The news., 1885-07-14
III quite agree with You, said ]
% not blame Mr.. Hawke" !"

i II quite agree with you" said 4
do not blame Mr.. Hawke"
"AIind | do not excuse his views
of marriage" she continued. Il con-
slider his anxiety to marry his child to
a man she does not like, odious. lam
only trying to justify his behavior as
far as we, or rather, so far as you are
concerned, mortifying as it is to us. =
Il was going to ask him to dinner,
said my uncle, laughing. Dye re-
member your saying that he wouldn't
come? He's done more-he's gone
leagues ahead of your prophecy Oh,
he's an old fool p' and he smoked his
pipe vehemently.
Il am extremely vexed," said1, ad-
dressing my aunt, that should have
been the means of subjecting you to
this annoyance"
''It's no annoyance" called out my
uncle. "The girls liked Florence, and
she's still their friend There's moth
ing to bother over"
at is perfectly true" continued,
that am in love with Miss Hawke.
1t would be ridiculous in me to attempt
to conceal what you can all see. But
Mr.. Hawke must surely have a great
deal of the Turk as well as the prig in
his nature to forbid her, SO to speak,
to unveil her face to any man but the
person he wants her to marry. If she
can endure discipline of that kind she
has not the spirit | want TO believe
she has,"
"Just my opinion, Jack-what l said
when Sophie gave us the news" said
my uncle.
He was annoyed by the marked at
tention you paid Florence last night"
said my aunt.
eyes, and by her liking it," observed
my uncle.
"If," said my aunt, "your manner,
Mr.. Jack, had not been so pronounced
if my husband had not, as l must
say, rather foolishly yielded Miss
Hawke to you by pretending to mis-
take the daughter he was asked to
give his arm to, there would have been
no grounds for Mr. Hawkes. suspic-
ions, and he would not have said any
thing to Florence about her visits here.
1t is ridiculous to imagine he would
act in this manner to all young men
and the families they might be staying
with. But, unfortunately, he had only
to combine my husbands deliberate
mistake with your behavior to his
daughter, to suspect even more than
was intended. | mean, he would be-
lieve that your uncle was playing into
your hands, and had asked you down
in the hope of securing Florence as a
wife"
"a good job toom said my uncle
81 respect loyalty in relations, and
heartily hope that's his notion. Why
shouldn't find my brother Toms son
a pretty heiress for helpmate? Isn't
he good enough for Florence Hawke ?"
That's not the point, Charles" re-
piled my aunt.
"Any way" continued my uncle,
-"you may take it that Florence don't
think herselft too good for Jack. What
do yau think, nephew? There's a
meaning in her hurrying around here
this morning to pour her yarn about
her papa's severity into Sophie's ear,
which | should take to my heart and
cuddle if were twenty-five years old,
and her admirer. And does the old
fellow really suppose he is going the
right way to work to make his daugh-
ter do what he wants? What fools
there are in this world"
"There is only one way" said |, ad-
dressing my aunt, "of pleasantly end
ing this unfortunate affair.""
"Not by giving, Florence up, surely !"
cried my uncle.
"The condition." l went on, is that
Miss Hawke is only to cease visiting
you while | remain your guest"
"Oh, excuse me jack" cried my
aunt, lifting up her hands; "there are
two sides to that condition, We shall
always be glad to see Florence; but
after what has passed, none of us-I
speak of my own particular family
could even dream of calling on the
Hawkes. again."
"At all events" said /, "the condi-
ton, so far as Miss Hawke is con-
cerned, relates to me only will not
} say have already trespassed ON your
! kindness"
"None of that" bawled my uncle.
: II mean this" said ], "it is out of
, the question that Miss Hawke can be
debarred from visiting you by me. I
, must therefore leave you."
"When p said my uncle.
To-day"
"By what train ?'
"By no train at all. l have taken
lodgings in Bristol"
Ny aunt looked startled, my uncle
incredulous.
Taken lodgings in Bristolf' cried
he. "When did you do that ?"
"Just now"
He turned to his wife and stared at
her. WELL" said he, drawing deep
,, breath; Jacks darned modest fell
low, anyhoww
II hope you are not in earnest" said
my aunt, whose kind heart did not at
all relish this new posture in me
although she might consider I was
, acting very properly.
Il am indeed" l replied, 81 have
hired couple of rooms, and remove
there this evening. After the kindness
you have shown me, it is painful to be
, forced to leave you in this fashion
But / know my duty. Mr.. Hawke
shall have no further excuse to deprive
! his daughter of my cousins society
, Besides l must not forget l have
already been here fortnight, and
! never intended to intiict my society
upon you for longer term"
e My uncle sat listening and looking
at me with his head on one side, hi;
f,ll &c thorob+ hod f,ll,, -,