Year: 1872

"Those that will not when they may,


When they will they shall have nay"


A garden-party on the banks of the
Thames; croquet and strawberries the ex-
cuse; filtration and matrimony the object
But in all the glory of June sunlight,
the bright river glittering as it runs on to
the sea. roses flinging their rich perfume
on the air, soft music blending with the
song OF birds, the excuse and the objects
are sometimes forgotten, and delicious
sense OF purposeless idleness and mex
plicable enjoyment alone remains. At
least such was the case with Philip Kerr.
captain in the Royal Rifles, as, leaning
against tree, he looked at the scene
around him.


What to him was the remembrance that
two brothers stood between him and title?
What the apparently certain fact that his
fathers broad woodlands and the halls
where he was born were not for him? That
his only home was the headquarters of his
regiment in garrison-town, or the dim
ing-room of the Rag and Famish? 1t was
nothing to him at that instant that his
pockets were empty, and his banking ac-
count overdrawn. Had he not irreproach-
able lavender kids on his hands, and as far
|
his aristocratically small. feetP Above all
was there not smiling on him, between
her turns at croquet, the only unmarried
daughter of the great city firm Of Richley,
Alpaca, & Coz Not very young, and not
very handsome, to be sure, but then there
was dowry of thirty thousand down, and
seventy thousand to come when the senior
partner should take his flight to a bett..
world, and that surely would balance
| thirty years of age and remarkably plain
face.


Besides, she was well inclined to regild
with her wealth some wornout coronet Or.
failing that, to attach herself as q branch
grated on to some long-descended family
tree, and SO enter 'society" in her own
right, as fourteenth cousin by marriage to
peer of the realm, rather than be admit
ted by sufferance of dowagers on the look
out for heiresses.


While awaiting this desirable event, she
kept her hand in by series of unlimited
and sentimental firtations with every
agreeable and intellectual man she met
with for Theodosia Richley went in for
intellect,-high art. Broad Church notions
and women's rights-and Philip being
particularly agreeable and passably intel
lectual, and above all, the third son of
Scotch baron, Theodosia had selected him
as her present aid-de-camp and attache.
She had always the alternative, in al
cases where intellect asserted its superior
ity and became too troublesome, Of re-
ierring it to the senior partner, without
whose consent, as she plaintively re-
marked. II should but inflict on you .
penniless wife, my dearest Henry" or
Robert, or whatever might be the Christ.
ian name of the present aspirant; and
this reference generally terminated In the
dismissal of the agreeable and intellect.
ual being. no particular reason being
given. and the fair Theodosia gently hop
ing THAT though things were not propi-
tions, still friendship need not be broken"
! Then by way of consolation would arrive
anonymous presents, and q sentimental
correspondence would be kept up with
the family; but to this stage Philip had
not yet arrived.


He was content to be smiled upon, to
disregard the warnings Of wiser men than
himself, and drift down the stream, care
| less whether it stranded him on the sunny
shore of home paid for by his heiress-
love, or dashed him on the barren rocks
of foreign service.


There were just two or three things
that Philip could not do. With all his
many destinations. his perfect mustache,
his talent for soothing irate tailors, his
seat on horseback, and his step in the
valse, he could not be angry or stern with
woman, or indeed with any one. He
could not take anything deeply to heart,
he could not fret or fume at what might
or might not be his destiny; and he leaned
lazily against the tree and thought OF
nothing.


| The game was ended at last, and Miss
Richley came towards him.


II am very tired, Capt. Kerr" she re-
marked, land the seats here are all in the
SUM-"


1t was fair challenge, and Phillip &C.
cepted it. He was an habitue Of the
house. and he knew of a shady walk no
could do no less than offer his arm to the
heiress, and take her to it. And there
they sat, the sunlight just playing through
the branches, and the river ripping by.
There was certain luxury and ease in all
this which struck Philip.


A vision came across him of the dull
garrison-town, and the p-ship, and
the foreign station and then the contrast !;
home In England, hunting and shooting.
London in the season, and the mOors in
August and the thought shot across him,
lone word and this may be mine. Then
came a fitting thought Of fair young
face. with its rosebud bushes and its
trusting look. He put it away as too cost
ly bargain, and turned to the woman at
his side.


Now. he had certainly paid great At.
tention to Miss Richley. They had been
much thrown together, and prudent rela-
tives had implored him not to neglect SO
golden an opportunity. and here it was
at once. He had but to speak, and dare
his fate. AS we'll finish the matter now.
Poor little Louie! well, no doubt she
would find better fellow than he was;
and so his resolution was taken.
Truth to tell, Theodosia was expecting
an offer from him every moment. II WAS
no new position to her, and her heart WAS
too well arranged under her tighly-laced