The news., 1885-07-21

affection if, now that was out of the
house, | did not dose them too often
with my company; and, besides, if
this courtship of mine was going to
involve much waiting, whether it
came to anything or not, should I not
be dining at their house often
enough
"If ever you want the phaeton, or
feel disposed for a canter, you have
only to send message, Jack" said
Sophie; and then, giving me tender,
sentimental shake of the hand, my
cousins went away.
CHAPTER X.
MY UNCLE DANIPs MY HOPES.
Nothing particular, as shipmasters
say, when they depone to disasters,
happened for the next three days.
| recollect calling at my uncle's house
and finding everybody out also kill
ing morning by a trip to Portis-
head, attending morning service in
the cathedral in the vague, utterly
idle hope Of seeing Miss Hawke there.
Had | been in Bristol merely as
a lounging visitor, with an unoccupied
mind, on the lookout for amusement,
should have immensely enjoyed
the old city, for it is as picturesque
place as man need wish to see !;
full of gable-roofed houses belonging
to ancient times, and quaint side
streets; and, above all, it gives you
the interests of big port close
to your door, in the shape of ships
which come up into the heart of
the town and mingle their spars and
flags with chimney-pots and steeples.
But my mind never was unoccupied.
l wandered about like dog that has
lost its master, staring at people and
into carriages, in hopes of catching
a glimpse Of Florence Hawke, with
my mind so full of plans and plots,
of hopes and fears, of determination
and irresolution, that had Bristol
been built by the slaves of Aladdin
in night should have mooned and
gaped along the pavements without
giving the least attention to the miracle.
On the afternoon of the third day
| returned to my lodgings. having
been down TO Portishead to have a
look at old ocean, and found my little
parlor logged with tobacco smoke, in
the midst of which sat my uncle.
blowing clouds from large meer-
schaum. This was his first visit, and
when | entered, instead of saying.
"How do you do?" he exclaimed,
"Shut the door behind ye, Jack.
l don't want your landlady to hear
me laugh. Man you must be deeply
in love to put up with this. Dash
my buttons you don't call this a
room, do ye? Why, if Florence was
to catch sight Of this ch-box,
darned if ! don't think she'd be
giving you her heart and hand slick
away off out of mercy, so as to get you
out of this butter-box of hole"
''Small as it is" said /, "I'm glad
to see you in it. How are you? ?" and
we shook hands, after which opened
the window.
"And what headway are you MAX
ing?" said he.
"I'm very comfortable here" l
replied. Not equal to your palace,
but good enough for spell-clean,
quiet, respectable, and cheap"
"Idon't mean that, said he. "What
are you doing in this loye business I?
are you forging ahead at all ?"
Il can't say am" | replied, feeling
exceedingly foolish.
"Have you met Florence since you
left us p he asked.
"Not once"
"Have you see,, her then ?"
mo"
Neither met her nor seen her p
he cried. "What are you doing then
writing to her ?"
| shook my head these questions
were abominably mortifying and made
me feel horribly absurd.
Them said he, Sin the name OF
Jerusalem, what are you stopping in
this rat-hole for?" looking around
him. "Has any one invented a new
method of making love since | was
young, by which two people can grow
desperately attached by never seeing
by never meeting, by never hearing
and never writing to each other ?
If not then come back to my house
Jack don't 90 and ruin the reputa.
ton of the Seymours for intellect
by hiding in snail-shell and pretend.
ing that you are eourting."
My dignity was touched. pardon
me-" I observed, somewhat loftily
! ''you know the policy l intended
e adopt. | am content to wait. Mr.
lphonso Hawke is not an apple-tret
| can turn to and shake him un
le particular fruit I want falls a
It, His daughter knows | low,
knows l am living in Bristo
se."
ttat got to do with it {?
you never meet her
s e her, if You dom
her, what's to conn
bis oyster-shell {?
hands, said /