, 1886-05-27

hOits ne aAC bVC1 ~ - ~ 'Hs@s -
fellow feels is a hoax and a yarn? Now,
ing of, 'Brightley Court that girl
Ruth Moss is somewhere in the
world she is living like n violet
in a wood, and the air is better for
her presence-happier-and that's ell one
knows Let us love much because lie
is short; let us do much because we love
much!' That girl is alive for me now
almost as much as Nelly there and my
Mary. She marries no one in the novel:
why. there isn't a fellow | ever met fit to
put his hand under her foot to send her
up to the saddle. | beg our pardon,
Harry. but you Won't mind. ! don't
think you are good enough for Ruth
either
An right, sir. Shan't break my heart
for that said Sir Harry. I'd rather
have y real live girl than a dream.
though that is a very true character
very ~real-very. In fact Ruth Moss re-
minded me of somebody l have met.
Have you read 'Brightley Court Miss
Fairfield =
Nelly had not; Mary had suggested it,
and she had rejected it as too unroman-
tic.
~Ah. you should read that" cried both
the men in duet-Mary's father and Sir
Harry Give.
"Who is it by =" said the voice Of Mr..
Gobblecock.
"Hyacinth Grey"
Mr.. Gobblecock, with a grunt. re-
turned to his papers.
a lady, | should think" said the
young baronet.
"Ah! I'm sure of it. Who else could
have told us about Ruth's dresses and the
color Of her hair? Yet there's an amaz-
ing amount of knowledge of horses in
that book, and of barrack life,' said Mr.
Marsh, "and Hyacinth Grey has one
novel about London city life, and an
other about yachting"
The voice of Gobblecock interrupted.
in my time at school Hyacinthus was a
Greek boy, but these ladies that write
novels don't trouble their heads about
classical accuracy"
Soon he wrote a long letter, sent it to
the post, folded his newspapers into the
black bag, and came with n thousand
more apologies, and made up for his alb
srncc by talking with the volubility of a
dozen. His stories made everybody
laugh; his g%entlencss with the girls made
up for his lack of good looks; his talk of
foreign cities made them wonder how
saw he was most at home when he was
abroad. In n word. Gobblecock was Il
pleasant man, good company-a success.
Even Hubert came back, heart-aches
and oil. and joined the circle. And then
the candles CLEANED round the draw..E-
ROOM, and Nelly looked her prettiest, and
Mary Marsh was hei sweetest. and Robin
was his noisicst. Harry Gives was
pleased with himself and all the world;
Hubert was only heard once overheard
by Nellv) to murmur to his sister that he
wished Harry was far enough" Mr..
Marsh made a happy patcrfamilias, and
felt like a boy again when he detected
Harry Give waiting on Nelly, and poor
Hubert getting angry. In short, it was
a pleasant family circle, and Gobblecocb
had become a favorite with everybody.
except little Robin, whose mind had beer
disturbed about Bluebeard.
At Darkleigh Court the ladies' had al
ways an hour to themselves, while the
men finished the late evening in the
smoking-room or at the billiard-tabie.
Tonight Nelly took up the book that
was the talk Of the season, and read a
fcv-chapters while Mary worked.
Presently Mr.. Marsh came in. Sc
glad you are reading that, Nelly! 1t i
beauty and poetry from cover TO cover
no matter what it talks about-theh hunt
ing-ficld, or the camp, or the barrack
yard, or anything"
Mary did not look up from Ter work,
but She said gently" Hyacinth Grey's
books are all delightful. He must be a
man with a. noble mind
Mr.. Marsh paced up and down the
room thinking. his thoughts had darted
oil to a subject nearer his heart.
Il wonder what that boy Of mine has
ON his mindg" he said. He stumps
about over my head. up and down,
up and down, till . and 3 in the
morning. | wish you would find out
what is troubling him, Mary. Poor
If ibcrt. 1t worries me to think lac may
have some trouble and won't tell me.
Find out. if you can
i'll has a little sitting-room too in the
west tower, has not he;7 Nelly asked.
when Nh. Marsh Vas gone. The light
is burning %thereetill l every night. |
have looked out and seen the bright
window. and wondered
The light burned in the upper window
ct the west tower that night till the
clock struck |. Afterwards Hubert
walked up and down in the room over
hrs fathers till half-past.
lie must have some great trouble ON
his mind" thought Nelly, Ieeping from
urder the corner OF her window-bliud
.yu cling the lonely light.
~tie is like the Polar leat in the
logical gardens thought his sleep
G lher, listening to the footsteps for
all the night.
un the next evening Hubert had ear
Rcd oil -Brightcly Court 10 that snug
litilr siiting-ropm of his in the tower.
Mary Marsh asked Nelly 10 run mp for is,
As hpr brother. and her father, and tho
great Mr.. Gonblecock were all far away
at billiards.
Nelly. in Hubert's own dominions. de-
layed to look round her before she took
the open volume from the table. All at
once footsteps, and Hubcrt's voice, and
the voice Of the dread Gobblecock were
tloec outside the door. Seized by a silly
fear 81 being found. she thought of Ar
gsnuua in the last romance. and, re.
solved to he a heroine for once in her
life. she dad Just what she should not
have ionc. she stepped behind a screen.
ruie, ln m. LAT have stepped out at once
hrlV.ls and maic a joke of III; bat by
b. .taf.on HAT chance was lost. Should
IN. n rl- or .hnlll .he runpn- l.r LIn