LITERATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4814, 30 November 1893, Page 1

LITERATURE.

ALL ALONG_THE RIVER. [by miss m. c. braddon.] Author of "lady Audley'a Secret," "Aurora Flo jd," " Tbe Cloven Foot/ «« Dead Men's Shoes," &c, &o. (Copyrighted.) Chapter 111. — (Continued.) The dusk T was thickening as ahe went along the short avenue which. l*d to the #ates. Mr Crowther, having bnilt his house in a wood, had been able to cut himself out a carriage drive, which gave him an avenue of more than two centuries growth, and, thus imparted an air of spurious antiquity to his demesne. He felt as he looked at the maseive boles of those old Spanish chestnuts as if he had belonged to the coil since tbe Commonwealth. . Even the lodge waa an important building, Tudor on one side, and monastic on the other; with that agreeable hodgepodge of styles which the modern architect loveth. It was a better house than the curate lived in as he often told Mias Crowther. Isola quietened her pace outside that solemn gateway, Rud seemed to breathe more freely. She hurried even faster at "the sound of a footstep behind her, though there was no need for nervouß apprehensions at that early hour in the November evening on the high road between Fowey and Trelasco. Did ebe know that firm, quick' footfall? or was it an instinctive avoidance of an unknown danger which j made her hurry on till her heart be.?>n to j beat etormily, and her breath cams in short gaepß ? "My dear Mrs Disney, do you usually walk as if for a wager ?" asked a voice behind her. " I can generally get over the ground pretty fast, but it was as much *a I could do to overtake you without running." He was not breathless, however. His tones were firm and tranquil. It was she who could hardly speak. "I'm afraid I am very Jate," she answered nervously. "For what? For afternoon tea by yonr own fireside ? Have you anybody waiting for you at the Angler's Nest, that you should be in such a hurry to get home ? " "No, there is no one waiting, except Tabitha. I expect on one." " Then why walk yourself into a fever ? " " Tabitha get 3 fidgety if I am out aftsr dusk." "Then let Tabiths fidget! It will be good for her liver. Those adipose people requite small worries now and again to keep them in health. You mustn't over-pace yourself to oblige Tabitha." N She had slackened her pa-.e, and he was walking by her side, looking down at her from that superb altitude which gave him an unfair advantage. How could she escape those searching glances ? She knew that her way home was his way home, so far ai the bend of the road which led alway from the river ; and to avoid him \ for the intervening, distance would have been difficult. She must submit to bis company en the road, or make a greater effort than it was in her nature to make. "You mean to go to this ball, don't you ?" he asked earnestly. "I think not." " Oh, but pray do. Why Bhould you shut yourself from all the pleasures of thiß world, and live like a nun, always ? You might* sorely make just one exception for such, a grand event as the Hunt ball. Yon have no idea how much we all think of it hereabouts. Bemember, it will be the first public dance we have had at Lostwithiel for ever so many years. You will Bee family diamonds enough to make you fancy you are at St James's. Do you think Major Disney would dislike your having just one evening's dissipation ?" " Oh, no, he would not mind. He is only too kind and indulgent. He would have liked me to spend the winter with my eister in Hans Place, where there would have been gaieties of all kinda ; but I don't want to go into society while Martinis away. It would not make me happy." "But if it made someone els a happy — if j it made other people happy to see you there?" " Oh, but it would not matter to anybody. I am a stranger in the land. People are only kind to me for my husband's sake." "Your modesty becomes you ss the dew becomes a rose. I won't gainsay you — only be sure you will be missed if you don't go to the ball. And if you do go— well, it will be an opportunity of making nica friendß. It will be your dibut in County society." " Without my husband ? Pleass don't say aDy more about it, Lord Lostwithiel. I had much rather stay ab home." He changed the' conversation instantly, asking her what she thought of Glenaveril. : " I think the situation most lovely." "Yes, there we are all agreed. Mr Crowther had the good taste to find a charming site, and the bad tasbe to erect an architectural monstrosity, a chimera, in red brick. There was a grange once in .the heart of that wood, and the Crowthers have the advantage of acorns and chestnuts that sowed themselves while the sleepy old monks were telling- their beads. How do you like Miss Crowfcher ?" " I hardly know her well enough to like j or dislike her. She is very handsome." ; " So was Rubens' wife, Helena Forman; but what would one do in a world peopled - with Helena Formanß? There are galleriea in Antwerp which no man should «nter without smoke-coloured spectacles, if he would avoid being blinded by a blaze of red-haired beauty. I am told that the Hiss Crowthers will have, at least, a million of mondy between them in days to come, and that they are destined to make great matches. Perhaps we shall see some of their soujairants at the ball. Since the decay of the landed interest, the chasse aux dMs has become fiercer than of old." This seemed to come strangely from him who had already been talked of as a pos- . Bible candidate for one of the Miss Crowthera. It would be such a particularly suitable match, Mrs Baynham, the doctor's wife, had told Isola. What could his Lordship look for beyond a fine fortune and a handsome wife ? "They would make such a splendid pair," said Mfa Baynham, talking of them as if they were carriage horses. Mra Disney and her companion crossed a narrow meadow, from the high-road to the river path which was the nearest way to the Angler's Nest. The river went rippling by under the gathering grey of the November evening. On their right hand there was the gloom of dark woods ; and from the meadow on their left roee a thick white mist, like a sea that threatened to swallow them in its phantasmal tide. The sound of distant oars, dipping with rhythmical measure, waa the only sound except their own voices. Did that three-quarters of a mile seem longer or shorter than usual ? Isola hardly knew; but when she saw the lights shining in Tabitba's kithen, and the fire-glow ia the drawing-room, she was glad with the gladness of one who escapes from some fancied danger of ghosts or goblins. Loatwithiel detained her at the gate. " Good night," he eaid : " good night. You will change your mind, won't you, Mrs Disney ? It is not ia one co gentle as you to be inflexible about such a trifl?. Say that you will honour oar ball."

She dre«". herself up a little, aa if in protest against 4m pertinacity. "I really cannot understand why you should carewhelher I go or stay away," she said coldly. " Ob, but I do care. It is childisn perhaps on my part, but I do care ; I care tremendously; more than I have cared about anything for a long time. It is so small a thing on your part— it meana so much for me ! Say you will be there." "la that you, ma'am ? " asked Tabitba's pleasant vciee, while Tabifcba's substantial soles made themselves audible upon the gravel path. "I waa beginning to get fidgety about yon." "Good night," said Isola shortly, aa she passed through the lit-le gate. It swung to behind her, and she vanished among the laurels and arbutus. He heard her voice and Tabitha'a as they walked towards the housain friendly conversation, mistress and maid. There was a great over-blown Dijon rose nodding its heavy bead over the fence. Eoegs linger so late in that soft western air. Losbwithiel plucked the flower, and pulled off its petals one by one as he walked towards the village street. " Will she go— will she stay— go — atay— go— stay ? " he muttered, ai the petals fluttered to the ground. " Go ! Yes, of course she will go," he Baid to himself as tho last leaf fell. "Does it need ghost from the grave or roße from the garden to tell me that ? " (To be continued.)