after my announcement to she said, witb an air of unconscious inno­ E^mont found me walking along the river cence, most aggravating to a man in my in mil^^ towards Grangemore, ostensibly to state of mind. ittiiiaf ^"^" ^'^'^ ^^ reality to enjoy, raoth-like, the " It's no use spending the day here," 1 her presence. As I walked along, said Tora, as he jumped up. "I raean to for the twentieth time I determined to " do seduce the wily trout frora his shady re­ . ,Tj or die," and to learn my fate if opportunity treat." And he left us. I goffered. In'esistibly passionate appeals At last we were alone, the long-wlshed- , •'MiMped themselves in my brain ; my spirit for opportunity bad arrived, and I deter­ had already flown forward to Grangemore, mined to seize it this time. But the question the eventful question, been accepted, was how to coraraencc ? Should 1 plunge revelled in a long life of romantic bliss, into the business, in raedias res, and say while my poor deserted body was uncou- at once, " ^liss Meredyth I love you I" or sciously doing its four miles an hour along ought I lead the conver.tfie well-known path. Having in spirit been the subject, and when I bad prepared her married for years, and gone the round of mind for the reception of the intelligence, ahnost every earthly amusement, I was, I declare that, without her, life would be [dtkk, in the act of accepting a brilliant insupportable ? The first plan would bo •offer for my daughter, when my castle In too abrupt, and as for the second, all air was shattered. capability of framing thought in language Hillo, Jack, whero are you going?" suddenly left me; ray brain refused to act; <6ood morning, Mr. Brandon." I was dimly conscious of an overwhelming they sat, Tom Meredyth, and desire to say something, but tbe immensity herself, lazily basking on the cool of ray desire refused to be tramraeled in the narrow bounds of language. I could bank, where I joined thera. only feel like a pleading criminal, aud look Well, Jack, so I hear you are going to liko a fool. ench's Chanticleer at the Cross- races next Monday ?" She was simply Irresistible as sbe sat, Tea, I hope to." picking a honeysuckle to pieces in the •»a a nasty course; have you seen it ?" bright sunlight, and presented as beautiful "0. I ara afraid a close inspection a picture as ever crowned the combined |ht develop my bump of caution too efiorts of nature and art. Armed with the JD. I shall walk over it before tbe race, prettiest and most becoming sumraer dress, iMonday." the tiniest and sauciest little boots, a soft You will require to steady Chanticleer white silk kerchief tied loosely and care­ hia fences. You remember, Adela, Avhat lessly round her beautiful neck, and a hat, •wftil cropper he gave French in the run for the fabrication of which, as a dangerous here last winter; he loses his head man-trap, the creating millLner deservetl other horses aro galloping beside incarceration for life; her cheeks sutl'used by a soft blu.sli; her lips slightly parted, Nsi cJ6 424 [AuxuatSO. 1ST3.] ALL THE TEAR ROUND. C<

and her soft dark downcast eyes, she was As ho spoke, be backed the boat j;^ charming. bank, and ere I well knew what had At last, I made an effort; and succeeded pened, she was sitting in the stern; in breaking the silence. pulling away with a flush of triam " What a lovely day it is." delight on his face. I cannot say that my ob.servation was " We won't be long, Mr. Brandon; brilliant, but It was something to have a trout when we return," she laughed; spoken, even though my voice sounded like the boat swept away down stream, I a croak, for, by some mysterious process, for a short time, torn by furious ji my heart had jumped into my throat, Then declining Tom's invitation to ku where It stuck crosswise, and my tongue for luncheon, I started home like one had become too large for my mouth. mented. She loved hira after all. I " Yes, beautiful, but rather bright for called her tone as the boat passed r fishing, is it not r" Every syllable was a poisoned " I assure you I infinitely prefer basking Knowing that I loved her, she langl to fishing." rae ! Egremont was then no donbt tel " Thali Is a want of devotion to sport her tho story she would not hear from against which you should struggle. Tom The boat gliding on in the noontide hi acknowledges that the besetting sin of the —the oars at rest—he bending forward Id army is laziness." passionate pleading—Adela listening " Do you dislike the array ?" folded hands and downcast eyes, with heal jeisi " N—no, not at all. Yet I ara not sure Ing heart and heightened colour, while that if I were a raan I would adopt it for a magnetic, unspoken language told him r profession." was loved. It was too bitter, and with " Why ?" blackness of despair that I had never " It seems to me, pardon mo, a rather gined possible, I flung myself upon mjf^ J' profitless existence. Confess you feel, soine- bed and lay there for hours. •* tiraes, a little like a drone ?" I did not see Egremont until next rnonk''^'^ I deterrained to send in ray papers at ing, when neither of us alluded to tlwr' •' once. Now for the plunge. episode of the day before; but I thought 'f " No, I do not feel tbe least like one. I that, for a successful lover, he looked rather '^"' believe a drone is. In the main, a happy grave. I determined never to see Addfti^-fc fellow; he cats, drinks, and is raerry, while again, and adhered to my determinatioi ^t I ara thoroughly unhappy." with unconquerable firmness for two daya, --^t One loolc, and I felt she had read ray when Mr. Meredyth called at the baiTacIn|i 3k story; then she seemed to shrink from me, find insisted on our returning with him Wfaini and changed the subject. Grangemore. ^o!;i " Don't mind what Tom said about " How very ill you look, Mr. Brandon,*; ii Chanticleer. Mr. French would not have was Mrs. Meredyth's first observation tai-« asked you to ride hira If he were not safe, me, as I joined her in the pleasure-grouiiifci'ffl! and I have seen hira go admirably. But after dinner. " You have been workingtiiTji Miss Of course," she continued hur­ too hard, or training too hard, after theyjj riedly, "you and Captain Egremont will manner of you gentlemen riders. So we are jj,, come to tbe races with us." to have the pleasure of bringing you and j^ " I was not alluding to the races," said Captain Egreraont to the races. How pro- -^\^ I, determined to have my say at last. " I voking it is that only one of you can win;);;^^ was " but reraember one of you raust win, for I ^j^ " See, Tora has been successful; be has ara deterrained that the winner shall belong ^j^ a fish; I raust go aud land it," she exclaimed, to my party." :. starting up. " A determination that will no doubt be .j^ At that raoraent a boat shot round the shared by some five or six others," I replied. ^.^ bend, propelled by Egreraont, who sculled " No matter; my motto is ' Where there's .J^ like a waterman. He stopped when he a will there's a way.' You must try haid 'J; saw us. that I shall not be disappointed." ' " Are you not afraid of spoiling your com­ " My dear Mrs. Meredyth, I am an ex- ,j plexion. Captain Egremont ?" said Adela. empllfication of the fallacy of that old j^ "Not at all," he replied; "it's a lovely adage." , \; day on the river; do come for a short pull. " Indeed! Perhaps you did not wis! ^ See, I have room for you in the stern, and with all your might." s you can steer. Now Jack, hold that stern " I did, indeed—with aU my soul," I said, ^^ steady while !Miss Meredyth steps on it." sadlv. V

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Obu^ Dickens.] THE LOSER WINS! [August 30, ISTS.] 42.5

" Then," she replied, kindly, "you must of coach-building at defiance Seventy or ^luive been willing an impossibility, a fault eigmbtv lonsr gipsy tents were cramraed of no great magnitude at your age. Re­ with thirsty natives, and many thousands member there is another old adage, ' What thronged the course, every fence having JBj is best.' If want of success bas made its crowd of particular admirers, as they yon unhappy, I am sorry for you; you must calculated on the probability of a fall—the mly take courage. In the future you will falling being to an Irishman the raain in­ perhaps agree with the poet that ' Sorrows terest of a race. - ir x^embered sweeten present joys.' " Having threaded my way through the ""^^P' *• Then you think unhappiness is not an carriages, with their attendant roulette- unmitigated evil ?" boards and nigger minstrels, and received I think it is questionable if it be an at least thirty invitations to return for Poii* l^evil. Happiness exists but by comparison luncheon after the race, and raany wishes vith its reverse, therefore the existence of for success, I took refuge In the saddling 'Mil ^ oae is necessary to that of the other. How­ yard, where I found Chanticleer looking fit ever, theorising on unhappiness will not as paint, and his owner rather anxious but iie make It less. Take the advice, Mr. Bran- sanguine. The first race was over, and ! don, of an old woman; do not give way to around each carriage and trap luncheon unhappiness. You have youth and health, parties gathered and enjoyed theraselves; die greatest blessings of this life; do not I reraained on the stand chewing the cud lie down like a coward, because you may of bitter fancies, for I could see Egreraont have failed once in some desire. Try again, laughing and chatting gaily with Adela, and if unsuccessful still, let It but inspire who was the centre of a pleasant knot. IU JOU with determination never to rest till At length the saddling bell sounded, and

-•^ you succeed. If success does not follow, I returned to the carriage for my whip. you will nevertheless, in the attempt, have "What's the matter, Brandon?" said secured the unfailing panacea for all worldly Mr. ^leredyth; " you look more like going iiiUii .misery—work. Now come in, and Adela to drive a hearse than to ride Chanticleer. ind Captain Egreraont will charra away Come, have a glass of wine." yonr blue fit with a duet." Egremont was talking to Adela. " Wish Tfrtjie Dear, kind Mrs. Meredyth ! Little did mc success," I heard him whisper. Of she know the refined torture she prepared course she said yes, for as be turned away me. I believe they sang well, but tbat I saw bim take her glove frora her lap and will ever be to rae one of the most slip it into bis breast. I drank my chara- unpleasant reminiscences of my life. I sat pagneatagulp. "Another, please. Thanks." in a comer, and reraeraber considering that And, as quickly, I swallowed that. Mr. the mutual declarations of love, and bis Meredyth looked a little astonished. As cool request that she would fly witb hira Adela handed rae the whip, she whispered, somewhere or other, over the raoonllt sea, "What Is the raatter ?" She looked sad, and were positively outrageous, and should have I thought, pitying, at which ray pride re­ been stopped by her father. During the volted. I raade no answer, but hurried away •tenlng Adela appeared more aff'able than to the dressing-roora. Bsnal; her manner to mo was balf-apo- Seventeen horses came to the post for ^[etic, but I preserved what I considered tbe principal event. I was one of tbe last 0.1 a dignified coolness and reserve. The out of the weighing-yard, and as I emerged, itched evening at lengtb carae to an end, Warhawk was cantering past the stand. aod we drove home silent and thoughtful. As he went by with a grand swinging Monday came at last, a beautiful day, stride, he was accorapanied by a murmur too fine, indeed, for the horses and riders, of admiration. Egreraont's white jacket tl* fe the ground was hard as iron. I had and red cap contrasted well with the horse's ••come madly anxious tbat Egremont colour—a jet black, shining like satin. "Ould not win the race. For hira I bad " That's a racer," said French, as be Moceived the most unreasoning hatred. In walked beside me, giving rae those inevi­ wery look of his I thought I could detect table last directions. "Watch hira, but agleam of triumph which I resented bit- don't ride at hira until tbe last raile, for he in •*^y- We arrived early, and had I been is faster at bis fences than you are, and * a different mood there was abundant Chanticleer does not like being passed. j^i Md for amusement. Hundreds of vehicles Some of these fools will raake tbe running. •*• pouring on to the course, from tbe Keep about fourth until you get over the jW'appointed drag to the most extraor- double in tbe second round, then let hira ••My constructions that ever set the rules corae if be will."

-^jj Xi A 420 [Aujrust •M. i8;u.] ALL THK YEAR ROUND. [Condnotcdlf/

" Good luck to your honour, jind safe tude had ho not worn a red cap. bonie," y.\'u\ the• groomgroom,, witwitnh a last afl'ec- glares frora above a cerise and grey; tiuiiate ]iat en the horse's neck as he turned sergh, black and silver; M'Dermott> liiia for his cjinter. froy, and three or four more of our men,] Chanticleer was a bright chestnut, bot- looking before them with hard-set teinpered, like all bis colour. As be went None of the bonhomraio that distin£ along swinging bis beail about, and pulling the hardest run witb hounds, where, bard, I saw that I had rough work be­ matter what the pace, there Is always fore me, for already he was excited by tbe to fling an observation to an accompaA} crowd and the noise. Nirarod ; to gasp, "A good run—splendid/ I avoided looking at the Meredyths' &c. Hero your companion riders are carriage as I passed. Why should I look for so much participators In a sport, as men tol a passing glance, when Egreraont carried be beaten, and tbe excitement is purely* ber gage d'araour In his breast ? but I selfish. I feel that if my blue and beard Tora's cheery voice, " Good luck, pilot falls, I can neither pull to right Chanticleer," and it sounded like a good left, but must go straight on him; I oraen. in that ca.se, I shall not kill him, but' " Are you ready, gentleraeu. Go !" is entirely his affair. My pursuing Net We are off; off with a rush and a plunge, Is no doubt actuated by precisely sit and a thunder of hoofs that drowns for us feelings. We have passed the secondf even the shout tbat leaps frora a multitude In safety, and begin to straggle a little, at a start. by a raking grey ridden by a man in Chanticleer, plunging forward, swinging scarlet jacket. Warhawk goes on se bis head, and tearing at bis bit, gives me then coraes a black and silver, next no tirae to look right or left as we sweep blue and white leader, and then come past the stand in our first rush. I see a ruck, with whom I am svringing aloag,'* cloud of grey, pink, blue, black, gi'cen, holding Chanticleer with all my mighi P Tbe next fence is a wall; the scarlet and 3 before and around rae, and wonder, as we corae at the first fence, bow we can pos­ tbe white pop up and down as before, hni sibly jump, packed in this flying crowd. the black and silver, instead of checking Chanticleer, wild at all times, is mad now, itself in its downward flight, disappears, witb a horse's tail whisking in his face, a and as Chanticleer flies past, I cateh a horse on bis right and one on his left, pre­ glimpse of a horse struggling to his feet, cluding the possibility of swerving, while and a black and silver figure lying within a I have a dim con.sciousne.ss of a yooug ono foot of where we landed. However, there is behind rae, to Insure ray destruction should no tirae to look round—the improbabUIty we fall. A slight slackening in the pace. I of his escape from the rush of horses be­ sec that blue and white balloon before me hind strikes me for a moment, and I think subside as its wearer sits down on his uo more about him. Another single it wearer passed in the same order ; a small double, horse. If be falls I! Heavens ! how I ]iray for the safety of that blue and white—with a hurdle, the brook ; and now we are com­ a vivid con.sciousness of the Neraesis astern. ing at the principal attraction for tbe Chanticleer appears deterrained to look at casualty lovers. Two or three times I have nothing but that hor.se's tail. I take a pull heard the simultaneous "Oh!" from the at hira, then the blue and white jacket rises crowds at tbe fences, proclaiming that some out of the line of sight, and discloses a unfortunate in the rear has come to grief. single bank. Quick as thought Chanticleer At the double is a large crowd in hopefial rises to it; I see bis head for an instant be­ expectation of a fall; nor Is the expectation tween the gleaming hind shoes of the horse disappointed, for the grey makes a mistake in front. The little balloons to the right in rising, strikes tbe bank, and dlsappeari and left pop np and down like painted in the off" grip, where he lies with his back floats at a nibble, and we are all safely over. broken. Warhawk has taken his fencei Now that the possibibty of escape bas been beautifully, and is now improving the demonstrated, I am beginning to feel more pace; Chanticleer bas bungled a little at at ease, and approach the next fence in tbe double, but I feel hira going well withia a more hopeful mood. The horses are hiraself, and range forward beside my blue settling into their stride, aud as I venture and white leader. As we come into tne to look round, I distinguish the faces tbat straight, Egremont makes the pace • surmount the little balloons. Yan.sittart cracker, and we are obliged to call on onr overlooks a green one, that would have horses to keep our place. The thunder made him the favourite with the multi­ of the crowd greets us as we pass th©

S5^ -^

Qitrles Diekens.] NO ALTERNATIVE. [August 30,1873.J 427 Ht M jid, and Warhawk's name is shouted the horses were ordered for an immediate w: ^m thoasands of throats. Chanticleer start. has again lost his head—the noise is too I had at first avoided looking at Adela. ^imnch for him. As I pass, I see Adela What cared she ; had not ber lover won ? just raise her handkerchief—a little, almost Now I looked at her and saw her face was unnoticeable wave—of course to Egremont. pale as death, her eyes fixed on me witb a I am mad with jealous fury, and giving tortured look. Mrs. Meredyth was busily Chanticleer his head, race at hira, on past engaged cutting up napkins for bandages. the stand over the first bank. There is no I whispered : steadying now. I have but one insane idea " It's nothing. Miss Meredyth—only a —to throw Egremont and kill bim, if broken arm. I congratulate you on Egre­ fmfii ll possible. raont's success." Does he not carry her glove in bis breast! " Don't talk of him. I hate bim," she After we pass the second fence, he says, murmured, as she looked straight into " Jack, you'll kill that horse if you don't my eyes. steady him at his fences!" He is now " You gave him yoiu* glove to carry in inisijjj riding beside me, with tbe six or seven the race." horses that have stood up, half a dozen " No, he took it without my permis.sion," leugtJis in the rear. I neither look at him, she said, very determinedly, while I saw nor answer him. The brook is passed, the tears moisten ber dark lashes. 1^ J J and we are still racing neck and neck A hope—a brilliant flood of hope—broke ' " for the double. I steal a look at bim; our on my soul. Mr. Meredyth was returning eyes meet for an instant; I wonder if be with a doctor. Not a moment was to be reads the world of hate that gleams iu lost. mine. "Fool!" he mutters, as he takes a pull " Do you love him ?" smiMl st Warhawk, whose head steals back to my "No!" side and then out of sight. As I come at " Adela, do you love me ?" the fence I see stretehed outside the crowd Not a word, but one quick glad glance, the poor grey who had so gallantly led us a single pressure of the baud, as the doc­ a few minutes before. Chanticleer rises tor's bead appeared over the cairiage door. like a bird, and lands lightly as a deer. I I had won after all. htaf a shout, and. Heaven forgive me! Need I tell of my happy illness, my I hope that Warhawk and bis rider have blessed convalescence, at Grangemore; bow shared the fate of the grey, but on look­ consent was given, and wedding presents ing round I see him close on my quarter, raade, and a bridal party set out for a quiet and picking up his lost distance at every parish church on a bright January day ; ' but two horses follow us, four bow, at tbe dejeuner, the clergyman ...-a.An at the fence. Now commences made a goody-goody speech, whereat his a fierce struggle for the run home. At wife was edified; and the old friend of the the last hurdle Warhawk is half a length family made a touching one, whereat the m front. We have entered tbe straight, ladies wept; and the best man made a funny and now with whip and spur I urge one, whereat the bridesmaids blushed ; or Chanticleer. We aro gaining at every how, at last, the happy couple started for •tride. I see Warhawk's head again gliding the railway station, pursued by a hearty Mck to me. I have a clear neck already ; cheer from the assembled tenantry, and a WU strides more and tbe race is won ; cloud of slippers of every shape and hue when suddenly the greensward over which —are not all these things written in the I have been flying like a swallow jumps annals of Grangemore and the parish ly to meet me; I feel as If I were cast in registry of Bally william ? »M midst of a thousand plunging horses; 0T« and over and over I roll; and when wloigth I stop, and sit up stunned and NO ALTERNATIVE. *By with my left arm hanging loosely, BY THE AUTHOIl OF " DENIS DONNK," &C. •^•W poor Chanticleer lying at a little ^|*Mioe with his neck broken, and the boy CUAPTER IX. MR. DEVEXISU SEES A GHOST ! Jwhad run before him and caused our fall " WHAT a nuisance it is when a fellow WW^ carried away dead or insensible. gets out of training, isn't it ?" Jack Fer­ . *nondB rushed to my assistance, and lift- rier asked confidentially of Harty, as they jy.Py to my feet, half supported, half loitered about together. " Now all the.se me to the Meredyths' carriage, other fellows are as fresh as p.iint, aud I'm '•TO I was placed beside Adela, Avhilo dead beat; shall you walk lR«me r" \; A 428 [AuKU>-t 3-I, 1S73.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [Oondaotedl

" I'd just as soon walk as drive—with to perform, than to tho Groves's. (( Mrs. Powers," Harty replied, candidly; won't change my mind again," she " but it isn't In the programme that we and went ofl" with a light heart, after a should walk ; and ]\lrs. Powers is very kind whispered words frora Claude to the iti to us in her way, and I shouldn't like to that it " was very good of her." illl npset her arrangements; wo must go in The sportsraen went in one direction, lid the carriage, but—can't you come too ?" carriage took the horaeward route, " I don't see why I shouldn't," be said, Harty went away through a woodland after weighing the matter in bis mind for to the by-lane where Groves's cottage wti^'• , a few moraents ; " there's plenty of roora ; situated. It was a pleasant path enough '' I'll give my gun to a keeper, and tell araong the rustling leaves, and the girl -j Powers ; Mrs. Powers won't object?" was in a pleasant frarae of mind. For incli­ " Mrs. Powers won't object," Harty as­ nation had prompted her to drive home, and * sured him meditatively. She was wondering listen to the words that Jack Ferrier would whether Claude would object openly! Mrs. assuredly have uttered, words that were Powers she felt very sure about. That becoming insensibly more flattering day hy politely diplomatic old lady would never day. Inclination had prompted her to do under any circumstances throw any ob­ this, and she felt as if she had achieved a i^ stacle in the way of intercourse between triumph in that she had not obeyed its'.' Jack Ferrier and Harty. But if Claude dictates. -- disliked It, and showed that be disliked it, For a short distance she thought of ^ r "the carriage will go home without me, Claude, and Claude only. Of whether or • I know that," Harty thought. not he would word bis pleasure at hers They were not very long in getting off course, to her when they next met? Of after the luncheon. The men loitered about whether or not he would ever relax that -. i to see the ladies start, and as Harty was obstinate adherence to a strong prejudice, arl following IMrs. Powers and Mabel into tbe which was the separating cause between 3d'. carriage, Jack Ferrier, after a word witb thera now. Of whether or not his love for uljt the keeper, said: her was strong enough to warrant her in-it;,)) "Will you give me a lift home, Mrs. clinging to it with ivy-like tenacity? And .HJ Powers ? I am rather knocked up." as her thoughts reached this point, they:Ifjj " Knocked up!" Claude repeated the veered away frora Claude suddenly, and-jif words in an angry, questioning tone, and fastened themselves upon Jack Ferrier, and i-i^ his face clouded ominously. But Jack the raystery that had been made about that aia FeiTler cither did not see these signs of lost brother of his. displeasure, or else he saw fit to disregard Some considerable portion of her path thera, for on Mrs. Powers acquiescing lay parallel with the high-road, and for a .'MIJII heartily to his request he got in by Harty's while she heard the rumble of the wheels side without another word. distinctly. But by-and-bye, just before she " Stop a minute," Harty said, rather reached the point where the woodland path tremblingly, as she saw Claude turn impa­ turned sharply off" from the high-road, and ail tiently away, instead of offering any as­ ran down into the meadows, the sound of sistance in the arrangement of the rugs the wheels ceased, and she experienced a ,' and the wraps. " Stop a minute ; I must little heart-damping, sudden sense of loss .^ i go to Groves's cottage to-day, and I'm so of companionship. ' ; much nearer it here, than I shall be if I Going down into the open now, at a drive back to the Court; drop me here, Mrs. slower pace, beginning to feel rather un- ^ Powers, please, and save me a long walk." certain as to what she really wanted to do Claude paused to watch the result with or say at Groves's cottage, when she got m a lighter brow, but he did not corae back there, a conviction smote her that after to help her out, and Mrs. Powers replied a all she bad been rather foolish to walk little discontentedly: home. It looked like pointed avoidance ^i " It seems to me that you none of you of Jack Ferrier, and the next most flatter- )A know your own minds; certainly I will ing thing to pointedly seeking a man, is leave you here if you wish it, Harty, but I to pointedly avoid him. " Very likely he H should think your mission to the Groves's only got in to talk to Mab," Harty thought; might be deferred till another day." " every one who looks at her sweet eyes, * Harty laughed and shook her bead. She and gentle mouth, must wish to talk to '^k knew tbat it was rather a mission of mercy her; of course, be can't help admiring to herself and Claude, that .she was about Mab, and what a goose I've been;" and

Ciiz y A ph^rlesWekaM.) NO ALTERNATIVE. [August 30, 1873.] 429 _ as she thought this, she heard quick " he died by his own hand, poor boy, and ^tic steps behind her, and Jack Ferrier bis death killed my mother." "!T!8i iZI iw by bor si^® i" ^ moment. The tears sprang into Harty's eyes, and C' ^ "Don't look frightened, nothing has she flung an imraense deal of pathos and «r^ l^jpened," he laughed as Harty turned a syrapathy into the raere gesture witb !„,?' iiartled, conscious gaze upon him, " only I which she took the case frora hira, and > lemembered that there's a good deal of looked down at the handsorae sad face of •* gltUe about in the meadows you have to the raan who died so young and so rai- , taM through, and when I mentioned it, serably. **^ Mn< Powers said she had an idea that you " Will you tell rae about it now ?" she ^'M^i-* awfully afraid of cows; so I've fol- asked, utterly oblivious of Claude's request ^ iNved you to teke care of you, you see." that she .should ask no question.s con­ I .**' ?The conscious look deepened on Harty's cerning the raystery of Frank's death. f^ Iwe. She could not help it! It was ber " Will you tell rae about It ? Can you ?" ^ ^^ iHtare to feel wickedly pleased that this " I'll tell you anything you wish rae to j,«'rr^ man was palpably running after her, tell you," be assured her with unwonted although at the same time her heart was nervous excitement; and then Harty put Guide's. Her heart was entirely Claude's; her hand on bis arm and said : •bat her taste was plea.sed by tbis other one, " You're sure it won't pain you ? I IMT vanity was gratified, her imagination wouldn't hear it if it would hurt you at was fired by a desire to know how much he all to tell it to rae; but whether you tell really liked her, and how much of the show rae or not, do believe that I never felt so of it was the oflTsprlng of Idleness and op­ sorry for anything in ray life as I do for portunity. Don't we all know something you about this." ploioi if the causes and motives that make a girl " Yes, I believe that, or anything else, Kit fts Harty go on the way she was predes- sweet, that you choose to tell me," he said, eras ined to follow ? So now In answer to his passionately, prisoning her hand as he 'Wplanatory remark, it was not surprising spoke; " you do raean what you say, ?I3IK1 tbat she answered: don't you ?" he went on in a pleading, n?lifi "I'm not a bit afraid of cows, and I earnest way; " you're not hurabugging a fins never hinted to Mrs. Powers that I was; fellow ?" but, all the same, I'm glad you are corae." " Yes, I do raean what I say," Harty " Really ?" he asked, in a lowered voice. replied, eagerly, thinking chiefly at tho " Really," she answered, echoing his moment of wliat sho bad said about the IjciFasI tone. Then she looked up witb a Httle syrapathy she felt for hira, and the interest wistful expression of syrapathy in his face, she felt in the dark fate of that poor boy and asked: " Will you tell rae your brother who had been so tired of life. " I do raean iOBill Frank's story now, Mr. Ferrier ? Now, what I say, Mr. Ferrier, believe me, and while we are alone, with no one to tbink trust rae. Will you ?" Jeofii' you foolish foi" trusting me, a stranger "Will I not, "indeed ?" be whispered, •^^ nearly, with it." coraing to a standstill, bending his head . They had slackened their pace since he down to read her eyes, and clasping her •me np, and now were sauntering very hand raore closely. And then a conviction slowly. " Look here," he said, taking a sraote Harty that a climax was fast ap­ locket from his chain and opening it. And proaching which she had not conteraplated, 13» il she stepped close by bis shoulder to and which another raoraent's Aveakness on •ok as he desired, be showed her the her part would leave her powerless to punted photograph of a young fair-haired avert. •an, whose mournful-looking blue eyes She changed in an instant. Released •Mffled to rivet themselves on hers with a her hand, and walked along by bis side, lio •ort of sad intelligence. so calra aud cool, so prosaically indif­ * That was poor Frank, my young half- ferent to bis agitation, so superbly mistress ••fter," he said, gravely, " the dearest, of herself and the situation, that be felt it J

^iJ* A 4;]0 (Au;ni-tn(), IH;.!.] ALL THE YEAR ROUND.

said. " We were both with ray mother at welled forth from Harty's lips as hi llrij^hton, both of us with ber at tbe sarae rative reached this point. She had time for the lirst time fi)r several years. veil asunder with a vengeance. She hidi Th<' poor dear mother was so proud of us, veloped a mystciy indeed. And in a i and fond of us, that she had her best taste the vague, half-suspicious and irrit of heaven here below in those days when .specula! ions of years faded intonothii she would go out with one of us on either before tho dread certainty of the ' .-ide of her. She had always been tbe best truth. of mothers to me; bnt Frank was her Idol, The blood of this boy was on Mr. and I subscribed heartily to the idolatry of nish's head. Of that she felt horribly i which my young brother was the object. Claude's rage against, and repulsion to 1 " He was as handsome as a star—you step-father, was explicable enough. 1„^ can see tbat at a glance even at that pho- boy had been loved as a brother by Ckvde nfr^ tcgraph, and women all did their best to Powers, was a brother by half-blood to thi,JR^'!'^*"' sjioil hira; but be was one of the fellows raan by ber side! The misery of it nUlf^ifl"! who never went wrong; the very raorning The hopeless, inextricable misery that mufc «««"'*' he left us, tbe very last tirae we saw bim be wrought to her whichever way dl§::M^i alive, poor fellow, my mother said, as he turned by this curse which environed her, • drove off" to the station, ' The only heart­ this curse of her connexion with Mr. De> :iir^ '^ aches he's ever given me, are those I have venish. jii&l" when be leaves me for a day even.' " That's Frank's story, Miss Carhsle, .iijt'sl '* He had gone up to town to meet and it bas shocked you horribly. POW«1|;TS1(11I3I Claude Powers, who was as fond of him as was right, I oughtn't to have harrowed iS&ffl tn( I \vas, and so my mother and I didn't think your feelings by telling you about it; blll.f^i!st be s rauch of it when the night passed without couldn't resist the chance of gettingyow aMofl his coraing back. But when the whole of sympathy, and I have it, haven't I ?" • the next day passed I saw that the raother "Does he know, does he know, does he -jg^i^i was worrying herself, and so I told her I'd know ?" These words actually sounded in ..j^jj jo go and look after hira, and went up by the Harty's ears as they formed themselves ill i,,,yy^) last train. her mind. Was it within the bounds of j^^ g,) " I went straight to the hotel at which possibility that a man should know that the .j,;™ ,ji Claude always puts up, and found that man who had murdered his brother and ..^ ]j, they had both gone down to Soutlisea two her step-father were identical, and should J^LJJJ days before—the day Frank left us, in still speak to, tolerate her, breathe vohm- .1^,^^^^ fact. Sorae other fellows belonging to tarily the same air she breathed ? ,. j|,|" Claude's regiraent had been up with them, Sho turned a white wan face up to him; . j^^ and the whole lot had gone back together. she would learn the worst without delay, ^^j^, The next raorning I went down to South- " And the man who accused him falsely) r^.L^- sea, found Claude at his quarters looking who lied hira out of his life; what of V broken-hearted. Frank had been arrested hira t she gasped out. , , the night before charged by one of the " Poor wreteh, I left him to his own fe- '^^l fellows in the regiraent of having robbed flections, and never even tried to get at hira of a heavy sura of raess-raoney ; he his narae. You see the whole business wai *iufali was searched, and the money was found hushed np at once, and I was torn to ^^« on hira, and he was unable to offer tbe pieces by my poor mother's anguish, and ^lu faij'.test explanation as to how he carae to her death following almost directly aflar be in possession of it. Frank's. When I carae out of that furnace " I never doubted hira for a moment; but of affliction, and began to make inqmnee, I nearly died of the agony of hearing that Claude told me that the man who had '*"5t( he had been suspected. Claude was mad falsely accused Frank had been found against the man who had made the charge, guilty of crabezzleraent himselfi and had but I was eager to get to the boy, and so been disrai.ssed the service; and— —' *«lc, I didn't wait to nuike any inquiry into the " His narae r" she interrupted, impa- ^tft, matter, but just went straight off" to the tiently. " Did you never hear his name?" ^Hfl station-house with Claude, to cheer hira if "No; I'll tell you how that was, for.^nht,, we could. When we got there we found though it's Claude's secret, not mine, I can "i:i ]^ the wildest confusion reigning—liis roora trust you with a hint of it: Claude made ^,^. had just been entered, and he was found it a special request to mo that I should ^.-^^ tlead, with his throat cut frora ear to ear." never try to identify the man; he had been ^ A low, long cry of horror and anguish an intimate friend of Claude's; in short, I ^^]^

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Clurles Dickens.] NO ALTERNATIVE. [August 30, 1S73.] 431

than half suspected that he was a " You had better, indeed, indeed you brother or some sort of relation to a girl had," she said, imploringly. " Only raisery Claudpwas in love with. There was no will corae of it if you go on seeing much object in paining my living friend, for the of rae, and get to like rae," she wound up few who knew of the accusation against with a rush, and the colour swept over her my dead brother knew also that it was a face. But no man, looking into her brave, false one, and the poor wretch who had honest eyes as she said the words, could rouged him was punished enough already; have misconstrued them into a bold avowal, sides, just then tbe scheme of Claude's or a tempting suggestion. fewas smashed up, and it wasn't at all " I have got to like you already, the mis­ he time to choose to oppose a single wish chief's done you see," ho said, half laugh­ ~^]ii8,wasit?" ing, but the real genuine look of pain and ^•**No," she said hoarsely; "but I think perplexity tbat crossed her face like a cloud Vrshould have found out the man ; It would checked anything like an exhibition of live been better if you bad," sho went on mirth frora hira. " Really, Miss Carlisle," voarily, "because then in tho white heat he remonstrated, " you take impressions f your sorrow and anger you would have rather too deeply : you're saddened now . »» UJHC into a belief that everything will go wrong "Something rash that I should have re­ all round, because you liave been hearing a pented all my hfe long," he interrupted. melancholy story. Claude was right, I "No, Miss Carlisle, it's better so ; no araount oughtn't to have told you." of avenging would have brought the boy " Claude was wrong," sho answered in back, and Heaven knows the other one's a blaze of excitement. " I tell yon Claude onscienco must be a sorer punishment was more than wrong, be was weak not to ilianany that one of his fellow-men could have told it to me before." devise." " What do you raean ?" "It's not better so," she said itnperlously; " I can't tell you yet; I may never tell 'in white heat you would have done what you, or I m.ay say It all out to-raorrow," vas rash very likely, but what was right she said, panting. " I don't know quito t the same time. But now when you find what I ought to do; for I havo a secret, lim out—and you will find hira out one Mr. Ferrier." lay—you'll be perplexed, harapered, fet­ " You ! A secret!" be said, looking tered, bothered by a nuraber of conflicting down in utter disbelief luto herraobile face. feelings and circumstances, and you won't " Why you couldn't keep one for half an know how to act." hour; your tongue wouldn't tell it perhaps, She spoke in an earnest, excited tone, but I'd read anything off" from your face tiiat showed him how thoroughly she had within half an hour frora the tirae conceal­ asped all the conditions of tho case, and ment set in with you." Sttered him into tbe belief that it was for " Concealment .set in with me about ten his sake solely that sbe flung herself into minutes ago," she said, sadly, " and here the subject with such ardour. w'c are in the Dillsborough meadows; no, "If such a difficulty ever should arise," you shall not cress the Leeth; let rae he said with some emotion, " I'll come to keep ray secret a little longer; I really yon for guidance ; I know yon'd advise me wish to go borae alone, Mr. Ferrier; I weU." know when I tell you tbat, that you will let "Por mercy's sake don't," she stam- rae." ffiered. "Avoid me of all people; indeed, " Is there no appeal ?" it would be a very good thing for you if " None, none," sho said, irapatieutly. you began avoiding mc this minute." " I want to be alono with my secret; do He stared for a moment in wonder and say good-bye," and she held ber hand out •tooyance at her capriciousness, then ho to him. saw that tears were dimraing her eyes, and Ho .saw tbat she really wanted him to bo «iat her flexible mouth was quivering pain- fi'one, and so he raade no further protest Muly, and he knew whatever the sentiment against going. M>at had seized her and stung her into " We haven't been much troubled by Jeech that It was real, and not assumed the cows, have we?" ho asked, srailingly. m the purpose merely of making hira think " Nevertheless, I bless Mrs. Powers for her •bout her. timely reinenibrance of your horrible dread " Avoid you! that I'll never do wil- i of them ; good-bye; I shall come and read ™?'y>" he said in a low voice. I your secret to-morrow." if »5. 432 ALL THE YEAR ROUND. [Aofnil " Good-bye till to-morrow, and when ample themes for most miserable rei you have read ray secret it will be good-bye What intimacy was implied by it for ever," .'•bo replied, sadly. And then what confidence and full understai she crossed the Leeth horaeward bound, And through all the pattern of hii anil Jack Ferrier went back to the Court. thoughts ran one black thread of Ilelieving partly that it would please " Supposing Devenish sees and Claude, and leoling partly that he had no nises it, what then ? Poor Harty, poor right to keep any ])art of " this business," innocent instrument of more misery as he was beginning to term It, from ill-feeling being worked." Claude, ho exercised Claude's spirit ter­ Harty, meantirae, had gone home, ribly that evening at dinner by free and dened with her recently acquired frank mention of his walk home, and of ledge, and bitterly dubious as to what the companion thereof. But before Mrs. should do with it. Had gone home to Powers he reserved stateraent of the fact Mabel sweetly, suavely describing of having told Harty about Frank. doings of the day to an audience that watJ*' Si But when they were unfettered by interested In spite of Its sense of injury. ^^ ier presence, w hen curling wreaths of Mr. Devenish was in his usnal pli sraoke frora their cigarettes made a hazy stretched on the sofa, affecting to iudo; l%\ atmosphere around them in which It was bis wife's openly avowed expressions ca.sy to say anything, when all the relaxing delight at her girls having " a little plea­ influences of wine and night were upon sure now and then." " I used to be n BPIOrE: them. Jack Ferrier spoke. fond of a shooting luncheon when I was ij3 wee " I think I have found the right girl at girl," she was saying, in tones of yearning, last, Claude ; if Harty Carlisle really means retrospective regret for the lost dellghl it as much as I do, as much as she seems of youth and " long ago," when to mean it, I shall ask you to be ray best carae in. man very soon; by tbe way, I told her " Harty doesn't look as if she had eq< about poor Frank's business, and I never joyed the shooting luncheon of to-day,'^ saw a girl so cut up In my life; sbe realised Mr. Devenish said, promptly, fastenio it all with terrible intensity." witb delight on a fair excuse for badgerini yhas " Did she say anything, did she assign the girl who had suffered the most througl 'D™tl)e^ anv reason for her excess of emotion r" him. " Why is it, Harty, that you won't IfTCiyi Claude asked, speaking coldly, though take the siraple pleasures that come iaiZ Ikqiirii he was raging in his soul. His Harty ! your way as Mabel does ? Why cavil i bis own Harty " seeming" to like another fate ? I have ceased to do it, I have man so well, that the other man was justi­ used to unfair " ISTieterv fied in presuming she was ready to be his His assumption of injustice being dealt'^ wife!" out to hira by bis fellow-creatures was too fikl " No, but It's easy enough to know why rauch for ber in her present overwrought she was cut up, presupposing that she condition. She grew reckless, pitiless,^ 'tiidi cares for rae," Jack Ferrier said, with un­ careless even of her mother in a moment. conscious conceit; "she'd naturally be upset " The simple pleasure of to-day has at the idea of ray brother having died In been poisoned to me by the sight of that," that way. I showed her his likeness, too, sbe said, flinging the open locket down on and she really cried over it; and said his the table. And when Mrs. Devenish and eyes seeraed to look at her reproachfully." Mabel crowded forward to look at it, Mr. " Let rae look at Frank's likeness," Devenisb requested his wife to " give him Claude said, stretching out his hand for it. a sight of Harty's last folly," and, as she He wanted to gain tirae, and soraething obeyed him, he looked and saw a ghost I like comraand over hiraself before he spoke He fell back among his cushions, again about Harty. crashed, smitten down, shaken out of his Jack lifted up his chain, and saw that normal state of exacting, self-pitying pee­ the locket was not there. vishness. " Take it away !" he cried, " She forgot to give it back to rae," he feebly, " keep it away. What devil brought .said, quietly, and in that forgetfnlness of it here ?" \u'' hers, and the matter-of-course way in which I did," Harty said; and he flung the -^^ Jack Ferrier regarded it, Claude found locket from him as if it had bitten him. 5^, f^-iJtt:

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