Novelist.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2724, 28 December 1889, Page 5 (Supplement)

Novelist.

By MRS W. RATTRAY. Author of, "My Last Year's Visit to Auckland," "Tho Mystery of Sloano Cottage," &c., &c., &o.

BRISTONDELL, UK AN UNLUCKY MARRIAGE-

CHAPTER I.—The Brothers Bkiston. The prettiest p lace, in, or near tlie village of Calpston, was most docidedly, " Bristondell," owned, and occupied by the brothers Briston. The house, a large, old-fashioned building, stood on elevated ground, commanding an extensive view of the park surrounding the mansion, and, through the trees, of the village and hills beyond. The two brothers were extremely unlike, both in outward appoarance, and in almost all their thoughts and feelings. On one point only, did they thoroughly agree, viz., in their fixed and unalterable determination to remain single all their days. The elder brother, Lionel, was rather above the middle height, somewhat slightly built, with black hair, and a long silky moustache of the same colour, completely hiding his upper lip. His features ■were regular, his forehead massive, and his chin,square and determined. His general expression was gravo and rather stern, and he cared for no one in the world but his younger brother, Matthew. The latter was somewhat short, decidedly iuclined to stoutness, with irregular features, short curly hair, -whiskers and moustache, which all partook freely of a pronounced auburn tint. His merry blue eyes ■were always dancing with fun, and his whole aspect inclined one to agree with ayoung urchin's remark, ' The squat, red-haired chap's always a-larking, leastways, he looks so." The afternoon was a particular mild one for the time of year—tho end of April, and the two brothers were sitting on the terrace, enjoying the warmth which was particularly acceptable after a long, cold winter, with hardly as yet any sign of spring weather. Their attitudes wore characteristic of the men. Lionel was seated on a garden-chair, made more comfortablo by the addition of a soft oppossum rug, Matthew had, with some difficulty, succeeded in attaining tho place he had occupied for yours, when indulging in a smoko ou the terrace iu sumoier-timo. This

favourite spot was the back of a lion, which was placed in rather an elevated position at the end of the quaint old-fashioned stone balcony. "I toll you what it is, Loo," Matthew said to his brother, when he had regained his wind, which had been lost in his climb. "Im not so young as I was this time last year, and I must either give up iny seat, which being stone, never was, and never avill b(3, soft, or I must reduce my weight. Now, supposing I get up half-an-kour before breakfast every morning, and, putting on an old suit, climb the lion, say, iorty times, oh ?" " I should say it was a very good idea in theory, but asl am sure you will nover put it in practice, I need not endeavour to imagine what the result would bo to yourself. Only until my cough is better, don t ask me to have to rise too, and keep you up to the mark, that is the li°nIndeod, I fear I should have to lift you bodily to your seat at the nineteenth attempt." Lionel coughed vigorously as he spoke. " Look here, Leo," cried the younger brother anxiously, "you must get rid of that cough. It worries me awfully to hear you barking away all night." Lionel laughed ; " Evidently my cough doesn't keep you awake much, old fellow, or you would have noticed that I never make a sound between twelve and six." " Oh ! well, its all the same which of us it keeps awake, you know. Its equally bad for both, or either of us, to be deprived of even one half-hour of the exact amount of sleep we have discovered by long experience to be essential to a state of complete health. So I have come to the conclusion that you must go away for a change. ' " All right, if you will come too." Matthew glanced cautiously round, and perceiving a housemaid at an upper window, laid his finger on his lips to enjoin silence on his brother ; and watching his opportunity, when the maid had withdrawn her head, slid somewhat clumsily and decidedly ungracefully from his perch. " [ must either bant, or resign my seat;"' ho said mournfully ; " Come for a turn in the park, and we will sec if there are any new nests. You know [ really ought still to be able to make a clean spring from the beast; he waved his hand towards the lion; " I declare if that woman has done peeping, I'll make the attempt now." " No, no, never mind, Matt. Order the horso, and we will go for a ride. That will do us more good than birds' nesting. Besides you know wo are really getting rather old for that sort of thing. 1 shouldn't like people to become aware we still adhere to so many boyish habits." Matthew laughed, " It's all done in the cause of science, now. Besides, don't we fully intend to write a book on ornithology, one of these days ; and are we not always looking out for a rum aobs, which shall establish our fame as naturalists?" The brothers enjoyed their ride extremely, and the subject of change of air for Lionel was not renewed until they found themselves ascending one of the numerous hills surrounding the village, when Matthew began again. You had really better go away at once, Leo. There's nothing much doing just now ; and you could be back again, strong and well, before harvest-time ; hay harvest of course I mean." For these two, having no worse way of wasting their money, went iu for a little amateur agriculture. It was nearly as expensive, but far more wholesome than horse racing, card playing, or other decided and pronounced forms of gambling, and they indulged in very mild bets as to a certain field turning up turnips or blanks. They read all the books they could find on the subject, which did them, probably, less harm than " shillinn shockers," and doubtless quite as much good. They tormented the patient soil by divers experiments, subjecting ic to the newest processes for turning out large and promising crops. It amused them, and did no karui to anybody , as they had no near relations and distant ones could hardly complain of this way of spending money that might, or might not, descend in time to them — always supposing that the brothers Briston did not marry. And, as they said frequently to each other, why should they marry? They were perfectly happy as they were ; they never quarrelled, and if a lady were introduced on the scene, who could say how long such a peaceful state of things would continue ? Why tempt Providence by seeking to alter what was evidently designed and arranged as the fittest and most suitable condition to ensure the comfort and well-being of the brothers Briston ? " I don't see why you could not go with me," answered Lionel; "at all events for a short time. The house seems all right, and we have had very little trouble with the servants, lately." "Ah! that's just it; you see that's just why 1 couldn't possibly leave just now ; I never liked that new housemaid, Jane Abbott. She was always too forward. Well, would you believe it, Leo, this very morning I spoke to her rather sharply, about that eahweb which you noticed iu t'. • • "last uight (1 can't i.uw it •

escapod my notice when I was looking over the rooms in my usual morning round). She was extremely impertinent; said she could nt help the old spider coming there after she had thoroughly swept the room, and .spinning his untidy web. I was obliged to own it might possibly have been spun since ten o'clock this morning, and I got from the library that new work on Arachnida, just to see how long the ordinary house spider takes to spin his threads —theories! mean belong to the family Epeiridre—and, Leo, after 1 had been reading for about five minutes I look up and there was Jane, sitting on that new plush easy-chair, in her common working gown, actually reading the " Nineteenth Century.'' " Education,"' murmured Lionel, " the bane of housekeepers in these over-educated days. But I daresay she would not have minded changing her frock if you had only pointed out to her its congruity with her elegant and artistic surroundings. But I deeply feel for you ; what suggested itself to my mind as the most fitting way of pointing out to her the little error of judgment of which she was guilty in not waiting, say an hour later, when you would be safely out of the way. I expect she's finishing the article now.' " I asked her how she dared to sit in one of the drawing-room chairs, and open one of our magazines ? and she said she had never lived in a place where there was such a fussy old woman at the head of affairs ! Good gracious, Leo, was there ever such an insult?" Matthew glanced at his brother, who was calmly flicking the flies off his horse's neck, with his whip, and, seeing the ghost of a smile on his face, his genial nature could keep angry no longer, and he burst out laughing. " If you had only seen the woman I believe her attitude was exactly copied from mine. The best of it was she was pretending to read an article on banting, and that's a sore point with me, naturally. Oh, by-the-bye, that's in Belgravia, isn't it? I havo no doubt she would have given me hints if I had not given her a month's warning on the spot. So I must stay in the house until she goes away, and meantime look out for another." " If you will excuse my interferin your housekeeping arrangements, ' observed Lionel, thoughtfully 3 "I should advise you to pay her a month's wages, and send her off at once. If Igo away, there will be one room less to look after, and perhaps, under those circumstances, you might manage with our present staff, until you find a thoroughly competent girl to take the upper house-maid's place." " That's a very good idea, and if you would kindly hasten your departure, we could manage splendidly. Sometimes, do you know, Leo, I almost fancy we should have arranged that you should be housekeeper, and I secretary, and accountant ; you have such very good notions about household management." " Not for the world," exclaimed Lionel hastily, " It's not at all in my line, and you really get on admirably. When would you like me to leave, and where shall I go ?" " I don't quite know. Say Mentone, and the day after to-morrow, could you manage that do you think 1 I will have your things washed at once. " Don't put yourself out to send to the laundress again this week ; I have what I shall want, and I shall bo able to begin my summer rig long before you. Swanson shall send a new suit after me." CHAPTER ll.—Thoughtful Relations. " Tom its an awfully long time since we heard anything of my dear cousins Briston ; suppose you write and suggest we pay them a visit." "No, my dear, they are your relations, if you want to see them, you must get your own invitations. I maintain that every man has a right to invite whom he pleases to his own house, and if he does not invite any one. I aiu merely generalising of course, it looks un-' commonly as if he didn't want to see them in his house. But of course, as usual, ray dear, you will just do as you think best." "Well you see, Tom, the lease of this place is up in a fortight, and we have unfortunately not a single invitation for the summer. I should like to take Miranda abroad, but you said wc couldn't afford the expense. We must go somewhere ; why not go to Bristondeil 1" " And throw Miranda at the head of one of the wealthy brothers, eh ? so that's your little game. Well I tell you candidly, its not the very least use either you or your daughter trying to catch one of them. Eor one thing our sweet child plays a rather too open hand, she allows people to see her cards iu what, in a younger woman would be a delightfully innocent way, but which in a woman of her age, and appearance is nauseous in the extreme." " Tom/' exclaimed his wife indignantly, "remember you are speaking of your daughter. " I know that, worse luck," rejoined Captain Melcotton, gloomily. " Well, get your invitation, if you can. I will give the girl this one last chance, and if she isn't married before the end of the summer, I'll swear she shall out. as a govprnto last ti w

general servant in a lodging-house ; that will tamo the shrew. But mind this, make her clearly understand that it's the last chance she shall have ; and she must do violence to her feelings and lie uncomfortably amiable towards the whole party." Mrs Melcotton burst into tears. She felt that was a protest against his unfatherly words she owed her daughter. At the same time she quite agreed with him. Thrown more with her only child than he was ; she was necessarily the more frequent recipient of her fits of illtemper and domineering ways, but, on the other hand, she was a woman and a mother, and consequently far more forbearing and patient. Still she recognised that .something must really he done if she would keep her husband with her, for he had several times lately vowed he would no longer live in the same house with the daughter, whom in childhood he had willingly helped to spoil by over-indulgence and an unwholesome neglect of all correction and punishment. Mrs Melcotton dried her tears, and sought her daughter's studio. She was received as an interloper, and conspicuously made aware of the fact. But when she had told her errand her presence was at least tolerated. Miranda's light blue eyes were still a trifle red, and her retrousee nose a trifle flushed, from the effects of a good hearty cry of mortification and hurt vanity, caused by her father's refusal that very morning to increase her allowance, or pay a " tiny little " dressmaker's bill, which had made an unwelcome sixth appearance by the first post, with a very plain intimation that this was the last time of asking. It is to be feared that the captain did not couch his denial in elegant and diplomatic phrases, but told his daughter plainly that the most lovely bonnets or hats, or ravishing costumes, would never cause her to look anything but the plainest of the plain. This was annoyingeven though it was only to be considered an ebullition of temper on his part, which was completely thrown into the shade by her unfilial retorts. All tilings therefore conspired to make her approve of her mother's suggestion, and enter earnestly into the plan of campaign, which she so well arranged that a letter announcing their proposed visit only reached Brisdondell a few hours before their own arrival might be expected ; and it contained the legend, " Silence gives consent." How, indeed, could it do otherwise, when there was no time to write and say "no?" A telegram might have reached them, but Matthew was reluctantly obliged to own it was very unlikely it would, and if their plans were all made, it would be cruel to refuse them, unless it had been absolutely impossible to have taken them in. Hospitality was always a feature of Bristondell, and though sorely put out by the shortness of time allowed for his preparations, Matthew stood at the hall door and courteously welcomed his visitors when they arrived that afternoon, telling the two ladies that five o'clock tea was waiting their pleasure in the drawing-room. With a strange bashfulness, Miranda waited for her mother's escort downstairs, and would not allow her to pour out tea; alleging the " poor dear must be tired with the long journey, and in need of rest." She was fussy about the exact quantity of cream and sugar she—for the first time—imagined, " dear mamma always took," thereby conveying to Matthew's unsuspicious mind an impression of loving filial devotion. Mrs Melcotton hid her astonishment at this new departure on her daughter's part successfully ; but the father with great difficulty suppressed a whistle. He was too much taken aback to sustain his part in the conversation, and his host, fearing he was bored, proposed a turn round the grounds. "Pray extend your invitation to me, Mr Briston," said Miranda with a smile that resembled the heathen Chinee's, it was so remarkably childlike and bland. " I am so fond of an outdoor life." " Why you never—" began her father, but Miranda stopped any uncomfortable revelation, by inquiring of Matthew if she would want a hat 1 The host was a little embarrassed. " To tell the truth," he said, "I am so unaccustomed to the society of ladies excent in the most general way, that I am quite incapable of giving you any information on female dress." Then,thinkinghis speech sounded ungracious, he added, "Butl shall be most happy to learn auythiug, you will bo good enough to teach me." Miranda's eyos botrayed her satisfaction at this spoech, and she answered with as much tenderness as she could, being so terribly out of practice. '■ \ r cry woll, then, I accept you as my pupil; I am sure you will prove an apt one. I will give you your first lesson in the little attentions ladies always appreciate by allowing you how tu wrap my shawl round mo." tihe went up tu hor room and returned in a very youthful garden hilt, with a whito fleecy cloud, which under her directions Matthew proceeded to fold around her substantial shouldors. It had to come of" more r'ifiii <we before 'be ne«* rn'>i"' SOt/tuvjU iO -it Ui* xulUOi ut '

joke than otherwise. As for Mrs Malcotton her daughter disposed of hor with the remark, " Of courso you will be too tired to come with us." and of course the dutiful mother remained behind. Captain Melcotton was standing on the terrace, he felt he really needed some fresh air after witnessing what he unhesitatingly, called his daughter's " infernal humbug." Miranda was extremely and u.nfeignedly delighted with the beauty of the place, and only longed for the time when she should live there as mistress; for as Matthew was the younger brother, she had already decided she would insist prettily, l>ut firmly, that his marriage should make no difference in the menage, except the merely natural one of transferring the reins of household management to her feminine fingers. There might be a few alterations necessary, for on going over the house before dinner, she discovered that by far the best room, in point of situation, view, and general cosiness, was the smoking-room. This, she determined, should be given over to her, for her own private use, either as boudoir or studio. It was simply ridiculous for smokers to have such a lovely outlook, a blank wall was good enough to be obscured by thick clouds of smoke; the Fronch window on one side would look perfect, artistically draped with rose and cream liberty silk curtains, and the handsome linoleum should be replaced by a mossy carpet. As for the fantastic and varied collection of rugs and mats, which plentifully strewed the floor, why most of them were really beautiful, and quite wasted on men, who only sat and looked at the graceful curls of smoke emanating from pipe or cigar. Miranda was so much interested in these chimerical arrangements, that she very nearly began consulting Matthew on the important question when they could be carried out. Luckily she checked the words in time, and uttered some commonplace chaff on the male devotion to tobacco. Before going to sleep, however, she had mentally completed some important changes which would Imvc caused consternation in the hearts of the brothers Briston, had they known of them. CHAPTER lll.—The Villa San Jacques. " I can't be mistaken ; surely you are Lionel Briston." " Yes, that is my name ; but you have the advantage of me ; I really do not recollect having ever seen you before." The two men were standing on the deck of the boat going from Dover to Calais. A sudden roll made them seize hold of each other, and both laughed. " I know you now," cried Lionel; " there never was but one man or boy as you were then—who laughed like Tom Shelters." "That's the worst of being a remarkable person," returned his companion, gaily; " I can never escape the attentions of my numerous creditors except by keeping a too tight hold of my risible faculties ; and, as this little incident tends to show, a very slight accident breaks down my stern selfcontroi." " I was not aware you owed me anything," retorted Lionel, with imperturable gravity. " But I do. Did you not wrest from me at school the hard-fought prize not from any extra ability on your side, I could have forgiven you that, but by sheer plodding, early rising, late retiring, and all the rest. You knew my late reverend and dear uncle encouraged field sports before mental ones, and you took a base advantage of the fact. Joking shelved for the present, where do you come from 1 and whither are you going 1 and where is Matt 1 and why is he not here 1 I thought you two were inseparable." Lionel gave a little gasp. " My dear Tom, would you mind asking one question at a time ? I am quite overwhelmed." " Like the girls," said the sailor. " They don't like you to ask mora than one of them at once —in each port that is, you know." " Are you in the navy 1 ?" " I am the same; iind a better seaman or yarn-spinner, or ladies' man, her most graciouis Majesty won't find in any ship." " Here is Calais," said Lionel. " I am sorry we have only just found each other out, as it is not likely our routes are the same. I am going to Mentone. May I ask where your travels will land you T' "Jolly Neptune," exclaimed the sailor; " that's my port, too. What are you going there for ?" Lionel explained, and inquired with delicate irony if the state of his companion's health had led him to seek that salubrious spot. " By George, no !" lau«hed Tom. " It's the state of my affections. I'll explain in private. Look sharp. Where's the Custom-house ?" Later, when the two friends had secured a carriage to themselves. Tout told Lionel that there was an uncle of his living in Mentone for the benefit of his health, and it was to see him that he had taken advantage of a short leave of absence from his ship. "You must be very fond of him V said Tiionel, innocently. •• "WVi'." -'be fiank sailor, jvu aie, bha o;d wan is very nice ;

and all that; but the fact is he's got a very —a really pretty— daughter." "So that's the attraction?" " Well, net altogether. You see the pretty daughter—my cousin— has a cousin of her own." " Oh ! I see, a rival." " Well, not quite. You see the cousin is a charming and most discriminating young lady.'' " Yes." ' "And, well you see, she and I are going to get spiked as soon as some relations in London leave her the where-with-.aH- Her name is Ellen. I call her Nelly Bly, for short; the rest are in no hurry, so call her Nell." " Who are the ' rest ?' " "There's only uncle —John Willersley, Esq., and his daughter Rita." " The others of his family, including my late lamented aunt, are interred in Hove churchyard. Also another aunt, who passed me over, and left the bulk of her fortune to Rita, on condition she married to please her father. She wasn't my aunt, it's true, being only Mr Willorsley's sister, and I date from Mrs Willersley's side; but you see I would willingly have rendered her a nephew's devotion if she would have accepted me as heir. I had some thoughts of chucking up Nellie Bly in favour of Rita, but she wouldn't have me at any price. Besides her father didn't think me good enough for his idolised girl." " Do you know of a good hotel 1" asked Lionel. " Oh, yes ; but I'll introduce you to my people, and you can stay there. It's precious slow at an hotel, all alone, I can tell you." " Really, I could not think of trespassing oti your uncle's hospitality," ■ began Lionel, but Torn interrupted him with— "I say, either of you two fellows married yet 1" " No, indeed," replied the elder of the brothers Briston, "and," lie added, with complacent certainty, " we never shall be." Again Tom's hearty laugh proclaimed his identity. " You've missed an awful lot of fun, you two," he said, with a slight accent of contemptuous pity, which elicited the remark from Lionel in tones of rebuke— "The subject does not interest me in the least. With your kind permission, I'll try and get a little sleep." {To bo continued.)